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Does Obama need Congress to attack Islamic State? | Does Obama need Congress to attack Islamic State? |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Obama says he has the authority to pursue Islamic State in the way he wants. Not everyone agrees. | President Obama says he has the authority to pursue Islamic State in the way he wants. Not everyone agrees. |
Mr Obama is now going after Islamic State or Isil, as he calls the group, with a vengeance. | Mr Obama is now going after Islamic State or Isil, as he calls the group, with a vengeance. |
"We will degrade and ultimately destroy Isil," he said in an address at the White House on Wednesday. He said US forces would pursue the militants in Iraq - and now in Syria, too. | "We will degrade and ultimately destroy Isil," he said in an address at the White House on Wednesday. He said US forces would pursue the militants in Iraq - and now in Syria, too. |
He asserts he has the authority to use US force in this way and does not need the approval of the US Congress. His advisers say they already have authorisation. | He asserts he has the authority to use US force in this way and does not need the approval of the US Congress. His advisers say they already have authorisation. |
Several days after al-Qaeda struck the US in 2001, lawmakers passed an authorisation for use of military force (AUMF). It does not specifically name al-Qaeda - but is directed at the organisation. | Several days after al-Qaeda struck the US in 2001, lawmakers passed an authorisation for use of military force (AUMF). It does not specifically name al-Qaeda - but is directed at the organisation. |
Hunting down al-Qaeda | Hunting down al-Qaeda |
The resolution states: "The president is authorised to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organisations or persons he determines planned, authorised, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks." | |
With this resolution, President George W Bush felt he could pursue the people who carried out the attacks, whether they were in Afghanistan or in other parts of the world. | With this resolution, President George W Bush felt he could pursue the people who carried out the attacks, whether they were in Afghanistan or in other parts of the world. |
Before Mr Obama's speech, a senior administration official told reporters the president could rely on the 2001 resolution "as statutory authority for the military air strike operations he is directing against Isil". | Before Mr Obama's speech, a senior administration official told reporters the president could rely on the 2001 resolution "as statutory authority for the military air strike operations he is directing against Isil". |
The 2001 resolution was part of the "security apparatus", as former Vice-President Dick Cheney described it, created in an effort to combat al-Qaeda and allied groups. ("I was one of its architects," said Mr Cheney in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, on Wednesday.) | The 2001 resolution was part of the "security apparatus", as former Vice-President Dick Cheney described it, created in an effort to combat al-Qaeda and allied groups. ("I was one of its architects," said Mr Cheney in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, on Wednesday.) |
Marc Thiessen, a former speechwriter for Mr Bush, said Mr Obama can - and should - use the work of Bush administration officials in his campaign against Islamic State. | Marc Thiessen, a former speechwriter for Mr Bush, said Mr Obama can - and should - use the work of Bush administration officials in his campaign against Islamic State. |
"There was a legal architecture that allowed the US to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq," Mr Thiessen said. "The president is fighting the same group with a different name." | "There was a legal architecture that allowed the US to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq," Mr Thiessen said. "The president is fighting the same group with a different name." |
Mr Thiessen added: "If you're fighting an enemy in Iraq and they run across the border into Syria, you don't need additional authorisation to go after them - just like we didn't need additional authorisation when the Germans went into France." | Mr Thiessen added: "If you're fighting an enemy in Iraq and they run across the border into Syria, you don't need additional authorisation to go after them - just like we didn't need additional authorisation when the Germans went into France." |
Shocked by grisly killings | Shocked by grisly killings |
Last year Mr Obama planned to ask lawmakers to authorise military action in Syria. He wanted to retaliate against President Bashar al-Assad for the alleged use of chemical weapons. | |
But it seemed unlikely Congress would support the president, and Mr Obama dropped his plans. | But it seemed unlikely Congress would support the president, and Mr Obama dropped his plans. |
Today things are different. | Today things are different. |
Mr Obama is not asking Congress for direct approval for military action. Instead he wants lawmakers to approve $500m (£386m) for rebels in Syria combating Islamic State. | Mr Obama is not asking Congress for direct approval for military action. Instead he wants lawmakers to approve $500m (£386m) for rebels in Syria combating Islamic State. |
Mr Obama has a sympathetic audience on Capitol Hill. The Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has offered his support. "We ought to give the president what he's asking for," he told reporters. | Mr Obama has a sympathetic audience on Capitol Hill. The Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has offered his support. "We ought to give the president what he's asking for," he told reporters. |
Like other Americans, lawmakers were shocked by the videos released by Islamic State, showing the brutal executions of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. | Like other Americans, lawmakers were shocked by the videos released by Islamic State, showing the brutal executions of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. |
Most Americans now say using military force against Islamic State is in the nation's interest, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. | Most Americans now say using military force against Islamic State is in the nation's interest, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. |
Going it alone | Going it alone |
US presidents have frequently used military force without congressional approval | US presidents have frequently used military force without congressional approval |
1983: President Ronald Reagan sent troops to Grenada | 1983: President Ronald Reagan sent troops to Grenada |
1986: Mr Reagan authorised air strikes in Libya | 1986: Mr Reagan authorised air strikes in Libya |
1998: President Bill Clinton shot missiles to Sudan and Afghanistan | 1998: President Bill Clinton shot missiles to Sudan and Afghanistan |
1999: Mr Clinton sent forces to Kosovo on a NATO mission | 1999: Mr Clinton sent forces to Kosovo on a NATO mission |
2011: Mr Obama authorised air strikes in Libya | 2011: Mr Obama authorised air strikes in Libya |
Source: Wall Street Journal, Congressional Research Service | Source: Wall Street Journal, Congressional Research Service |
Some legal experts believe the president is wrong in their assessment of the AUMF. | |
Deborah Pearlstein, a professor at Cardozo School of Law in New York, said Islamic State is no longer part of al-Qaeda. "They're enemies," she said. "By attacking today's [IS] we are in no sense attacking al-Qaeda." | Deborah Pearlstein, a professor at Cardozo School of Law in New York, said Islamic State is no longer part of al-Qaeda. "They're enemies," she said. "By attacking today's [IS] we are in no sense attacking al-Qaeda." |
The use of presidential power | The use of presidential power |
When experts weigh in on this issue, they sound authoritative. That is how the president sounds this week. So do the people who support his decision - and those who oppose him. | When experts weigh in on this issue, they sound authoritative. That is how the president sounds this week. So do the people who support his decision - and those who oppose him. |
Yet Mr Obama's decision to use air strikes in Syria is controversial. The laws that govern his deployment of force are murky. | Yet Mr Obama's decision to use air strikes in Syria is controversial. The laws that govern his deployment of force are murky. |
"It's not so clearly, neatly and authoritatively defined - and tends to be decided through a wrestling match between Congress and the president," said Matthew Waxman, who was a senior official in the defence and state departments during the Bush administration. | |
Still, presidents hardly ever get in trouble for using the military. Chances are Mr Obama will face little if any, repercussions for authorising the strikes. | |
Right or wrong, he is acting presidential. | Right or wrong, he is acting presidential. |