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Paul Forces Senate Vote on Limiting Fight Against ISIS Paul Forces Senate Vote on Limiting Fight Against ISIS
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, on Thursday forced a vote on the contentious issue of setting limits on the military operation against the Islamic State.WASHINGTON — Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, on Thursday forced a vote on the contentious issue of setting limits on the military operation against the Islamic State.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will now take up on Monday Mr. Paul’s resolution to issue a formal declaration of war against the Sunni militant group, which is operating in Syria and Iraq and is also known as ISIS or ISIL. It is unclear if the full Senate will have enough time to address the matter before it adjourns for the year, though Mr. Paul and several Democratic senators said that was still their hope.The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will now take up on Monday Mr. Paul’s resolution to issue a formal declaration of war against the Sunni militant group, which is operating in Syria and Iraq and is also known as ISIS or ISIL. It is unclear if the full Senate will have enough time to address the matter before it adjourns for the year, though Mr. Paul and several Democratic senators said that was still their hope.
Mr. Paul’s action brings to the forefront a simmering debate in the Senate, where some Democrats have shared his view that the president needs to request express congressional approval for military action against the Sunni militant group.Mr. Paul’s action brings to the forefront a simmering debate in the Senate, where some Democrats have shared his view that the president needs to request express congressional approval for military action against the Sunni militant group.
The Senate had not been expected to address the American military campaign until sometime next year, after the White House sends Congress a formal draft of what it would like it to approve.The Senate had not been expected to address the American military campaign until sometime next year, after the White House sends Congress a formal draft of what it would like it to approve.
But Mr. Paul forced the issue by calling for a vote on his resolution when a bill on an unrelated issue — clean water — came up.But Mr. Paul forced the issue by calling for a vote on his resolution when a bill on an unrelated issue — clean water — came up.
“Our duty is to debate war and to vote on it,” Mr. Paul said. “I think hopefully people are somewhat shamed, as well as the president should be shamed into doing the right thing.”“Our duty is to debate war and to vote on it,” Mr. Paul said. “I think hopefully people are somewhat shamed, as well as the president should be shamed into doing the right thing.”
Mr. Paul, whose plan would limit how deeply the military could engage and also preclude the use of ground troops in most cases, had the support of most of the Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee. But his Republican colleagues were far more skeptical. Though Mr. Paul’s plan is a formal declaration of war, something Congress has not approved since World War II, it actually sets very particular limits on the military, including precluding the use of ground troops in most cases. It has the support of most of the Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee, but Mr. Paul’s Republican colleagues are far more skeptical.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who has often feuded with Mr. Paul over matters of defense and national security, said it was beyond him why Congress would try to tie the military’s hands. “What’s the message to ISIS?” Mr. McCain asked. “All we’re going to do is bomb you no matter what happens? That’s crazy.”Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who has often feuded with Mr. Paul over matters of defense and national security, said it was beyond him why Congress would try to tie the military’s hands. “What’s the message to ISIS?” Mr. McCain asked. “All we’re going to do is bomb you no matter what happens? That’s crazy.”
Other proposals circulating on Capitol Hill would allow the military to operate under much less strict parameters.