Even as President Barack Obama contemplates expanding airstrikes against the Islamic State militants into their strongholds in Syria, with a report suggesting that he wants a plan ready by this weekend, several lawmakers have begun to demand a Congressional debate and vote on the military push.
The stage for a possible Congressional battle appeared to be getting set even as one more American jehadi was reported killed in the ongoing battle in Syria, and the mother of Steven Sotloff, the American journalist in ISIS custody, pleaded for her son’s life in an emotional televised appeal to the outfit’s leader, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.
A small bipartisan group of lawmakers has written to House Speaker John Boehner, urging him to take up the matter when the Congress reconvenes in the second week of September. Noting that the number of American troops and airstrikes has increased significantly in Iraq, after what started as a limited military mission earlier this month, the group says Congress needs to examine any expansion of the operation to Syria.
The White House has broadly suggested that the President may not need to seek Congressional authorisation since this is a “markedly different” situation in which the administration is talking about “confronting a terrorist group that has sought safe haven in Syria” and “poses a threat to Americans in the region”.
“We all share concerns about the Islamic State’s brutal tactics and further destabilisation of the region,” lawmakers Barbara lee, James McGovern and Walter B Jones write in their letter to the Speaker, adding: “But current military operations now underway in Iraq appear to be beyond the scope of these limited purposes, and even greater expansion is under discussion. These are serious matters that require Congressional debate and a vote on whether to authorise them.”
Opinion in Congress, however, appears to be divided broadly, regardless of political affiliation, with some prominent Republicans, including Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, advancing the view that if the matter comes before the Congress, President Obama will “very likely” get the authorisation, since it is a question of American national security.
In contrast, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, even while admitting that ISIS represents a significant terrorist threat to US interests, said there needs to be a full debate, with the Congress then voting up or down on it.
In the midst of the political posturing, Shirley Sotloff, mother of the journalist taken hostage by ISIS, came out with her direct appeal to the militant outfit. “My son is Steven is in your hands. He is a journalist who made a journey to cover the story of Muslims suffering at the hands of tyrants,” she said, adding: “As a mother, I ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over.”
US media outlets, meanwhile, reported on Thursday that a second American fighting for the ISIS in Syria had died in the ongoing battle with rival extremist groups. Fox News identified him Abdirahmaan Muhumed, described as a Somali-American from Minneapolis, and a friend of Douglas McArthur McCain, the first American ISIS operative who died earlier this week. The US authorities were still to confirm the death of Muhumed. “We’re looking into it,” said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki.