President Barack Obama’s plan to seek authorization to use military force against the Islamic State (ISIS) could extend the battleground far beyond Iraq and Syria,
the Guardian reports.
The British newspaper, quoting unnamed congressional sources, said the new AUMF proposal to be unveiled Wednesday would allow for two war authorizations to co-exist: the current fight against ISIS, as well as the broad post-9/11 authorities against al-Qaida.
Asked if the anti-ISIS AUMF opens the United States to a second worldwide war, one congressional aide replied, "Absolutely," the Guardian reports.
"Politicians often describe their war aims with restraint, but the people who have to operationally conduct war like no restraints," Micah Zenko of the Council on Foreign Relations told the Guardian. "Obama has given everyone who will service in his administration the ability to prosecute this war in as expansive a manner as they choose."
The congressional sources told the Guardian the anti-ISIS AUMF will contain restrictions on the ground conflict in Iraq, though exceptions will remain – like permitting special operations forces to rescue downed pilots, or allowing the current 3,000 troops Obama has authorized deployed to Iraq.
But the anti-ISIS authorization would give the administration power to target ISIS's associated forces as well, with language influenced by a draft proposed by New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez defining an associated force as "individuals and organizations fighting for or on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or a closely-related successor entity," the Guardian reports.
The Guardian notes ISIS has adherents across the world.
"This is the rub, this is where it’s going to be very very difficult; you are going to have [Republican] Senators [John] McCain and [Lindsey] Graham saying it shouldn’t necessarily be limited to Iraq and Syria," Washington Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services committee, told the Guardian.
"I would support a more limited version and if in a few years from now, new situations emerge, Congress can pass it again. I don’t think we should give the executive a blank check."
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