Some Capitol Hill lawmakers are baffled. What does President Obama want from Congress as he begins the U.S. military escalation in Iraq and Syria?

The question wasn’t answered by the president’s much-anticipated speech Wednesday night. First, Obama seemed to tell Congress to mind its own business. “I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL,” he said, indicating he didn’t need or want any permission from the legislative branch to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.