The White House essentially ignored a resolution introduced by Sen. Rand Paul Wednesday that would provide congressional authorization for the United States’ ongoing military action against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL).
Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest referred to the administration’s past contention that Congress has already authorized strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria under a law enacted after the September 11 attacks. That law gives the president authority to:
… use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.
Paul’s resolution states that such language doesn’t pertain to ISIS.
“We’ve talked pretty extensively about the historical connection that [ISIS] has to the remnants of al-Qaida, and in some cases even an ongoing connection,” Earnest said, justifying the administration’s interpretation of the law.
Paul’s argument all along has been constitutional — that Congress is the red or green light if the president wants to “begin a war,” and the executive branch is currently in violation of the law by failing to do so.
“Right now, this war is illegal until Congress acts pursuant to the Constitution and authorizes it,” he said yesterday.
President Obama gave the go-ahead for air strikes against ISIS in September. In the time since, the U.S. has helped lead a coalition in more than 1,000 combined strikes.
