Coalition Urges Congress To Rein In Sweeping 2001 War Authorization

WASHINGTON — As Congress turns its attention to President Barack Obama’s request to use military force against the Islamic State, more than a dozen groups are urging lawmakers to rein in a sweeping 2001 war authorization that never expired and is being used to justify open-ended military operations.

The American Civil Liberties Union, National Security Network and Constitution Project are among 16 groups that sent a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday demanding that they revise Obama’s war authorization request to explicitly state that the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force does not apply to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIL or ISIS.

“Unfortunately, I am skeptical that Congress will find the will to overcome our internal divisions, both between parties and internal to them, to authorize this action,” Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said during Thursday’s hearing.

If Congress does nothing, that means Obama will continue the military assault on ISIS without lawmakers ever actually voting to authorize it or put parameters on it. Since August, the U.S. has led more than 2,000 airstrikes, spent more than $1.5 billion on the assault and sent roughly 3,000 military personnel to Iraq.

The Huffington Post