Sen. Rand Paul, as promised, has formally introduced a resolution to declare war against the Islamic State terrorist group and said Wednesday Congress has to be heard on an issue where President Obama has shifted.
The Kentucky Republican said the constitution — which says congressional authority is required to go to war — must be followed.
He also pointed out that when Mr. Obama made his first bid at the White House, he said no president should unilaterally go to war.
“And this is very disappointing, I think even for some of his supporters, that he seems to abandon what excited people about him,” Mr. Paul said on MSNBC’s “Hardball.”
Mr. Paul also argued that every time a secular dictator is toppled in the Middle East, radical Islam has risen, ranging from what he called “Republican wars” like Iraq and “Hillary’s war” in Libya — a reference to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who, like Mr. Paul, is pondering her own run at the White House in 2016.
Mr. Paul’s resolution would roll back a 2002 authorization of force for Iraq and sunset after one year a 2001 authorization passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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The authorization itself would also expire one year after the date of its enactment, and the use of ground combat forces would be limited to protecting or rescuing U.S. troops in imminent danger, limited operations against “high value” targets, and as necessary for advisory and intelligence gathering.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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