Wall Street Journal: Obama Tells Top Lawmakers He Has Authority to Fight Islamic State
Michael Crittenden reports on President Obama's justification for use of military force.
President Barack Obama told top congressional leaders at a meeting Tuesday that he has the authority he needs to conduct operations against Islamic State militants as he gave them a preview of the strategy he will lay out in a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday evening.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have expressed increasing concern about the rise of the terrorist group, which has taken over large swaths of Iraq and gained international attention in recent weeks with the beheading of two journalists. The White House has been under increasing pressure from Capitol Hill to provide more information on what steps the U.S. plans to take, including whether military operations will extend into Syria and whether there will be an escalation beyond the current round of airstrikes
Still, some lawmakers continue to insist that the White House needs congressional approval.
"If the president intends to prolong the military campaign in Iraq or extend it into Syria, he needs to make the case directly to the American people and secure authorization from Congress," Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) said.
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By: Michael Crittenden
Source: Wall Street Journal