Who and what is Rand Paul declaring war against, exactly? The Islamic State in Syria and Iraq? What if the Islamic State goes into Lebanon or Gaza or Israel? What then? Is it just the Islamic State? What about Boko Haram? It is the same thing. And Hamas and al Qaeda and al Shabaab.
The fact is that you can’t declare war on an enemy you don’t know or recognize.
Don’t get me wrong: war should be declared on jihad, and Obama has acted lawlessly and without Congressional approval, but naming the enemy and destroying them is how we will win. Nothing less will do.
Rand Paul introduces declaration of war against ISIS
By Susan Ferrechio, Washington Examiner | December 3, 2014 |
Sen. Rand Paul on Wednesday introduced a measure that declares the United States is at war with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists in the Middle East.
Paul, a potential 2016 presidential contender, filed the measure as a joint resolution.
“I believe the president must come to Congress to begin a war and that Congress has a duty to act,” Paul said. “Right now, this war is illegal until Congress acts pursuant to the Constitution and authorizes it.”
Paul is among many lawmakers who want Congress to debate and vote on authorizing President Obama to use military force against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
The United States has deployed more than 3,000 troops to the area who are serving as military advisers. The U.S. is also conducting airstrikes in an effort to defeat the jihadist group, which has spread instability and violence in the Middle East.
The list of items in the bill runs the gamut and spans efforts advocated by lawmakers on both sides.
Obama is currently operating under congressional authorization provided in 2001 and 2002, when the United States went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.
Congressional leaders have essentially pushed off a war authorization measure until 2015, to the dismay of lawmakers including Paul.
Paul’s resolution is narrowly written. It expires after one year and mostly excludes the use of ground forces. It prohibits the use of military action outside the effort to defeat the Islamic State terrorists.
