Six months later, President Barack Obama finally asked Congress to formally authorize his war against the Islamic State terrorist group, but the proposed legislation sent to Capitol Hill Wednesday has received criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.
The new Authorization for Use of Military Force proposal would repeal the 2002 AUMF for Iraq, but would leave in place a separate measure from 2001 that authorizes the president to wage war against al-Qaida and its affiliates anywhere in the world, according to The New York Times.
The remaining power from the 2001 AUMF combined with Obama's new provisions worries some Democrats who say they aren't comfortable with such unrestricted permission to wage perpetual war.
"It leaves in place indefinitely the blank check authority granted to the Executive in the 2001 AUMF," said Rep. Bob Corker, D-Md., Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, in a statement. "It makes little sense to place reasonable boundaries on the Executive's war powers against ISIL while leaving them unchecked elsewhere."
Lawmakers from both parties say that Obama's plan doesn't lay out a concrete plan to defeat the Islamic State group, and while many Democrats think the proposal gives the president too much power, Republicans largely say the proposal overly restricts Obama.
"I want to give our military commanders the flexibility and the authority that they need to defeat our enemies," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters Thursday. "The White House readily admits that the authorization that they are seeking is more restrictive than what they already have in place."
"If were going to defeat our enemy and win this fight we need a strong robust strategy and a strong robust authorization, and that's exactly what Republicans will make the case for as we move through rigorous hearings and oversight on this issue."
Congress will now begin a process to debate and ratify the AUMF, potentially taking months.
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine Corps veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he won't be supporting an authorization until there is a comprehensive strategy and long-term solution.
"I am not ready to support an authorization for military force until the administration presents a comprehensive strategy to ensure long-term success," Moulton, who served four tours in Iraq, said in a statement, reported The Hill.
"The strategy should be led by political and diplomatic efforts to unify and empower a local coalition to defeat [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], supported by American military assistance - not the other way around," he added.
