http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-war-request-puts-congressional-democrats-in-a-tight-spot/article/2553258Obama war request puts congressional Democrats in a tight spot
BY BYRON YORK | SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 | 5:01 AM
Some Capitol Hill lawmakers are baffled. What does President Obama want from Congress as he begins the U.S. military escalation in Iraq and Syria?
The question wasn't answered by the president's much-anticipated speech Wednesday night. First, Obama seemed to tell Congress to mind its own business. "I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL," he said, indicating he didn't need or want any permission from the legislative branch to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Then Obama added, "But I believe we are strongest as a nation when the president and Congress work together. So I welcome congressional support for this effort in order to show the world that Americans are united in confronting this danger."
The question is what Obama meant by "congressional support."
Some might interpret those words as a presidential request for Congress's authorization to carry out military action. It wasn't. And if comments by House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday are any guide, it's unlikely Congress will try to force the issue.
"I do believe it would be in the nation's interests, I would believe it's in the institution of Congress's interest to speak on this question," Boehner told reporters Thursday. But Boehner suggested it is the White House's responsibility to ask for authorization, not Congress's to supply one on its own, which suggests that if Obama doesn't ask, Boehner won't push it.
Given that Obama believes he doesn't need authorization to use force, at least in the short run, most would assume that by "congressional support" he meant money. But Obama doesn't need Congress to approve more money to fund the fight against the Islamic State.
"What he outlined Wednesday night can adequately be covered by the existing OCO," said one senior Republican aide, using Hill shorthand — pronounced "oh-ko" — for the Overseas Contingency Operations account that funds such military action. That money is already available to Obama, and he doesn't need Congress to approve more — for now.
Not needing approval, and not needing money, Obama did make one specific request of Congress. In his speech, he called on lawmakers to give him "additional authorities and resources to train and equip" the rebels in Syria whom Obama hopes will be reliable foes of the Islamic State. Obama asked the Congress for the authorization under something known as Title 10, which refers to a law governing Pentagon expenditures.
Boehner appears inclined to give it to him. "The president has made clear that he doesn't want U.S. boots on the ground," the Speaker said Thursday. "Well, somebody's boots have to be on the ground, and so I do believe that what the president has asked for, as the commander-in-chief, is this authority to train these Syrian rebels, and frankly, we ought to give the president what he is asking for."
There are plenty of lawmakers who disagree with Boehner, although the Speaker's view will probably prevail in the end. What has come to dominate the House debate, however, is the desire of some lawmakers to give Obama the authorization without being seen as giving Obama the authorization.
The question members are debating among themselves is whether the House should vote for the Syrian rebel authority by including it in the continuing resolution that will have to be passed soon to fund the government, or whether the House should make the Syrian rebel authorization a separate vote. It's a procedural question, but it's looming large for some lawmakers.
Republicans are divided on the authorization, but they'll be happy to vote for it or against it in a standalone vote for everyone to see.
A significant number of Democrats are uncomfortable with granting the authorization — they remain uncomfortable about the whole enterprise in Iraq — but they want to been seen as supporting Obama. The last thing they want to do is have a separate vote on the authorization, which means they would have to take an explicit position on it. So they would prefer it be part of the continuing resolution spending bill.
"They want some protection," said one Republican member of his Democratic colleagues. "They want to be able to say, I only voted for it because we had to fund the government."
Boehner told reporters Thursday he has not decided how to handle the vote. But all the maneuvering is not particularly good news for the president. Obama is right that the U.S. is "strongest as a nation when the president and Congress work together." Now he needs to convince his Democratic colleagues in the House to stand up and be counted.
