US President Barack Obama on Tuesday asked Congress for its backing to fight the Islamic State group without geographical limits, but with curbs on the use of ground forces. Tantamount to a declaration of war, the authority would allow Obama to prosecute the fight against the jihadist group on a firmer legal basis, while providing political cover at home.
It signals a ramping up of pressure on IS - which now controls swaths of Syria and Iraq - as the Iraqi government prepares for a major ground offensive, expected within months. But intensive negotiations with US lawmakers forced the White House to limit Obama's power to deploy the military in both form and scope. The text "does not authorise the use of the United States Armed Forces in enduring offensive ground combat operations," the text sent Congress read.
That does not rule out special forces operations, but does preclude a ground invasion or peace enforcement mission. "This authorisation for the use of military force shall terminate three years after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution, unless reauthorize." Obama will also have to report to Congress every six months. But there is no geographical limit on the scope of military actions. Since the mid-2014 the US military has been involved in airstrikes against IS in Iraq and Syria. Republican Senator Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee, said he would "quickly begin to hold rigorous hearings" on the authorisation, which he supports.
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