Senate Committee Votes for New War Powers

BY DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted to authorize President Barack Obama’s war against the Islamic State.

It was Congress’ first vote to explicitly authorize the U.S. war against IS. The vote Thursday was 10-8.

In the U.S. battle against the Islamic militants, Obama has been relying on congressional authorizations that former President George W. Bush used to justify military action after 9/11.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said a new authorization should not limit U.S. military action to Iraq and Syria or prevent the president from deploying ground troops if he later deems them necessary.

The committee approved a resolution authored by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., that would limit operations to three years and allow ground forces only in certain circumstances.