US President Barack Obama is expected to formally ask Congress to authorize the use of military force against the so-called Islamic State terror group in the coming days, even as lawmakers said crafting and passing such a measure would be a challenge, according to Fox News.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the administration is dedicated to getting a new authorization with bipartisan support. He declined to comment on specific provisions, including how long the authorization will last, what geographical areas it will cover and whether it will allow for the possibility of ground troops. Earnest said those details were still being worked out.
Republicans generally want a broader authorization of military action against the militants, who have overrun wide swaths of Iraq and Syria, than Democrats have been willing to consider. Obama has said he does not intend to have U.S. "boots on the ground" in combat roles, while many Republicans believe that option ought to be available to the military.
Secretary of State John Kerry has testified that any new authorization should not limit U.S. military action to just Iraq and Syria or prevent the president from deploying ground troops if he later deems them necessary. Kerry also said that if the new authorization has a time limit, there should be a provision for it to be renewed.