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US Sens. introduced a measure to use military force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

NEW ISIS WAR MEASURE: Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced a measure on Monday that would authorize military force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The measure, offered as an amendment to a State Department policy bill being considered this week, comes 10 months after the U.S. began its military campaign against the terrorist group in Iraq.


The two senators are hoping to revive the largely stalled discussion on the authorization, which has been hampered by partisan disagreement. 


The White House sent over draft language for an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) in February, but Republicans said it was too restrictive, and Democrats said it was not restrictive enough.


The White House’s measure would limit authorization to three years and repeal the 2002 AUMF for the Iraq War. It would leave in place the 2001 AUMF that’s being used against ISIS and ban “enduring offensive ground combat operations.”


Kaine and Flake said they hoped their measure, which would also sunset in three years and repeal the 2002 AUMF, would be a “starting point for debate.”


The Kaine-Flake measure has a clause making the AUMF the sole statutory authority for U.S. military action against ISIS. It would also specify that the “use of significant U.S. ground troops in combat” — except to protect U.S. citizens from imminent threat — would be inconsistent with the use of force.


“It’s inexcusable that Congress has let 10 months of war go by without authorizing the U.S. mission against ISIL,” said Kaine, who has been a leading voice calling for an authorization of force.


“Our military has been waging war against ISIL since last September, and Congress has been appropriating funds to pay for those operations. It’s past time for Congress to formally voice its support of the mission itself,” added Flake.

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