Dem senator insists Obama needs approval for Iraq

DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Senate Democrat says President Barack Obama needs congressional approval before initiating any military action in Iraq.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said Wednesday that the crisis in Iraq is not the type of situation where the president can act unilaterally, and he must seek congressional authorization.

Sunni insurgents have seized parts of Iraq nearly three years after the U.S. withdrew its forces. Obama has dispatched dozens of U.S. military advisers and special operations forces.

Kaine is a member of both the Armed Services and the Foreign Relations committees. The former chairman of the Democratic Party made his comments on the Senate floor.

Several Democratic and Republican senators have said Obama has sufficient authority to act in Iraq.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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