WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s top Republican says it’s time for President Barack Obama to “exercise some leadership in launching a response” to the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
Mitch McConnell spoke in advance of a White House meeting this afternoon between the president and congressional leaders from both parties. He says Obama needs to identify military objectives and explain how they will be accomplished.
Obama’s spokesman says, “The president believes this is a high national security priority.”
White House officials have said Obama is looking to get lawmakers on board with the strategy he will outline tomorrow night in a speech to the American people. But they haven’t said whether Obama will seek a formal authorization for military action. And there’s no consensus in Congress on whether he needs that authorization. Some lawmakers say he has the authority under the Constitution.
House Speaker John Boehner (BAY’-nur) says the Islamic State group is a serious threat that must be dealt with in Iraq, Syria or wherever they exist. He says no decision will be made on whether Congress will vote until Obama lays out his plan.
But the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Republican Buck McKeon, says it’s highly unlikely there will be a vote this month.
%@AP Links
194-a-13-(Josh Earnest, press secretary, at news conference)-“of the situation”-White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says President Obama wants to involve Congress in his plans for dealing with the Islamic State group. ((President Obama meets with congressional leaders at 3:15ped)) (9 Sep 2014)
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175-a-13-(House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, at news conference)-“around the world”-House Speaker John Boehner says the islamic militants must be dealt with no matter what country they are in. (9 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO WX109: FILE – In this Aug. 7, 2014 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. The president will make a televised address Wednesday night to outline plans for an expanded U.S. effort to confront violent Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. “The president believes this is a high national security priority,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) (7 Aug 2014)
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APPHOTO DCSA104: House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio waits to speak on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, following a Republican strategy session after returning from a five-week recess. Boehner said Islamic State militants are a serious threat that must be dealt with in Iraq, Syria or wherever they exist and insisted that no decision would be made on a congressional vote until President Barack Obama lays out his strategy to defeat the militants. Boehner and other congressional leaders are heading to the White House this afternoon for a meeting with Obama. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (9 Sep 2014)
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