[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 21 (Monday, February 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S850-S851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AUTHORIZATION ON USE OF MILITARY FORCE

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, along with Senator Hatch, we have a 
concern we want to share with this body. One of the reasons I do is 
because I had planned to go ahead and introduce the bill having to do 
with the AUMF. In fact, I actually had introduced it a year ago, but I 
understand now we are coming into an agreement and Senator Hatch and I 
stand together to speak about the need for the new AUMF, authorization 
for use of military force, against the terrorist organization known as 
ISIS or ISIL, or whatever you want to call it, in order to answer any 
legal question as to the authority the President has to defend the 
American people and demonstrate our commitment to the global coalition 
in defeating this radical Islamic organization.
  I have always contended the President had this authority anyway. In 
fact, I can remember a year ago he said he did. I now understand the 
President will be sending to Congress his own version of the AUMF this 
week. I will read it with interest.
  Over the past 6 months, ISIS, or ISIL, has expanded its control in 
Iraq and Syria. They continue to recruit followers worldwide. We saw 
just the other day what happened when we had the King of Jordan here 
and we had the opportunity to be with him when he got the very sad news 
of what happened to his F-16 pilot being burned alive. I happened to be 
with him in Syria just a month before that. I am talking about with the 
King of Jordan.
  We know firsthand what is going on. It is my hope the President's 
proposed AUMF will include all the authorities needed to execute his 
strategy to stop ISIS and the President provides Congress with that 
strategy as part of any approval for an AUMF.
  The President's proposed AUMF should not contain restrictions on U.S. 
forces or time or geographic limitations. An AUMF should authorize the 
use of all necessary and appropriate force anywhere where ISIS or any 
successor organization is operating until we accomplish our strategy.

[[Page S851]]

  At the State of the Union speech last month, President Obama 
specifically said--and I am quoting now:

       I call on this Congress to show the world that we are 
     united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize 
     the use of force against ISIL. We need that authority.

  That was a quote from his State of the Union Message. Quite frankly, 
he had already stated before he had that authority. I am not going to 
argue about that. Let's just make sure to eliminate all doubts.
  Subsequent official White House statements have called for a ``right-
sized, modernized AUMF...it would send a powerful signal to the 
citizens of this country, the citizens of our allies, and to our 
enemies.''
  It was on January 23 that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
General Dempsey said--and I am going to quote General Dempsey's entire 
quote because I think he is the No. 1 guy. He is the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, the one who should be the best qualified to make 
these decisions.
  He said:

       I think in the crafting of the AUMF, all options should be 
     on the table, and then we can debate whether we want to use 
     them. But the authorization should be there...In particular, 
     it shouldn't constrain activities geographically, because 
     ISIL knows no boundaries, [and] doesn't recognize any 
     boundaries--in fact it's their intention to erase all 
     boundaries to their benefit. Constraints on time, or a 
     ``sunset clause,'' I just don't think it's necessary. I think 
     the nation should speak of its intent to confront this 
     radical ideological barbaric group and leave the option until 
     we can deal with it.

  That is all a quote from General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff. I think we need to listen to it. I don't think 
the immediate need for an AUMF could be put more clearly or succinctly 
than General Dempsey's words, and it is my hope he was intimately 
involved in the drafting of the administration's AUMF.
  It is my understanding we will see this tomorrow. Again, I, along 
with many colleagues--including my good friend from Utah--look forward 
to reading President Obama's AUMF. We have to get rid of this monster.
  With that, I yield to my good friend from Utah.

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