Udall Renews Call for a Limited Authorization of Military Force Against ISIS

WASHINGTON - After a meeting of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall reinforced his call for Congress to debate and pass a resolution authorizing limited military force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Udall, a member of the committee, supports restrictions on the time, geographic scope and cost of U.S. operations in Iraq and Syria, including a prohibition on the use of U.S. ground troops for combat operations, and has consistently pushed for Congress to live up to its constitutional responsibility to define the president's authority in engaging with ISIS. Udall also believes it is critical to repeal the broad 2001 and 2003 authorizations used to justify our current military effort against ISIS, Operation Inherent Resolve, and replace them with language which would prevent increased involvement while permitting the military to carry out its important mission to counter ISIS.

At the meeting today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee discussed — but did not vote on — an amendment to a larger State Department bill. The amendment called for a limited three-year Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIS. Late last year, Udall joined the Foreign Relations Committee in approving a similar AUMF proposal, but the measure did not receive a vote by the full Senate. Separately today, Udall also cosponsored an amendment with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to the annual National Defense Authorization Act currently pending on the Senate floor. That amendment would prevent the United States from sending American ground troops to directly engage in the fight against ISIS in Iraq or Syria.

Udall issued the following statement:

"I'm frustrated that Congress continues to avoid debating and passing an authorization for use of force that can define and limit U.S. military involvement in Iraq and the Middle East. ISIS poses a very real threat in the Middle East and to our nation, and Congress must face that challenge by honoring its constitutional responsibility to vote on when and how long our military should be involved. But I am very concerned that we are entering yet another open-ended conflict in the Middle East. Without a direct vote by Congress on an AUMF, which includes appropriate limitations on time, geographic scope and cost, we risk the possibility of sliding into another years-long Iraq War — this time against a terrorist organization, not a nation.

"Middle Eastern nations must take the lead on eliminating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and we should assist them and protect our allies. But it is important to be clear that an invasion of American ground troops is not the answer. Our recent history in Iraq should be a guide for all interventions in the Middle East. New Mexicans are rightly tired of years of costly war, and Congress must put limits on our involvement."