John Boehner: âToo early to predictâ fate of Obamaâs war request
House Speaker John Boehner says itâs âtoo early to predictâ whether Congress will approve President Barack Obamaâs proposal to authorize the use of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. âThe president is asking for less authority than he has today under previous authorizations. I donât think thatâs smart. We need a robust strategy to take on ISIL,â the Ohio Republican told Chris Wallace in an interview aired on âFox News Sunday.â âNo one has seen one from this White House yet.â Story Continued Below âIn addition to a robust strategy,â the speaker added, âI think we need to have a robust authorization, and I donât believe that what the presidentâs said here gives him the flexibility or the authority to take on this enemy and to win. And so I look at the submission by the president as the beginning of the process.â âWeâre going to have a big debate,â Boehner predicted. âTo do this correctly, I think we need to have bipartisan support on both sides of the Capitol.â Boehner, who took office in 1991, said his first vote in Congress was authorizing President George H.W. Bush to push Saddam Husseinâs Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Last week, Obama asked Congress to approve military action against ISIL that would not allow âenduring offensive ground combat operations,â vowing the terrorist group âis going to lose.â Boehner says bipartisan discussions to strengthen the presidentâs actions are necessary before any final approval. âHe says the threat is being diminished. The fact is, ISIL continues to gain new territory,â Boehner said.