Kaine sees W.H. moving soon to authorize force against ISIL
Sen. Tim Kaine said on Sunday the White House will soon send to Congress legislation to authorize the use of military force in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Virginia Democrat, who has very vocal in calling for such authorization, said he believes the administrationâs proposal will have âstrong supportâ in the House and Senate. Story Continued Below Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, said on CNNâs âState of the Unionâ that he wants an Authorization for the Use of Military Force that would allow for U.S. combat troops only âin limited circumstances.â The senator criticized both the White House and Congress for failing to prioritize a formal authorization in the months after the administrationâs airstrike campaign against ISIL. âIf weâre going to ask people to risk their lives, then Congress ought to do our job and put our thumbprints on this mission,â Kaine said. The senator has been particularly tough on the administration on the issue after President Barack Obamaâs State of the Union address, which the senator said didnât outline enough of what the White House wanted in an authorization. In the past, Kaine has argued that allowing the president to act militarily without an AUMF means âCapitol Hill is embracing the policy of preemptive war.â