Obama Urges US Congress To Authorize War Against ISIS Jihadists

 

President Barack Obama said Congress must vote to officially authorize war against the Islamic State in his State of the Union address Tuesday.

 

“If this Congress is serious about winning this war, and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, you should finally authorize the use of military force against ISIL,” Obama said. “Take a vote. But the American people should know that with or without Congressional action, ISIL will learn the same lessons as terrorists before them.”

 

Obama made sure to highlight the several foreign policy successes of his administration, including the raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden.

 

House Speaker Paul Ryan has also urged Congress to move forward on a vote to update the Authorization for Use of Military Force that the U.S. has used since 2001. Former House Speaker John Boehner tried and failed, but with Ryan, the AUMF stands a non-zero chance of passing.