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War with Isis: President Barack Obama to seek 'war powers' from Congress to confront militants War with Isis: President Barack Obama to seek 'war powers' from Congress to confront militants
(about 1 hour later)
Even as President Barack Obama vowed today to hunt down the Islamic State terrorists responsible for the latest killing of an American hostage, the White House made final preparations to seek formal war powers from the US Congress to fight the group in Syria and Iraq. Even as President Barack Obama vowed to hunt down the Isis terrorists responsible for the latest killing of an American hostage, the White House was making final preparations to seek formal war powers from the US Congress to fight the group in Syria and Iraq.
Confirmation that 26-year-old aid worker Kayla Mueller had been murdered was issued simultaneously today by the White House and by her family. Mr Obama blasted Isis, calling it “a hateful, abhorrent terrorist group”. He added: “No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla's captivity and death.” Confirmation that the 26-year-old aid worker Kayla Mueller had been killed was issued simultaneously by the White House and by her family. Calling it a “hateful abhorrent terrorist group”, Mr Obama said: “No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captivity and death.” He added that Ms Mueller, who was seized 18 months ago, had “epitomised all that is good in our world”.
The request for special authorisation to use military force against Isis will be unveiled formally by Mr Obama tomorrow. However, details of the submission are to be spelled out by a senior White House official at a lunch to be attended by Senate Democrats later today. It will be the first time that the US Congress has considered extending new war powers to an American president in 13 years. Later, the White House said that at least one other American was being held captive. “We have avoided discussing the individual cases of Americans who have been held hostage, but we are aware of other American hostages being held in the region,” said the White House spokesman, Josh Earnest. “There have been public reports of at least one other American hostage being held in Syria.”
Mueller, an aid worker from Arizona, was taken hostage in Syria in August 2013 For months the Pentagon has been ratcheting up airstrikes over both Syria and Iraq. Meanwhile about 2,700 US troops have been deployed to Iraq as advisors to help the Iraqi military repel Isis advances. However, Mr Obama has thus far been forced to rely on authorisations given to his predecessor, George W Bush, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks even though the legal basis for doing so are considered flimsy. Exactly when Mr Obama will officially submit the Authorisation for Use of Military Force to Congress remained unclear. It will, however, be the first time that the US Congress is to consider extending new war powers to an American president in 13 years.
It is partly for that reason that fresh congressional authorisation for use of force is now being sought. The White House also insists that it is important for the US demonstrate fresh resolve and unity beteween the parties on the need to eliminate Isis. In an interview given to the BBC, meanwhile, the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, said that his regime has been receiving messages from third parties ahead of strikes carried out by the US and its allies against Isis targets in his country. “Sometimes they convey a message, a general message, but there’s nothing tactical,” he said. “There’s information, but not dialogue.” The National Security Council in Washington has insisted there has been no co-operation with the Assad regime even as his planes and those of the coalition have shared skies over Syria.
Sources said the authorisation would be for three years, and would impose no geographical limitations on where Isis might be challenged. It is also expected to leave the door open for the possible deployment of some combat forces, while making it clear that no extended US troop presence on the ground would be considered Mr Earnest said: “The US is not co-ordinating our action with the Syrian government and we are not going to.” He added that only before the start of the aerial campaign in Syria did the US government see fit to give a tip-off to Damascus via its envoy to the United Nations in New York.
For months the Pentagon has been ratcheting up air strikes over both Syria and Iraq. Some 2,700 US troops have been deployed to Iraq as advisers to help the Iraqi military repel Isis advances. But Mr Obama has thus far been forced to rely on authorisations given to his predecessor, George W Bush, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks even though the legal basis for doing so is considered flimsy.
It is partly for that reason that fresh congressional authorisation for use of force is now being sought. The White House considers it vital for the US to demonstrate fresh resolve and unity between the parties. But it will trigger debate on Capitol Hill with some members of the President’s party wary of allowing the US to get entangled in more overseas conflict.
Sources said the authorisation request will be for three years and will impose no geographical limitations on where Isis might be challenged. It is also expected to leave open the door for the possible deployment of combat forces, while making clear no extended US troop presence on the ground would be considered.
Mueller, an aid worker from Arizona, was taken hostage in Syria in August 2013 Ms Mueller’s family was contacted privately by Isis over the weekend to tell them about her death, with US intelligence then confirming the details of the message.
“We are heartbroken to share that we’ve received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller has lost her life,” her parents, Carl and Marsha Mueller said in a statement. “Kayla dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice and peace.”
The White House is also taking steps to create for the first time an agency to gather intelligence about cyber security. Officials said it would be modelled on the National Counterterrorism Centre set up in the aftermath of the 2001 terror attacks.