Intel Dem: Authority for Obama to fight ISIS should be ‘carefully tailored’

Congress should only provide President Obama with a “carefully tailored” authorization for military strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) argued Monday.

“I think what we do authorize has to be very carefully tailored to make sure that not only with this president, but a subsequent president, we’re not opening the door in an unrestrained, poorly drafted authorization that allows any commander to do basically what they choose,” Schiff said during an interview with MSNBC.

{mosads}Schiff, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, applauded the president’s declaration that ground troops would not return to Iraq. But he also cautioned that any authorization should be narrow in scope and duration to avoid mission creep.

“The president’s going to have to make the case for how and in what way he wants to go beyond the current military operations,” he added.

The California lawmaker said “no one disputes” that the president has the authority to “protect the American people,” but he believes Congress does need to provide an explicit authorization “to expand the strikes beyond where they are now, or even to continue them.”

“I hope that that will be part of what he asks for on Wednesday, and I hope that the Congress will rise to the occasion,” Schiff said, referring to the president’s plans to address the nation on the topic.

The president is scheduled to meet with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday in the Oval Office to discuss his plans, and any possible congressional action.

Speculation has focused on whether Obama will ask lawmakers for emergency funding to address the threat of ISIS, and when those additional funds might be required.

“I just want the American people to understand the nature of the threat and how we’re going to deal with it and to have confidence that we’ll be able to deal with it,” Obama said in an interview that aired Sunday on Meet the Press.

“I’m confident that I have the authorization that I need to protect the American people,” he added. “And I’m always going to do what’s necessary to protect the American people. But I do think it’s important for Congress to understand what the plan is, to have buy in, to debate it.”