Sen. Kaine: Congress should debate Syria airstrikes ‘right now’

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Tuesday that Congress should be debating authorization for airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) “right now,” as the U.S. began bombing targets in Syria Monday night. 

{mosads}Kaine has led calls for President Obama to seek congressional authorization for the strikes against ISIS. On Tuesday, he said that the military mission had changed, requiring a new authorization.

“I think the mission has now switched to an offensive mission,” Kaine said on MSNBC, contrasting it with August strikes to protect U.S. personnel in Iraq. “Clearly I think Congress should be weighing in.”

Kaine is slated to deliver a speech Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Center for American Progress.

The senator cited President Obama’s statement this month that it is time “to go on offense” against ISIS as evidence that the mission had changed. 

When it’s an offensive mission “that’s when Congress is needed, that’s what the Constitution says,” Kaine said.

The administration argues that the 2001 authorization against the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks still applies because ISIS used to be affiliated with al Qaeda.

Kaine rejected that argument, adding that he thinks “a majority of members of Congress, of both houses, of both parties, share my belief.”

He said he is “confident” Congress will take up authorization after the elections in November. “In the last two weeks the leadership I think has changed, they do acknowledge the president needs authorization,” he said.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, has also said the Senate would take up authorization after the midterms. 

Congress already voted this month on a narrower measure authorizing Obama to arm and train Syrian rebel groups to counter ISIS.