Kaine renews call for authorization of military force against ISIS

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called on Congress Thursday to authorize the U.S. military action against the Islamic State terror group, five months into its airstrike campaign.

“Today we enter the sixth month of war against ISIL without Congressional authorization," Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Thursday.

The U.S.-led coalition began its airstrike campaign against the group, known alternately as ISIS or ISIL, last August. There have been 5,886 weapons dropped as of Dec. 31.

Lawmakers sought to approve a specific Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIS last year, but was not able to do so before the holiday recess.

Kaine called it "an unacceptable abdication of our most solemn responsibility as legislators."

"Now it’s time to finish what we started and not shy away from what’s required to reach a political consensus on the serious threat ISIL poses and the scope of this critical mission," he said.

Approving a new AUMF would grant the White House's approval from Congress, but could also constrain its authority to wage war against the terrorist group. Several lawmakers, including Kaine, would restrict ground forces from battle, except in specific cases.

The White House maintains it has all the authority it needs to wage war against the Islamic State, using a 2001 AUMF that justified the war in Afghanistan against al Qaeda and associated forces.

"Additional delay not only sets a dangerous precedent for future conflicts, it dishonors the sacrifice of American service members who are risking their lives in this mission," Kaine said.

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