troops to train and equip Syrian rebels - activity planned to take place in Saudi Arabia - would require additional congressional approval. The White House and many lawmakers say deployment of U.S. Obama says he already has the authority to order airstrikes against militants in Syria, although so far, those attacks have come only in neighboring Iraq. The forces are simultaneously trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad and defeat militants seeking to create an Islamist caliphate in the heart of the Middle East. That agenda changed abruptly on Wednesday night, when Obama delivered a prime-time speech from the White Houseseeking “additional authorities and resources to train and equip” rebels. On the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he expected legislation ratifying Obama’s request to clear Congress by the end of next week when lawmakers hope to wrap up their work and go home to campaign for re-election.Ĭongress’ two other top officials, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, also said Obama would likely get the support he seeks.Ĭongress is in the midst of a two-week session that had been expected to focus on domestic issues, principally legislation to extend routine government funding beyond the end of the Sept. ![]() “We ought to give the president what he’s asking for,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said, although he swiftly added that many Republicans believe the Democratic commander in chief’s strategy is too tepid to crush militants who have overrun parts of Iraq and Syria and beheaded two American journalists. ![]() WASHINGTON (AP) - Bending for once to the will of the White House, Republicans and Democrats coalesced Thursday behind President Barack Obama’s call to train and arm Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State militants and pointed toward votes in the heat of a midterm election campaign.
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