NY Congressman Engel Reacts to White House Proposal for Military Force Against ISIL

New York Congressman Eliot Engel says President Obama's proposal for increased action in the fight against ISIL's a "reasonable first start." 

 

The Democratic Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs says the White House was smart to include a 3-year cap on authorizing the use of military force in the proposal.  

 

But Engel says the devil's in the details.

 

"The bottom line is, we want to give the President the tools he needs to fight ISIL without getting bogged down in a land war, and that's sort of like threading a needle," Engel said. "It's kind of difficult to do, but it has to be done, and I believe it will be done."

 

The 3-year authorization cap means it will span both the end of the Obama administration and the beginning of his successor's.  That's why Congressman Engel says it especially important members of Congress put partisan differences aside and work to get the authorization right the first time.

 

"I would say, respectfully, to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that they ought to look at this proposal, detach it from the administration, and just look it as a way for the United States to move forward in terms of being able to defeat ISIL," Engel said.

 

Engel says the Foreign Affairs Committee will hold hearings in the coming days to closely analyze the language of the proposal and determine the next course of action.