WORLD_ USA_ White House: Yes, We’re at ‘War’ With ISIS

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

4:34 pm ET Sep 12, 2014

White House White House: Yes, We’re at ‘War’ With ISIS

By JEFFREY SPARSHOTT

Is the U.S. at war? The answer is evolving.


President Barack Obama this week authorized airstrikes in Syria and expanded a bombing campaign in Iraq as the U.S. seeks to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Sunni extremist group Islamic State.

But while the administration wants to indicate the seriousness of the threat posed by the militant group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, it also is making an effort to differentiate its strategy from previous administrations. Notably, Mr. Obama has promised U.S. ground troops won’t enter combat in Iraq or Syria. In other words, this isn’t a third Iraq War.

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As a result, the language used to describe U.S. actions is cautious and apparently subject to change.

When asked by ABC News on Thursday whether the U.S. is at war, Secretary of State John Kerry said no.

“No. Look, we’re engaged in a counterterrorism operation of a significant order,” Mr. Kerry said. “And counterterrorism operations can take a long time, they go on. I think ‘war’ is the wrong reference term with respect to that, but obviously it involves kinetic military action.”

The administration’s language shifted on Friday. Spokesmen for the White House and Pentagon used nearly the same wording to describe American action in Iraq and Syria.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest:

“This president, as is expected of American presidents, is stepping up to lead an international coalition to confront that threat and to deny ISIL a safe haven. And ultimately this international coalition will be responsible for degrading and destroying ISIL. So I think what you can conclude from this is the United States is at war with ISIL in the same way that we are at war with al Qaeda and its al Qaeda affiliates all around the globe.”

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby:

“This is not the Iraq war of 2002. But make no mistake, we know we are at war with ISIL in the same way we are at war and continue to be at war with al Qaeda and its affiliates.”

There’s another reason the Obama administration is explicitly linking Islamic State and al Qaeda. The White House says it has the authority it needs to take the fight to Islamic State under 2001′s Authorization for Use of Military Force, or AUMF. The law authorizes the use of force against the terrorists who committed the 9/11 attacks and has allowed a broad offensive against al Qaeda.

Islamic State is an al Qaeda offshoot, though the two groups have publicly split. Despite the falling out, the Obama administration says they remain linked and U.S. actions are part of the same fight.

To be sure, the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, though the last formal declaration was enacted on June 5, 1942, against Romania during World War II. Since then, Congress has been more inclined to authorize the use of force, rather than formally declare war. The most recent was the Authorization for Use of Force Against Iraq 2002.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/09/12/white-house-yes-were-at-war-with-isis/?mod=WSJBlog 

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