Graham pushes Obama to back broad ISIS war bill

Sen. Lindsey Graham wants President Obama to back wide-reaching legislation authorizing the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

The South Carolina Republican, who is running for president, sent a letter to Obama Tuesday saying that he should work with Congress to “immediately” pass Graham’s legislation, which he introduced last week. 

“Unlike some other proposals, my Joint Resolution does not place artificial constraints on you, and your successors, as the commander-in-chief,” he wrote.

{mosads}”Placing artificial limitations on the authorization would be seen as a sign of weakness by ISIL and a lack of resolve by our allies,” he added using an alternate name for the group.

Graham’s proposal has no limits on using ground troops against the terrorist organization — a provision that will likely gain quick pushback from Democrats — as well as no expiration date. 

He also underscored that his legislation would be as broad as the 2001 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF), which has received skepticism from Democrats. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) previously introduced a measure that would sunset the 2001 law. 

Graham, however, said that lawmakers must send a message to ISIS that “we will hunt you down and kill you no matter how long it takes. You are not safe anywhere.”

While Obama called for lawmakers to pass an AUMF against ISIS during a speech Sunday, proposals from Graham and other lawmakers face an uphill battle with momentum stalled in Congress. 

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a key advocate of an AUMF, suggested that while he was glad to hear the administration call for legislation, it likely wouldn’t get the issue across the finish line. 

“I think we’re going to get there, but I think we’re sadly going to get there because the mutating nature of the threats is going to shame Congress into action,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have appeared cool to the idea of taking up a war authorization bill. Meanwhile, Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the top members of the Foreign Relations Committee, have repeatedly acknowledged that an AUMF faces deep political and policy divisions. 

Graham said last week that he hadn’t spoken to Corker about his war legislation. 

“I respect Bob Corker. It should go through his committee. I hope he’ll take it up. I’ve got nothing against the normal process,” he added. “I just want this debate.”