Congressional Democrats question US airstrikes in Iraq
President Barack Obama intends to meet House and Senate leaders of both parties on Wednesday to discuss options.
WASHINGTON — Key Democrats expressed deep skepticism about US military intervention in Iraq on Tuesday as the Obama administration sought to gauge Capitol Hill's mood.
President Barack Obama himself will meet with the House and Senate leaders of both parties at the White House on Wednesday to discuss "foreign policy issues, including the situation in Iraq," according to the White House. And administration officials are expected to brief the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees on Wednesday, followed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday.
"There should be close consultations — they need to know where Congress stands in support of that, whether that be resources or any other authorities," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., told Al-Monitor.
Menendez said there's "different views" on whether the administration would need to seek congressional approval for military action, including airstrikes. "It depends under what authorities and for what purposes," he said.
