Robert Hurt on President Obama request for use of force authorization against ISIL

Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after the President released a draft Authorization for Use of Military Force resolution against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL):

“I fully support the President’s ultimate objective of dismantling and destroying the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) because I believe that it is indeed a direct threat to the United States and our national security.  The Constitution requires the President to obtain authorization from Congress to wage war, and the American people and their representatives in Congress must be afforded the opportunity to engage in an honest and candid debate on the scope of any military action before sending our brave men and women in uniform into harm’s way.

“It has been more than six months since the President began using military force against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.  While this request is long overdue, I look forward to reviewing the President’s proposal and expect that he will also clearly detail his strategy to achieve our objectives as part of this important process.”