Senator Chuck Grassley
Reports say President Obama may ask Congress this week for authorization to use military force overseas to tackle terrorists from the Islamic State, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley isn’t certain yet how he’d vote on such a proposal. Grassley, a Republican, was asked if the U.S. should go “all in” to wage a war against ISIS.
“When you say ‘go all in,’ if that includes massive numbers of Americans on the ground, not at this point,” Grassley says. “If it means advisors, that’s an entirely different thing.” Reports say the president’s request may come as soon as tomorrow and Grassley says he’d prefer to reserve comment until after he sees the proposal.
“I haven’t made up my mind how I’m going to vote on whatever the language is,” Grassley says, “and I shouldn’t say anything until I read the language.” Some critics say President Obama is already making moves that are outside the scope of the power reserved for the executive office and Grassley says he’s not convinced we should get further involved.
“I’m kind of reluctant to vote for anything, considering how this president has done such a bad job as commander-in-chief, drawing lines in the sand and no consequences for those lines being crossed,” Grassley says. He’s “lost confidence” in President Obama and Grassley says, “I’m not sure I want to give him more power,” but adds, ISIS is “a very big problem and a very big threat, even to the United States.”