For the first time in his presidency, Barack Obama is asking Congress for authorization to use force. He says ISIL, the so-called Islamic State, is "a grave threat" to the US, its allies and partners.
Congress is divided on the issue. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina objects to limiting ground forces…invoking Kayla Mueller, the American who died while she was an ISIS hostage. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut called combat troops "bulletin material for terrorists to bring even more forces to the fight in the Middle East and across the globe."
Karen DeYoung is reporting the story for the Washington Post.