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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    The Political Battle over Going to War

    The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, and President Obama has formally asked it to authorize limited warfare against ISIL , the so-called Islamic State.

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    By Warren Olney • Feb 12, 2015 • 1 min read

    The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, and President Obama has formally asked it to authorize limited warfare against ISIL, the so-called Islamic State.

    Republicans and Democrats agree on his objective — but they're divided about his proposal. The President's military action would last for just three years with no "enduring" ground combat, but he'd also leave in effect the many options given George W. Bush after 911. For conservative Republicans, there are too many limits. For liberal Democrats, there aren't enough. As positions are being staked out on Capitol Hill, what would it really take to destroy the Islamic State?

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

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      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

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      Gideon Brower

      Independent Producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Molly O'Toole

      journalist working on a book about global migration

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ryan Goodman

      New York University / Just Security

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      John Bellinger

      Council on Foreign Relations

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