Elections

Kaine Breaks With Clinton: We Didn’t Have Authority To Bomb ISIS In Libya

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Jonah Bennett Contributor
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Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine broke with nominee Hillary Clinton Sunday, saying the U.S. did not have the authority to launch airstrikes against Islamic State in Libya.

“I don’t think the current legal authorities are sufficient to wage this war against ISIL,” Kaine said Sunday in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I have very grave doubts about whether the legal authorities currently in place allow us to wage an offensive war against ISIL.”

Kaine’s statement represents a break from Clinton’s position, which she explicated during a Democratic debate in November, 2015, The Wall Street Journal reports.

In response to a question on whether or not she thought the 2001 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) applies to the new fight against ISIS, she stated, “It certainly does.”

Kaine downplayed any disagreement by electing to focus on an area he does agree with Clinton on, namely that Congress should pass a new war resolution to more explicitly target ISIS. The original AUMF from 2001 allows the U.S. to fight anyone responsible for the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Since al-Qaida was listed as responsible and ISIS is an outgrowth of al-Qaida, the Obama administration has argued its airstrikes on ISIS are fully legitimate.

“Secretary Clinton has said Congress should do its job instead of hiding under their desks, and have a debate and have a vote on military action against ISIL,” Kaine said. “If we do that, I’m confident that Congress would support military action. But what we see is a Congress that doesn’t want to vote yes or no.”

But the Republican-dominated Congress is wary of passing a new AUMF, because it might be seen as a full endorsement of the way the Obama administration is conducting the war.

On Aug. 1, the U.S. began launching airstrikes against ISIS militants in Libya, specifically in the city of Sirte, where the group maintains a strong presence.

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