WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine says President Obama does not have the authority to send special operations forces into Syria to help in fighting ISIS, even in a support role.
But that said, is the president taking the right step?
"I think the answer is yes but," King says. "It's clear that you're not going to defeat ISIS or anybody else with strictly air power. History tells us that. There has to be a force on the ground of some kind."
King says the soldiers doing the fighting should be from Muslim nations in the region that have a stake in stabilizing the situation in Syria.
He says the president has sought authorization from Congress for both air strikes and limited military involvement for months, but Congress has not acted on the president's request. King says it's time for Congress to do their job and pass authorization legislation.
"Common sense and the constitution says no, that Congress has the responsibility," he says. "We haven't been exercising that responsibility and I think it is time we did so. This isn't a case where the president is trying to grab power. He sent an authorization to Congress and we are the ones that haven't acted on it."
