Obama to seek congressional approval for war against IS

Washington, Feb 6: President Barack Obama will send the US Congress a proposal to authorise the use of force against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group shortly, both the White House and the House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said, setting up what is sure to be a fierce political fight on Capitol Hill. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the administration would send "specific language" of an Authorisation for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) to Congress "relatively soon". Boehner said he was "expecting (an AUMF) sent up here in the coming days", CNN reported. The president is required by law to secure congressional approval for prolonged military operations, by passing an AUMF -- war authority -- on Capitol Hill. "When it comes to fighting a war, Congress should not tie the president's hands," Boehner said. "And we are going to go through a rigorous set of hearings and continue to discuss this." The time line for the bill remains murky. Obama went ahead with airstrikes in Iraq and Syria without Congress weighing in.