This is the Cato Daily Podcast for Thursday, February 12, 2015.

I'm Caleb Brown.

The President wants Congress to give him the authority to go back into Iraq to fight the Islamic State.

Or anywhere else, this group operates, and fight anyone

else who pledges allegiance to them wherever they are.

Gene Healy, Vice President of the Cato Institute, says even that broad authority isn't enough

for some members of Congress.

Yesterday, the President sent over a draft authorization for the use of military force for the fight against the

Islamic State that's been going on for six months. In August, it's actually six months ago last

Saturday, President Obama unilaterally launched our latest war in the Middle East.

And it's been quite a process in October. our latest war in the Middle East.

And it's been quite a process.

In October, they finally got around to thinking up a name for what we were doing.

That's Operation Inherent Resolve.

In November, the president promised to go to Congress for authorization.

And it wasn't until yesterday that we got to see what the basic shape of that authorization

looks like.

He sent over a three-page draft A-U-M-F to Congress, along with the message insisting that in existing statutes

already provide him with all the authority he needs to wage war anyway.

So it's not clear what the point is. the generous requirements of the War Powers Act with respect to notifying and seeking permission

from Congress?

Sure.

...