Hagel Welcomes Proposed Resolution on Use of Force Against ISIL

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2015 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today expressed his support for a proposed resolution President Barack Obama is submitting to Congress that would authorize the use of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

“I welcome the president's proposed resolution … and urge Congress to pass it,” the secretary said in a statement.

Obama is expected to make a statement about the resolution -- formally known as an Authorization for Use of Military Force, or AUMF -- later today.

“While existing AUMFs provide legal authority for our ongoing military operations in Iraq and Syria, I agree with the president that bipartisan support for the proposed ISIL AUMF would provide an important signal of support to DoD personnel, of commitment to our partners, and of resolve to ISIL,” Hagel said.

Draft Language Reflects Congressional Input

The president's draft language reflects important input from Congress, the secretary said, and would give the Defense Department the support and flexibility needed in military operations against ISIL.

“The Department of Defense will continue to work with members of Congress to secure this resolution,” he added. “Given the nature of our adversary and the complexity of our ongoing campaign, I urge Congress to avoid any undue restraints on the commander in chief's choices in the effort to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL.”

ISIL represents a serious threat to the interests of the United States and its allies, Hagel said. “The depths of ISIL's barbarism are matched only by the scale of its ambition,” he said.

“DoD personnel are working each day -- with 60 coalition partners -- in our campaign against ISIL,” he continued. “We want Congress's full, bipartisan support in this fight, because the country is stronger when both parties and both branches of government stand and work together.”