Fort Report: To Use Force

When I was a young college student, I spent several months in the country of Egypt. I lived for a time with farmers on a large oasis in the midst of the desert. English was limited so you did the best you could.

One day I remember how a Muslim man took his neighbor’s wrist, pressed it to his forehead, and bowed slightly. His neighbor was a Coptic Christian. He wanted to show a sign of respect to his friend—and tell me that I was welcome. Members of the Coptic Church, which was founded nearly two millennia ago, often tattoo their wrists with crosses to signify their identity and faith.

This man’s simple but profound gesture is difficult to reconcile with the scenes of terrorism that are dominating headlines from the Middle East. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has conquered large swaths of Syria and Iraq and continues its brutal religious and ethnic cleansing, even making propagandistic films to horrify its opponents and recruit radicalized conscripts around the world. While the civilized world is reeling from the scenes of the fiery death of a caged Jordanian Air Force pilot, a new film shows black-clad militants marching 21 captive Coptic men—poor migrant workers from Egypt—along the shore of the Mediterranean. They are then beheaded for no reason other than their Christian faith. The gruesome act occurred in Libya, demonstrating that ISIL has metastasized far beyond its original borders.

ISIL has also murdered Americans. The White House confirmed that ISIL is responsible for the deaths of four American hostages, including Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old humanitarian worker who was kidnapped while assisting refugees in Syria. Recent shootings in Paris and Copenhagen demonstrate that ISIL could jeopardize our security at home—and nearly everyone agrees that one of Washington’s highest priorities should be keeping America safe.

President Obama last week requested from Congress an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIL. The request, which comes amid ongoing American airstrikes that have already damaged the organization’s operations, is appropriate. The current legal parameters go back to the post-9/11 period and are clearly stretched. 

Whether or not an authorization is granted, Congress can now debate the merits and strategies of a military effort to degrade and destroy ISIL. America’s airstrikes began last August against ISIL positions in Northern Iraq as part of a humanitarian intervention to save thousands of vulnerable religious minorities facing imminent genocide. The key to ultimately defeating ISIL should depend on the strength of an international coalition, including effective partner countries in the region who must fight for themselves.

In response to the death of its pilot, Jordan escalated its air campaign. After the execution of the Coptic Christians, Egypt launched retaliatory airstrikes against ISIL targets in Libya. In Northern Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga, a moderate and capable force, show determined courage in fighting ISIL. The Kurds are winning a number of strategic victories and defending the values of tolerance and pluralism, sheltering hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Christians, Yezidis, and innocent Muslims who have fled ISIL’s relentless persecution. The Kurds deserve our robust support. 

Authorizing the use of force is one of the most serious responsibilities of Congress. Admittedly, there is significant mistrust between Congress and the White House. Too broad of an authorization could lead to endless war. Too narrow of an authorization could hamper the flexibility of necessary operations. No authorization could give the President a weaker hand in security matters.

What I also see is that other countries will gladly hide behind U.S. efforts and minimize their own risks. That can’t happen either.