More tense than expected? Just how tense was Tuesday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the administration’s plan to deal with ISIS? This tense:
McCain: Rawwarararararrrr. Kery: rawrrr. McCain: RAWERWRARARWWRRR pic.twitter.com/4BzshPBERe
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
That tweet about sums it up, and although Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was particularly critical of Kerry, he certainly wasn’t the only one at the hearing frustrated by the administration’s literal lack of a plan to assist the Syrian opposition fighting the Islamic State. Kerry did produce a sort of rough draft of the authorization for military force.
Sec. Kerry gives general outline of what admin thinks war authorization should look like for ISIL pic.twitter.com/IMMpv10sy6
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
"Importantly – we do not think an AUMF should include a geographic
limitation," Sec. Kerry's testimony re: ISIL.— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Kerry's outline for new war auth for ISIL: No geographic limits, 3-yr limit, don't bind Obama's hands on potential for combat troops.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was apparently hoping for something a little more concrete.
Sen. Menendez to Sec. Kerry, in short: You haven't sent us an AUMF in 5-6 months, so we have our own ideas ok?
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Sen. Menendez to Kerry re AUMF: There's a famous movie that says 'show me the money.' I say 'show the me the language.'"
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Recommended
Senators keep asking Kerry why Obama hasn't given Congress AUMF language, for mos. Kerry won't answer, says Menendez's language is decent.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
John Kerry on #IslamicState at Senate hearing: 'Let me be crystal clear: We didn't start this. We're not about to start a 3rd war' #UNFNEWS
— Kyle Mazza (@KyleMazzaWUNF) December 9, 2014
'Let me be crystal clear: We didn't start this. We're not about to start a 3rd war', US John Kerry says on Islamic State at Senate hearing
— NTA News (@NTANewsNow) December 9, 2014
Another clash with McCain left Kerry feeling as though he was being paddled.
"I'm not going to sit here like a ping pong ball." — Sec. John Kerry
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
What?
https://twitter.com/Bridget_PJM/status/542429740263428096
Live now: McCain walks out of Senate hearing after charging John Kerry, Obama admin with allowing Syria rebels to be 'slaughtered'
— Travis J. Tritten (@Travis_Tritten) December 9, 2014
What’s the plan then? The president has refused to commit to combat troops on the ground, but let’s leave that option open.
#Developing: In Senate hearing, Kerry refuses to rule out boots on the ground against #ISIL for situations "impossible to foresee." #jpost
— Michael Wilner (@mawilner) December 9, 2014
Sec. Kerry basically saying trust us, Obama doesn't want to send in combat troops. (But don't put that limit in AUMF).
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
"We're at war," Sen. Kaine says to committee and Kerry. "And Congress has not really done a darn thing about it."
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Kerry: Nobody's talking about bombing everywhere. Paul: Then let's say that in AUMF. Kerry: I don't think we should put limits on president.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Sec. Kerry: "We are not going to war in the way that we went to war in Iraq." Rand Paul: So it's not war, it's kinetic action?
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
Here’s the real quote of the day from the hearing.
LOL: Sec. Kerry in AUMF hearing: "President Obama deserves credit for–." Menendez: We have to move on now.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 9, 2014
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