Foley’s death isn’t changing views in Congress (2024)

WASHINGTON (AP) — For all its horror, the beheading of an American journalist in Syria appears unlikely to change lawmakers’ minds about military intervention against Islamic State extremists. It’s equally unclear whether the Obama administration will be asking them to back a new U.S. approach.

President Barack Obama said the United States wouldn’t scale back its military posture in Iraq in response to James Foley’s killing. But he offered no specifics Wednesday about what new steps he might take to protect additional captives and other Americans, and ward off what he described as the al-Qaida offshoot’s genocidal ambitions.

The initial response from members of Congress was mixed, reflecting the divide of the American people. While all decried Foley’s death, hawks, particularly Republicans, continued to assail the Obama administration’s limited airstrikes in Iraq and its refusal to target Islamic State bases in neighboring Syria. The president’s supporters voiced support for the current, cautious intervention in Iraq. No tea partiers or dovish Democrats who have cautioned against military action publicly changed position.

“The president’s rhetoric was excellent, but he didn’t outline steps to stop the slaughter,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of Obama’s harshest foreign policy critics, said in a telephone interview. “The strategy should be to launch all-out air attacks in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIL,” he said, using an alternative acronym for the Sunni militants.

A U.S. official said Thursday the Islamic State militants had demanded $132.5 million, or 100 million euros, in ransom for Foley’s release.

A second U.S. official said the demands were sent in emails to Foley’s family in New Hampshire. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ransom demands by name.

Philip Balboni, CEO of the Boston-based GlobalPost, told reporters Wednesday the company had spent millions on efforts to bring Foley home, including hiring an international security firm. Foley was doing freelance reporting for GlobalPost.

When asked at a news conference about a ransom purportedly demanded by the kidnappers, Balboni said the price tag involved both financial and political demands, and that it was “substantial” and always remained the same.

He declined to elaborate.

Balboni did say that he understood there were “good reasons” why the U.S. government does not acquiesce to kidnappers’ ransom demands, but said the policy should be revisited. He also said the family had received a “direct contact” from Foley passed through a recently released European hostage. But he declined to say what the message said.

The militants first demanded the money late last year, Balboni said.

Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday that the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the matter.

“Those who would perpetrate such acts need to understand something,” Holder said. “We have long memories and our reach is very wide and we will not forget what happened. People will be held accountable one way or another.”

Interrupting his family vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Obama denounced the Islamic State as a “cancer” threatening the entire Middle East. And military planners weighed the possibility of sending a small number of additional U.S. troops to Baghdad. Still, Obama was vague about what more his administration would do, saying the U.S. will stand with others to “act against” the extremists.

“We will be vigilant and we will be relentless,” he said. “When people harm Americans, anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done.”

That message was clearly inadequate for McCain, the Republican candidate Obama defeated for the presidency in 2008. The Arizona senator, who has clamored for years for U.S. action against government forces and extremists in Syria, said the Islamic State has “erased the boundaries between Syria and Iraq, and we must treat it the same way.” Otherwise, he said, the militants will enjoy a sanctuary in Syria where they can regroup and create more chaos.

Other Republicans echoed that message. “The Iraqis have already demonstrated that they cannot stop them on their own,” said Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., a House Intelligence Committee member and former Army officer. “The president’s current path of action has been far too limited to make a difference.”

Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, said the U.S. must aggressively arm the Islamic State’s opponents. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called Obama’s approach “piecemeal.”

Some Democrats, too, pushed for expanding U.S. military action into Syria. “Otherwise, they will continue to threaten Americans and the interests of our country,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

Others, however, expressed caution and said the president was reacting appropriately.

Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and House Intelligence Committee member, said the administration has to be on guard against mission creep after launching operations to protect Americans and provide humanitarian relief. The reasons have since expanded to guarding Iraqi infrastructure and solidifying Iraq’s new government, he said.

“The mission already crept a bit,” Schiff said in a telephone interview. “The administration would be wise to not get sucked in. That’s going to be very hard.”

He said Foley’s death “brings home in the most horrifically graphic terms what a scourge” the Islamic State is, but it doesn’t provide a broader lesson for U.S. policy.

“If they have time to consolidate their gains, they will attack us. If we take the fight to them, they will attack us,” Schiff said.

Foley’s death isn’t changing views in Congress (2024)

FAQs

How did the role of Congress change? ›

Final answer: The role of Congress transformed from a weak single-house body under the Articles of Confederation to a strong bicameral legislature with the power to tax, coin money, and regulate commerce under the U.S. Constitution.

On what day of the year does the US Constitution state that Congress must begin a new session? ›

Under the provisions of Section 2 of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, Congress must assemble at least once every year, at noon on the third day of January, unless by law they appoint a different day. A Congress lasts for two years, commencing in January of the year following the biennial election of Members.

What can Congress change? ›

Powers of Congress

All legislative power in the government is vested in Congress, meaning that it is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws. Executive Branch agencies issue regulations with the full force of law, but these are only under the authority of laws enacted by Congress.

How often does Congress change? ›

Congressional elections happen every two years. At that time, one-third of the Senate and every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election. Midterm congressional elections take place halfway between presidential elections. The most recent congressional elections were in November 2022.

Which states have the most congressmen? ›

As of the 2020 census, the largest delegation was California, with 52 representatives. Six states have only one representative apiece: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Can a bill become a law without the President's signature? ›

Presidential Actions (Transcript)

If the bill is signed in that ten-day period, it becomes law. If the president declines to either sign or veto it – that is, he does not act on it in any way – then it becomes law without his signature (except when Congress has adjourned under certain circumstances).

Who becomes President if the President can no longer serve? ›

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

How did the Congress originate and evolve over time? ›

One analyst examining Congressional history suggested there were four main eras, with considerable overlap, and these included the formative era (1780s–1820s), the partisan era (1830s–20th century), the committee era (1910s–1960s), and the contemporary era (1970s–today).

How did the role of Congress change as the Articles of Confederation? ›

Under the Articles, the states, not Congress, had the power to tax. Congress could raise money only by asking the states for funds, borrowing from foreign governments, or selling western lands. In addition, Congress could not draft soldiers or regulate trade.

What caused the change in congressional representation? ›

In summary

California loses one of 53 House seats after 2020 Census found the Golden State's population growth slowing.

What is the role of the Congress in changing the Constitution? ›

An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.

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