"This is a brand new war. This is not the fight against Saddam Hussein that was initially authorized."
Sen. Chris Murphy
The Pentagon said military strikes have begun against advancing Islamic militants operating near U.S. personnel in northern Iraq. That announcement comes after President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes and humanitarian aid in the region.
Speaking to reporters at the state capitol, Senator Chris Murphy said humanitarian aid seems necessary and appropriate, but he still has concerns about the broader military mission in Iraq. "You're talking about a regional conflict which pitch a Sunni insurgency against Shiite leaders in both Syria and Iraq. Right now, we are on both sides of that conflict," Murphy said. "We are supporting the Sunni insurgency inside Syria. We are supporting the Shiite leader against the Sunni insurgency in Iraq."
One element of that Sunni insurgency, The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, is a jihadi organization that was formerly part of Al Qaeda. Over the past year, they've claimed territory in both countries.
Murphy said the President doesn't have the ability to conduct a long-term bombing mission in Iraq without new Congressional approval. "Some will argue that the authorization for military force originally drawn up before the invasion of Iraq continues to give him authority," Murphy said. "This is a brand new war. This is not the fight against Saddam Hussein that was initially authorized. This is a fight against a very new Sunni insurgency."
President Obama's announcement of strikes against ISIS reflect the deepest American engagement in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew in late 2011, after nearly a decade of war.
