Barbara Lee opposes 'blank check' for 'endless war'

Barbara Lee, in photo, was the only member of either house of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11, 2001 attacks. From [HERE] Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.), a staunch anti-war Democrat, said on Tuesday that she is "gravely concerned" about the expansion of U.S. airstrikes into Syria and the continuation of strikes in Iraq.

"It is clear we are rapidly becoming more involved in another war in the Middle East," said Lee, who has called on the president to seek authorization for sustained military action in Iraq and Syria.

"I have called and will continue to call for a full congressional debate and vote on any military action, as required by the Constitution," she added in a statement. 

The Pentagon said the U.S. and partner nations conducted 14 strikes in Syria on Monday evening against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) targets and eight strikes against an al Qaeda affiliate known as the Khorasan group. Officials say the al Qaeda affiliate was in the "final stages" of executing an attack on Western targets, including potentially the U.S.

The strikes were a dramatic expansion of an U.S. air campaign against ISIS that until Monday had only struck targets in Iraq. Pentagon officials on Tuesday said the campaign could last "years."

Although Congress approved the president's proposal to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels to defeat ISIS on the ground, it has not yet authorized the president's overall military plan against the terrorist group.

The White House said it has the authority it needs to strike in Iraq and Syria, but some Democratic and Republican lawmakers say the president should come to Congress for any sustained military campaign.