Sen. Chris Coons (D) is reviving calls for Congress to approve renewed military activity against the so-called Islamic State in Syria.
Coons says it’s in the public’s interest for lawmakers to sign off on boots on the ground instead of the Obama administration using executive authority to do so.
President Obama recently announced sending up to 50 special forces troops to the war-torn country to combat Islamic militants.
Opinions on how many, if any, troops Congress would want to send to Syria range from none to a full-on military campaign. Coons says he prefers a middle ground.
“I don’t think we will be successful in the conflict against ISIS if we have literally no boots on the ground. There is a role for advisors and trainers for special forces and those who are supporting our air missions," he said.
But senior Sen. Tom Carper (D) says current military missions in Syria are appropriate without putting troops in harms way.
"I don't think many of us are interested in boots on the ground in Syria, okay? I know I'm not," Carper said.
“We are using our air assets, we’re providing support for other countries. We can’t be the world’s policemen. We can’t be everywhere doing everything. We have an appropriate role to play and we’re trying to do that."
Any debate over the use of military force would need to start at the committee level in Congress.
Coons says without a bipartisan coalition, he’s not optimistic that any progress will be made.