Here is the text of the Obama admin...rization to use military force in Syria. Here is the most important part:
AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
(a) Authorization. — The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in connection with the use of chemical weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in the conflict in Syria in order to –
(1) prevent or deter the use or proliferation (including the transfer to terrorist groups or other state or non-state actors), within, to or from Syria, of any weapons of mass destruction, including chemical or biological weapons or components of or materials used in such weapons; or
(2) protect the United States and its allies and partners against the threat posed by such weapons.
The proposal is narrow in one sense, but quite broad in another. The purpose of the military action is limited to dealing with chemical weapons and other WMD's. it does not appear to authorize and other purpose, such as the overthrow of the Assad regime. However, it's broad enough to permit military action against the Syrian rebels if Obama determines they have WMD's, or are likely to acquire them. We could end up fighting
both sides of the Syrian civil war.
Of course, Congress doesn't have to accept the administrations wording. They can always authorize a narrower or broader authorization. (In practice though, it would be next to impossible to enforce restrictions on the use of military force once the bullets start flying. The main effect of congressional restrictions will be political, rather than legal.)
Onward and upward,
airforce
