Senator Murphy concerned about giving Obama unlimited war powers against DAESH

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) caught nearly everybody off guard late Wednesday by quietly clearing the path for new legislation to declare war on the self-described Islamic State -- an issue he'd signaled for months he had no interest in touching.

McConnell introduced a sweeping authorization for the use of military force, or AUMF, that would give the president new authority to take action against the militant group also known as ISIS or ISIL. It wouldn't put any limits on the duration, geography or use of U.S. ground combat troops in the war, or on the means by which the U.S. military could act. It also would keep in place a broad AUMF from 2001 that never expired and that allows the president to take military action against anyone, anywhere, connected to the terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks.

In other words, it's a war authorization that's as wide open as it gets. (Read the text of McConnell's proposal below.)

White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine couldn't say if President Barack Obama would get behind McConnell's vision of an AUMF.

"We certainly welcome Republicans taking an interest in specifically authorizing the continued use of military force against ISIL," Hoffine said. "We will review the proposal put forward by Leader McConnell, and look forward to continued consultations as Congress undertakes what we hope will be the robust debate and amendment process the American people deserve on this important topic."

She added, "However, the president has also been clear from the beginning that we will not be engaging in the type of armed conflict that we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that remains the case."

Obama has been urging Congress for more than a year to pass a new AUMF tailored to the fight against ISIS. Since August 2014, he's been relying on the 2001 AUMF as his legal grounds for launching military strikes against ISIS without congressional signoff. The Constitution requires Congress -- not the president -- to declare wars. But the White House argues ISIS is an offshoot of al Qaeda, so it's still covered by the 2001 AUMF.