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Should any president be able to send U.S. forces into combat abroad without the consent of Congress? Our Constitution says no. But this Congress refuses even to hold hearings on whether Barack Obama should be authorized to deploy large forces into Iraq and Syria to crush ISIS terrorist strongholds.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has tried unsuccessfully over several years to generate congressional hearings on the war powers issue, but has stimulated no action. His frustration was obvious when The Daily Progress carried a story headlined “Kaine madder than ever on authorization of force” (Dec. 16 in print).

Kaine says both political parties are at fault for not making a decision on whether President Obama should escalate the war against ISIS.

In contrast, he cites the British Parliament’s debate and vote to authorize Prime Minister David Cameron to join the air against ISIS in Syria and berates his colleagues for their timidity: “They want to criticize the president, but if they can avoid voting to authorize or stop him, they can feel completely scot-free, and they’re not going to be held accountable.” Not being held accountable is a fine description of this Congress.