MARK SHIELDS:

Well, first on Kayla Mueller, I mean, this is a woman who devoted her life generously, from every report, just comforting the afflicted. And so the tragedy of her death is even compounded more by the life she led and the loss she leaves.

Judy, ISIS and the Middle East remain a Rubik's Cube that the United States has not figured out. Everything over there is five-sided, and we just — we haven't figured out — and this is not a war to be won. They are a force to be controlled, to be reduced, to be managed.

But this is not — we are really not going to reintroduce American ground troops into the area. We can to some degree restrict their military effectiveness. But that is the reality. We have already done that once in this century. We sent American ground troops in. And we're not going to do it.

As far as the authorization of force, a shout-out to Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. Alone, he's been a voice for several months saying, we're sending Americans into combat, into harm's way. We are at war. The Congress has abdicated its responsibility by not declaring or confronting that or dealing with it or passing any sort of resolution. It's the most solemn responsibility the Congress has, and they have ducked it. They ducked it through the election.

The White House was thrilled not to have a vote. Every White House, including this one, doesn't want — they want carte blanche. They want to decide when to use power. They don't want their — quote — "hands tied."

And so we're finally going to have a debate in this country. And I think Senator Kaine deserves — of Virginia — deserves a lot of credit for forcing the hand of the administration.