Bob Menendez

We must learn from the tragic foreign policy mistakes of the past. We cannot afford to make them again.

I do not think there is a Democrat or Republican who does not believe that we have to degrade or defeat ISIL.

What it did not do, and what I think Democrats are not willing to do, is to give this or any other President an open-ended authorization for war, a blank check.

Every single thing that the United States is doing right now in Iraq, things that I support, I might add, to deal with ISIS, every single thing that we are doing is really inuring to the benefit of Iran.

This AUMF is adequate to the task.

Your unity would also send an unmistakable message to the leaders of Daesh. They have to understand they cannot divide us.

There is an overwhelming consensus that Daesh has to be stopped.

We do not know of a single Democrat in Congress--in the United States Senate anyway--that supports that authorization for the use of military force.

I just hope you can go back to the men and women who served this country with great sacrifice, and in that spirit we are united.

To support the President, this and any future one, to degrade and defeat ISIL, and at the same time not to provide the open-endedness...

We need to know what combat operations may be undertaken by United States troops on the ground in Syria and Iraq.

Finally, Secretary Carter, over the weekend, Boko Haram in Nigeria declared its allegiance to ISIL.

But even without an Iraq or Afghanistan-sized commitment still can commit thousands of troops for a long period of time.

If, in fact, your campaign as presently designed needs to morph, change, to the realities of what is happening, do you believe the authorization will allow you to do that?

The President already has statutory authority to act against ISIL, but a clear and formal expression of this Congress' backing at this moment in time would dispel doubt.

We simply cannot allow this collection of murderers and thugs to achieve, in their group, their ambition...

We have an obligation to the families who are sending their children into harm's way to understand our goals.

I think many of us are surprised that that authorization could be used today against ISIS in Syria.

I would like to believe that it is only to fight ISIL. But I do not believe that their purposes at the end of the day--we have different goals as it relates to Iraq.

The AUMF that was passed out last year that Democrats put together has no geographic limitations

The resolution that we have proposed would give the President a clear mandate to prosecute the armed component of this conflict against Daesh.

Our Nation is strongest, always has been, when we act together.

Clearly, there is a need to define exactly what would be allowed.

Let me be very clear. Very clear. I have always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law.

I am not going anywhere.