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Facing militant threat, Corker shoulders matters of war

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2015 file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Two years ago, Corker wondered aloud whether the standstill Senate was worth a grown man’s time. But Republicans’ political fortunes in last November’s elections and brutal terrorism overseas have put the two-term Tennessee lawmaker in the chairmanship of the storied Foreign Relations Committee and in charge of the weightiest choices to ever face lawmakers: whether to vote to authorize war. The high-stakes role of negotiating President Barack Obama’s request for new authority to destroy Islamic state militants is a test for the affable businessman and former Chattanooga mayor. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2015 file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Two years ago, Corker wondered aloud whether the standstill Senate was worth a grown man’s time. But Republicans’ political fortunes in last November’s elections and brutal terrorism overseas have put the two-term Tennessee lawmaker in the chairmanship of the storied Foreign Relations Committee and in charge of the weightiest choices to ever face lawmakers: whether to vote to authorize war. The high-stakes role of negotiating President Barack Obama’s request for new authority to destroy Islamic state militants is a test for the affable businessman and former Chattanooga mayor. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

By Associated Press February 19, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker is at the center of Congress’ debate over President Barack Obama’s war powers request.

The Tennessee Republican, who nearly quit the standstill Senate two years ago, is the face of the Republican response to Obama’s use of force proposal and the GOP’s drive to show that it can govern now that it controls the Senate. The 62-year-old father of two is expected to hold his committee’s first public hearings on the war authorization as soon as next week.

Obama is proposing new authority to continue the military campaign against Islamic extremists who have seized territory in Iraq and Syria, beheaded hostages, and burned one alive. Conservatives generally want fewer restrictions on Obama. Others want tight limits but would allow U.S. airstrikes and training assistance.