A 28-year-old American Army officer deployed to Kuwait has sued President Barack Obama because he believes the war against the Islamic State (IS) is “illegal” as it has not been authorised by Congress.
The plaintiff, Captain Nathan Michael Smith, voiced strong support for fighting the IS but, citing his “conscience” and his vow to uphold the Constitution, he said he believed that the mission lacked proper authorisation from Congress, The New York Times reported.
He is seeking “a declaration that President Obama’s war against ISIS is illegal because Congress has not authorised it,” according to court documents. Capt. Smith, commissioned in 2010, is now stationed at Kuwait as an intelligence officer with the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, which is responsible for overseeing the fight against the IS.
