Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation in Washington are reacting with some concern to President Barack Obama’s new plan for fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also know as ISIS or the Islamic State.

So far, as Politico reports, Obama’s war proposal is not being terribly well-received on Capitol Hill. The Intercept, meanwhile, has this take: Obama Asks Congress to Authorize War That’s Already Started.

Here’s excerpts from statements from our local leaders in D.C.:

Sen. Mazie Hirono:

“Congress has a key role to play in the U.S. response to the horrific and fast-moving threat ISIL poses, and I would be troubled if the President did not seek authorization for the use of military force. As seen with the death of Kayla Mueller and barbaric murders of countless others, ISIL continues to inflict terror and escalate instability in the Middle East. …

“I expect a thoughtful and thorough debate on a limited and narrowly tailored military authorization. I will continue to hold the President to his promise of no boots on the ground. This will not be another Iraq War.”

Sen. Brian Schatz:

“The United States, working in support of coalition partners, needs a clear strategy for defeating this threat, and Congress must exercise its constitutional role in authorizing any use of force. …

I am troubled by the ambiguity regarding our commitment of ground troops as well as the lack of specificity about what individuals and groups will be considered associated with ISIL. Without that specificity, Congress risks authorizing a war against an ever expanding list of persons and organizations in an ever growing number of countries. …”

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 25, 2014.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Rep. Mark Takai:

“I have reservations regarding whether or not the proposed authorization will be the exclusive authority for the use of military force against ISIL.  The past decade has been complicated by war authorizations that are essentially a blank check for use of force in other conflicts. In addition, the proposal is vague regarding use of U.S. ground troops, with no specific geographical limitations that this conflict will take place within. …”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office did not release any comment as of 4 p.m. HST. If something comes later, I’ll update this blog.

Meanwhile, here’s what the Obama administration has to say about this major development:

The White House: Remarks by the President on Request to Congress for Authorization of Force Against ISIL

The White House: Letter from the President — Authorization for the Use of United States Armed Forces in connection with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant