WASHINGTON: Both chambers of the US Congress have now authorised President Barack Obama to arm and train “moderate” rebels in Syria to fight Islamic State militants.

On Thursday, the Senate approved a $1 trillion government-funding bill that gives the president new authority to battle the group, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS).

Senators voted 78-22 in favour of the bill, with nine Democrats and 12 Republicans voting “no,” along with one independent.

The House of Representatives approved it in a 273-156 vote on Wednesday, with more than 80 Democrats breaking with the president to reject his request.

The bill is now at the president’s desk for his signature.

It allocates $500 million not only for arming and training of Syrian rebels, but also to the expansion of US military action in Iraq. Included in the bill is also the extension of US government funding until December 11. Speaking after Congress approved his plan, President Obama welcomed the bipartisan vote.

“The House and the Senate have now voted to support a key element of our strategy,” he said. “We are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together.”

“When you harm our citizens, when you threaten the United States – it doesn’t divide us, it unites us,” he added.

Some lawmakers, however, expressed concern over the authorisation, which, they said, gave too much power to the presidents. Others opposed lumping the Syria authority together with the funding bill.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, a Democrat, said lawmakers need to begin considering the passage of a new war authorisation.

“We have a special responsibility given to us by the Constitution that says the American people declare war, not the president,” Mr Durbin said.

Senator Rand Paul, a Democrat who voted against the proposal, said he too saw the Islamic State as a major threat but he also believed that wars should not become a routine.

“They should be few and far between...They should not be [hidden] in the pages of a 1,000-page bill and shuffled under the rug,” he said.

Anti-war liberals activists said they too wanted to contain the IS militants but feared that the vote represented a dangerous march to war.

Some members of the House warned that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the administration to ensure the weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.

Published in Dawn, September 20th , 2014