Overnight Defense: Senate panel to weigh anti-ISIS strategy

THE TOPLINE: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to host a hearing Wednesday on President Obama's proposed authorization for use of military force (AUMF) against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Senators will question Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on their strategy and the measure's language, which has been met with skepticism from both Republicans and Democrats. At issue is the White House ban on the use of troops in "enduring offensive ground combat operations" -- which Democrats oppose for being too open-ended and Republicans oppose for being a restriction on U.S. military forces. Administration officials have not been able to describe what is meant by that language, and will have a chance to try again to explain. Kerry and the U.S. envoy to the American-led anti-ISIS coalition retired Marine Gen. John Allen told lawmakers that "enduring" could mean two weeks or two years. To assuage Democratic concerns, the authorization would expire in three years and force the next president to request new authority. It would also repeal the 2002 authorization for the Iraq War. However, to assuage Republican, there is no geographic limit, with the measure extending to cover those "associated" with ISIS, and it doesn't the 2001 authorization for the Afghanistan War. Republicans and Democrats on the committee must scramble to find language that could survive on the Senate and House floors. Senators on Tuesday could not predict whether Congress will even be able to pass an ISIS war measure. "It has not resonated very well with people on either side of the aisle for totally different reasons so I'm not sure what the outcomes could be," Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said. "It's a difficult environment," added Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). "There's a lot of animosity, obviously, and that has manifested in a lot of these issues, but these are too important to let divide us." IRAN LETTER ROILS CONGRESS: The White House and Senate Democrats sparred with Senate Republicans over the GOP's open-letter to Iran for a second day, with two 2016 presidential hopefuls joining the fray. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the letter, which warns Iran that any nuclear deal could be voided after President Obama leaves office, "out of step with the best traditions of American leadership." Clinton said the letter was either meant to be helpful to Iran, or harmful to the president. "Either answer does discredit to the letter's signatories," she said at a Tuesday press conference at the United Nations to address her email controversy. Meanwhile, another 2016 contender, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), signed the letter on Tuesday, and even suggested that he came up with the idea. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- another candidate -- suggested on Twitter that he would "be proud and honored" to sign the letter. But Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who did not sign the letter, suggested it was the White House was to blame for the GOP pushback. Corker faulted the administration for threatening to veto any Iran legislation, including a bill he authored with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). "Some of this is pushback because of the administration taking the position that it's taken. Again, that is someone else's observation," Corker told reporters regarding a conversation he had with a Democratic senator early Tuesday morning. "The fact that the administration has pushed back on Congress having any role, especially on the congressionally mandated sanctions and issuing a veto threat at a very common-sense approach," he said. The Corker-Menendez bill would allow Congress 60 days to review any nuclear deal struck with Iran before its implementation. GOWDY: CLINTON SHOULD APPEAR TWICE: The head of the House Select Committee on Benghazi wants Hillary Clinton to testify "at least twice," following comments she made during a Tuesday news conference about her use of a private email account while secretary of State. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said in a statement following Clinton's press conference at the United Nations that she had "created more questions than answers." The first appearance "will be to clear up her role and resolve issues surrounding her exclusive use of personal email to conduct official business," according to Gowdy. "This is necessary to establish our Committee has a complete record with respect to Secretary Clinton's time in office." The select panel will then call her to appear again in a public hearing "to answer questions specifically regarding Libya and the Benghazi terrorist attacks that took the lives of our four brave fellow citizens," he said. Clinton defended her use of the private account reportedly hosted on her own server while the nation's top diplomat on the basis that it was a "convenience" that helped her avoid needing two email devices. Gowdy repeated his call for Clinton to turn her server over to a third-party arbiter. But Clinton seemed to shut the door on any possibility of turning over the server during her news conference. "The server will remain private," she said. Democrats on the panel commended Clinton's performance at the news conference. "I am glad Secretary Clinton addressed this issue directly, and I hope the Benghazi Select Committee will return to its purpose of investigating the attacks in Benghazi instead of attempting to impact the 2016 presidential election," ranking member Elijah Cummings (Md.) said in a statement. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said after ten months "the GOP led committee still has no answer to the question -- as it pertains to the Secretary's emails or anything else -- just what are we looking for?" SENATORS LAMENT UKRAINE POLICY: The leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chastised the Obama administration's inaction to Russia's military aggression toward Ukraine. "It's pretty evident that we're not going to do much" beyond "statements," Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said after testimony from four Obama administration officials. "I'm not quite sure why we cannot move ahead," said Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the panel's top Democrat. "I don't get it." Corker accused the White House of "playing footsie with Russia" rather than confronting the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They pressed Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland on when the administration would submit an update on plans for providing defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine. The report to Congress, which is required by law under the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, was due on Feb. 15. Nuland said it would be provided "in coming weeks, if not coming days." She said more than 6,000 Ukrainians have been killed in the conflict, which began a year ago when Moscow annexed Crimea. More than 1.5 million refugees were forced from their homes, she added. Brian McKeon, principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for policy, said officials are continuing to examine a number of options, including lethal aid. He said that he hoped there would be a resolution "soon, but I can't put a timetable on it." The administration has been reluctant to heed lawmakers calls to provide Ukraine with lethal aid, fearing that it would only further provoke Russia. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Committee chairmen urge Republicans to reverse defense cuts - Navy chief: Under defense cuts, sailors could arrive 'late to the fight' - Dems offer support for Menendez - Obama to visit Phoenix VA at center of scandal - Iran letter author: 'They've been killing Americans for 35 years' Please send tips and comments to Kristina Wong, kwong@thehill.com, and Martin Matishak, mmatishak@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @thehill,@kristina_wong, @martinmatishak