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Eighth District U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan called on President Obama today to avoid further American military involvement in the Middle East without Congressional approval.

Obama said yesterday that he has authorized the Defense Department to provide him with options for military strikes within Syria but added that he is not close to authorizing air attacks against Islamic extremists there.

The president has ordered bombing strikes against the group known as ISIS in Iraq and has said that he believes he already has authority from Congress to do that.

At a news conference in Duluth Friday Nolan, a Democrat, said he opposes the country's continued military actions in Iraq.

The U.S. has already sacrificed enough in the region, there's no American military solution to the conflict, and the people of the Middle East need to resolve the crisis, Nolan said.

"The simple truth is that by our getting re-involved in this war, we make ourselves a target, a target in a one thousand year old conflict."

Nolan said he's concerned about Minnesotans and other Americans who have traveled to Syria to get involved in the conflict. But he said he would support only humanitarian intervention.

Nolan is battling Republican Stewart Mills in a competitive race for the 8th District seat in northeast Minnesota.

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Dan Kraker

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DFL congressman says the U.S. has sacrificed enough in the Middle East.

Nolan says Obama needs Congress to approve attacks

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