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Democrats say they wont support a war authorization against ISIL if Obama agrees to Republican demands to expand his power.

By Burgess Everett and Manu Raju

2/23/15 5:39 AM EST

Updated 2/23/15 5:39 AM EST

Before he can get Congress approval for his war against ISIL, President Barack Obama may have to win an ugly battle with his own party.

A wide range of House and Senate Democrats many of whom, like Obama, rose to prominence opposing the Iraq War are warning they wont support any war-powers measure that gives the president even greater latitude than hes already asked for. But the Republicans who control Congress insist that any war authorization must offer broad authority to combat Islamic militants, saying the White Houses three-year draft would do too much to tie the hands of Obama and his successor.

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That will leave Obama with a critical decision: He can stick with his proposal to limit the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting the GOP-controlled Congress over a draft that many liberals already dislike. Or he can acquiesce to Republican demands and prompt a revolt from his own party, something the president has rarely done during his six years in office.

The result could be the largest Democratic rebellion in years, which could send an embarrassing message to U.S. allies just as the United States tries to show unity against a serious national security threat.

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Obama's war push faces rift with left