Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., suggested he would require any resolution approving U.S. military involvement in Syria pass the Senate by a filibuster-proof majority.
Paul hinted Tuesday that he could invoke the parliamentary procedure to delay or effectively block a vote to approve President Barack Obama's request for authority to launch strikes against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"I can't imagine that we won't require 60 votes on this," Paul said in a conference call with reporters. "Whether there's an actual standing filibuster, I've got to check my shoes."
Paul has emerged as a kind of figurehead for libertarian-minded conservatives who oppose most U.S. military involvement abroad. A critic of the president's anti-terrorism tactics, Paul launched a formal filibuster earlier this year in which he spoke for hours on end against the president's use of drones to target accused terrorists for assassination, even if they are American citizens.
The filibuster enamored Paul to conservatives, and helped the first-term senator lay the groundwork for a possible bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Still, Paul suggested he was unsure of his ability to ultimately halt Obama's request for authority in the Senate, expressing his hope that House conservatives would vote down the resolution.
"I think our best chance for ultimate victory is in the House," he said.