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3 top national security officials to face questions in Senate about IS militants and Mideast

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2015, file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry talks at the State Department in Washington. On March 11, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hear from John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) (The Associated Press)

Secetary of State John Kerry, right, leans in to talk with Defense Secretary Ash Carter, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, as they prepare to testify before the Senate Foreign Relation Committee. America's top national security officials face questions on Capitol Hill about new war powers being drafted to fight Islamic State militants, Iran's sphere of influence and hotspots across the Mideast.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (The Associated Press)

A CodePink demonstrator holds up a sign on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, as he attempts to disrupted the testimony of Secretary of State John Kerry at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relation Committee. Three of America's top national security officials face questions on Capitol Hill about new war powers being drafted to fight Islamic State militants, Iran's sphere of influence and hotspots across the Mideast. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (The Associated Press)

Three of America's top national security officials face questions on Capitol Hill about new war powers being crafted to fight Islamic State militants. They also will be quizzed about Iran and the conflicts in Iraq and Syria.

In seeking new war powers to fight the Islamic State group, the White House must reconcile demands from Democrats who don't want another ground war with concerns of Republicans who want that option left open.

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hear from Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey.

The senators will likely ask questions about drafting a new authorization for military force, and also about U.S. policy in hotspots around the world.