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US Senate Votes to Curb Trump's Iran War Powers

Katherine Gypson

   CAPITOL HIILL - A handful of Republican senators joined their
   Democratic colleagues Thursday to pass a resolution calling on
   President Donald Trump to "terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces for
   hostilities against Iran" unless those actions are authorized by
   Congress.

   The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan war powers resolution by a vote
   of 55-45.

   Trump is expected to veto the measure, arguing it would be dangerous to
   limit his war-making power.

   "It is very important for our Country's SECURITY that the United States
   Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution," Trump said on
   Twitter Wednesday."We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the
   time to show weakness."

     It is very important for our Country's SECURITY that the United
     States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution. We are
     doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness.
     Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist
     Soleimani....
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]February 12, 2020

   Trump said he had overwhelming American public support for the
   airstrike last month that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

   "If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day," he said."Sends a
   very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to
   embarrass the Republican Party. Don't let it happen!"

     ....If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very
     bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to
     embarrass the Republican Party. Don't let it happen!
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [2]February 12, 2020

   But Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, the resolution's co-sponsor, argued
   it was time to reassert the U.S. Congress' constitutional authority to
   declare war as tensions between the U.S. and Iran increased following
   the death of Soleimani.

   "War is the most solemn responsibility we have,"Kaine said of the
   Senate Thursday. "We have a special obligation to make sure that we
   deliberate and deliberate carefully before we send troops into harm's
   way. The president of the United States -- this president and every
   president -- always needs the ability to defend the United States
   against imminent attack without asking for anybody's permission. I
   think the world knows we will do that. This body, though, is the body
   that needs to decide if we go on offense and engage in military
   action."

   Republican support for the measure comes a little over a week after
   members of the president's own party voted to acquit him of charges in
   the Senate impeachment trial.

   But in floor remarks Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
   addressed criticism of the resolution, saying it was not an attempt to
   embarrass Trump.

   "Well, then why are a good number of Republicans supporting it?"Schumer
   said. "This resolution is going to pass with a bipartisan majority of
   Senators in support -- a rarity these days. If this is purely an
   attempt to embarrass the president, well, it's going to be a bipartisan
   one."

   But supporters of the resolution were unable to muster a two-thirds
   vote that would override an expected presidential veto.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1227661693376962561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1227661700264013826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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