Washington – The Senate will hold a vote on Wednesday on whether to block President Trump from using another military strike against Iran, amid shifting messages from the administration about the strikes and warnings about more American casualties to come.
It is the second time in less than a year that Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has forced a vote on a military power resolution related to Iran. The upper room voted down a similar effort in June, after the US bombed three sites at the center of Iran’s nuclear program.
Kaine’s resolution, sponsored by Rep. Republican Rep. Rand Paul of Kentucky, “we will direct the withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran not authorized by Congress.”
Although a military power vote was expected ahead of Iran’s weekend strikes, the military’s massive operation he started on saturday raised votes – and added to the urgency.
“They have changing goals, different goals all the time, different answers every day. And I’m really worried about the increase in equipment,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, on Tuesday.
With a 53-seat Republican majority, the resolution appears to be more than the majority needed to advance the measure. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has pledged to vote against the resolution, meaning it would need the support of at least four more Republicans than Paul.
In June, the Iran war power resolution received support from a majority of Democrats and Paul, while Fetterman voted with most Republicans against it.
Even if both chambers would approve this decision, the result would be a big sign, because the president could immediately oppose the decision. Democrats would need two-thirds in both the House and Senate to override his veto.
In a call with reporters on Sunday, Kaine acknowledged that renewed efforts are unlikely to go anywhere, but said it was important for members of Congress to be put on record regarding the war with Iran.
“If you don’t have the courage to vote yes or no on a war vote, how can you have the courage to send our sons and daughters to war when they risk their lives,” Kaine said.
Mr. Trump said Monday that the operation in Iran is expected to take four to five weeks, but the US “has the ability to go much longer than that.” But Mr. Trump also said the operation was “ahead of our time.” He didn’t even decide to put his boots on the ground.
Democrats left a secret briefing with Trump administration officials on Tuesday not satisfied with what they heard.
“They told us there that this is an open program that has not yet started and is sincere,” said Sen. Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut. “There will be many Americans killed. They refuse to remove from the table, the inclusion of underground soldiers.”
“Clearly there is no imminent threat,” added Sen. Cory Booker of the Democratic Alliance.
A CBS News poll they found that the majority of Americans do not approve of war with Iran, and they think that the Trump administration has not clearly explained its intentions. About half of Americans believe the war could last months or years.
Asked Monday about whether the military needed congressional authorization, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said the Trump administration’s actions “are consistent with what previous administrations have done” in past conflicts. Thune added in a press conference on Tuesday that “the president was within his rights to take the steps he took.”
The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. In response to the Vietnam War, Congress passed the War Powers Act of 1973 as a check on the president’s power to go to war without authorization from the legislative branch. The law requires the president to consult with Congress “at every practicable time” before launching any troops and to report to Congress within 48 hours of sending troops if Congress has not authorized the declaration of war, and to suspend any unauthorized engagement within 60 days.
“No presidential administration has ever accepted the War Powers Act as legal — not Republican presidents, not Democratic presidents,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Monday. “All that being said, we have complied 100% with the law, and we will continue to comply.”
In a message to Congress on Monday, Mr. Trump cited “repeated efforts to find a solution to Iran’s misbehavior,” but said “the threat against the United States and its allies and partners has intensified.”
Mr. Trump added that “it is impossible at this time to know the full scope and timing of military action that may be required.”
Kaine said he would continue to force votes on the issue in the coming weeks, adding that some of his colleagues in the Senate who initially voted against the resolution could change their votes as the situation with Iran improves.
He pointed out that several Republicans ended up helping to advance the resolution of war related to Venezuela earlier this year, shortly after the US military captured former President Nicolás Maduro, due to concerns that US troops might be deployed there and Mr. Trump about managing Venezuela. The effort, however, it is standing after the Trump administration put pressure on many participants to change their votes.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who once supported limiting the president’s power to strike Venezuela, said he believes the Trump administration is complying with the Iran law and intends to vote against the military power resolution.
“My view has always been, the military base would require congressional authorization,” Hawley said Tuesday.
Last year’s efforts to stop Iran’s involvement also failed after it became clear that US involvement in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel was limited, and a ceasefire agreement was reached.
The Senate vote comes ahead of an expected vote in the House on the same resolution later this week.
