This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/29/us-senate-iraq-war-powers-vote

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
US Senate poised to vote on repeal of Iraq war powers US Senate votes to repeal measure that gave go-ahead for 2003 invasion of Iraq
(about 4 hours later)
Repeal is not expected to affect current deployments, as about 2,500 US troops remain at invitation of Iraqi government Decision not expected to affect current deployments but lawmakers increasingly seeking to claw back congressional power
The US Senate was poised to vote on Wednesday to repeal the 2002 measure that greenlit the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, a move to end more than 20 years of authorization for US presidents to use force in that country and return those war powers to Congress. The US Senate voted on Wednesday to repeal the resolution that gave a green light for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, an effort to return a basic war power to Congress from the White House 20 years after an authorization many now say was a mistake.
The repeal is not expected to affect current troop deployments. About 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, to assist and advise local forces. The bipartisan legislation would also repeal the 1991 measure that sanctioned the US-led Gulf war. Iraqi deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands and nearly 5,000 US troops were killed after George W Bush’s administration falsely claimed Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.
Lawmakers in both parties are seeking to claw back powers over military strikes and deployments. Some lawmakers who voted for the Iraq war now say it was a mistake. “This body rushed into a war,” said the Virginia senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat who has pushed for years to repeal the powers, adding that the Iraq war has had “massive consequences”.
Nearly 5,000 US troops were killed after George W Bush falsely claimed Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Iraqi deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Senators voted 66-30 to repeal the 2002 measure and also the 1991 authorization that sanctioned the US-led Gulf war.
“Americans want to see an end to endless Middle East wars,” said the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, adding that repeal “is a necessary step to putting these bitter conflicts squarely behind us”. If passed by the House, the repeal would not be expected to affect any current military deployments. But lawmakers in both parties are increasingly seeking to claw back congressional powers over military strikes and deployments and some lawmakers who voted for the Iraq war now say that was a mistake.
Supporters including almost 20 Republicans, say the repeal is crucial to prevent abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner. Opponents say the repeal could project weakness as the US faces conflict in the Middle East. “Americans want to see an end to endless Middle East wars,” said the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, adding that passing the repeal “is a necessary step to putting these bitter conflicts squarely behind us”.
“Our terrorist enemies aren’t sunsetting their war against us,” said the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, who is recovering from a fall and will miss the vote. “When we deploy our service members in harm’s way, we need to supply them with all the support and legal authorities that we can.” Supporters, including almost 20 Republican senators, say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner. Opponents say the repeal could project weakness as the US faces conflict in the Middle East.
While it is expected to easily pass the Senate, repeal is uncertain in the House, where 49 Republicans joined Democrats in supporting a similar bill two years ago. The speaker, Kevin McCarthy, has suggested he is open to a repeal though he previously opposed it, but Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the foreign affairs committee, has indicated he would like to replace it. It is unclear what that would be. “Our terrorist enemies aren’t sunsetting their war against us,” said the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, who is recovering from a fall and missed the vote. “When we deploy our service members in harm’s way, we need to supply them with all the support and legal authorities that we can.”
In the Senate, the Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine and the Indiana Republican Todd Young said a strong bipartisan vote would send a powerful message to Americans who believe their voices should be heard on matters of war and peace. The two men have been pushing to repeal the measures for years. In the House, 49 Republicans joined Democrats in supporting a similar bill two years ago. The speaker, Kevin McCarthy, has suggested he is open to supporting a repeal even though he previously opposed it, but Michael McCaul, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, has indicated he would like to replace the resolution.
“I think that the more time goes by the more people realize that a whole lot of mischief can happen with authorizations that just stay on the books,” Kaine said. “And so it’s been slow, but I’ve always felt like I was picking up more bipartisan support every year, slowly.” Kaine and Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, who led the effort together, have said they believe a strong bipartisan vote sends a powerful message to Americans who believe their voices should be heard on matters of war and peace.
Donald Trump’s administration cited the 2002 Iraq war resolution as part of its legal justification for a 2020 drone strike that killed the Iranian general Qassim Soleimani, but the two war powers resolutions have otherwise rarely been used. A 2001 authorization for the global war on terror would remain in place under the Senate bill, which Joe Biden has said he will support. Donald Trump’s administration cited the 2002 Iraq war resolution as part of its legal justification for a 2020 drone strike that killed Qassem Suleimani, an Iranian general, but the two resolutions have otherwise rarely been used as the basis for presidential action. About 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government and assist and advise local forces.
Some Republican senators opposing the repeal, including McConnell, have raised concerns about recent attacks against US troops in Syria. A drone strike last week killed an American contractor and wounded five troops and another contractor, then a rocket attack wounded another service member. Iranian-backed militants are believed responsible. A 2001 authorization for the global war on terror would remain in place under the bill, which Joe Biden has said he will support.
Biden has argued that repeal would not affect any response to Iran. The defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, and Gen Mark Milley, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, both said at a Senate hearing last week US troops are authorized to protect themselves and respond to attacks, including under article two of the constitution, which gives the president the authority to protect troops. Some senators opposing the repeal, including McConnell, have raised concerns about recent attacks against US troops in Syria. A drone strike last week killed an American contractor and wounded five troops and another contractor, then a rocket attack wounded another service member. Iranian-backed militants are believed responsible.
The pushback from McConnell comes amid a growing rift in the Republican party on the US role in the Middle East, with some echoing Trump’s “America First” message to argue against intervention abroad. Other Republicans are concerned Congress is giving too much leeway to the president. Biden has argued that the repeal would not affect any response to Iran. The defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, said at a Senate hearing last week US troops are authorized to protect themselves including under article two of the constitution.
“I think a lot of lessons have been learned over the last 20 years,” said Young, of Indiana, adding that supporters of the bill “want to ensure that the American people can hold us accountable, rather than delegating those important authorities to an executive branch and then lamenting the unwitting wisdom of the executive branch if things don’t go well”. The pushback from McConnell comes amid a growing rift in Republican ranks on the US role in the Middle East, with some echoing Trump to argue against interventions abroad. Others are concerned Congress is giving too much leeway to the president.
“I think a lot of lessons have been learned over the last 20 years,” said Young, the Indiana senator.
He said that those supporting the legislation “want to ensure that the American people can hold us accountable, rather than delegating those important authorities to an executive branch and then lamenting the unwitting wisdom of the executive branch if things don’t go well”.