Senate tries to rein in president on Iran
WASHINGTON — The US Senate passed legislation on Thursday to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran, rebuking him weeks after a strike against an Iranian military commander and Teheran’s retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflict.
Eight of Trump’s fellow Republicans joined Democrats to pass the war powers resolution by 55-45. The measure would require Trump to remove US troops engaged in hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or passes an authorization for the use of military force.
Trump has promised a veto, and there is not expected to be enough support to muster the two-thirds Senate supermajority to override that. Fifty-three of the 100 senators are Republicans, who rarely break with the president.
Senators voted nearly along party lines a week ago to acquit Trump of impeachment charges, after an investigation and trial that underscored Washington’s bitter partisan divides.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, author of the resolution, said the vote showed strength and reflected the importance of Congress weighing in on any decision to deploy troops.
Even if the Senate cannot override a veto, Kaine said the resolution’s backers hoped it would influence Trump when it came to future military action, adding that the president cared about what the public thinks, if not the Senate.
“The bill getting to his desk is an indication that we’re listening to our constituents, and we’re telling him blundering into another war would be a bad idea,” Kaine said.
Trump argued on Twitter that a vote against Kaine’s proposal was important to national security and pointed to the Jan 3 drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
“We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness,’’ Trump said.
The US strike that killed Soleimani raised fears of an uncontrolled conflict between the US and Iran.
Teheran responded to the killing of the general by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house US troops.
Democrats and Republicans alike criticized a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying US officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.