US Senate bid to restrain Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran fails

Democrats say the US President should have come to Congress before attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.

The failed resolution would have made it clear that US Congress needs to approve further attacks. Picture: Alex Wroblewski/AFP/Getty Images

An effort by US Senate Democrats to prevent President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Iran without congressional approval was blocked by Republicans, who argued the commander in chief was within his rights to launch strikes on nuclear sites a week ago.

The measure failed with 47 in favour and 53 opposed on Friday, largely along party lines, shy of the required simple majority in the GOP-controlled chamber. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania sided with Republicans in voting against the measure, while GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky sided with the Democrats in backing it.

The US launched pre-emptive military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last Saturday, citing Tehran’s progress toward completing a nuclear weapon. Trump characterised the attacks as a complete success and later announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran that has halted the conflict for now.

Democrats and some Republicans said Trump should have come to Congress before attacking, arguing Iran didn’t present an imminent threat to America. They said they were also leery of the US potentially stumbling into another overseas war, following long fights in Iran and Afghanistan.

“Wars are easy to start. But they are hard to end, and that’s why the founders wanted us to debate them before the American people,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) said in a speech on the Senate floor.

The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.), would have ordered the removal of US troops “from hostilities against” Iran and made it clear that Congress needs to approve further attacks.

“War is too big an issue to leave to the moods and the whims and the daily vibes of any one person,” Kaine said in a Senate floor speech prior to the vote.

Senator Tim Kaine. Picture: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Paul, in explaining his vote, said that ordering US military troops into war “is the most consequential and humbling responsibility that Congress is entrusted with,” he said in a speech on the Senate floor prior to the vote.

But most Republicans said Trump, as the US military’s top leader, was within his authority to launch the strikes. Some, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.), said this week that they believe that the War Powers Resolution, the 1970s law that attempts to rein in the president’s powers, is unconstitutional.

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.) called the Kaine resolution ill-conceived and said that had Trump consulted Congress, the element of surprise would have been lost.

“I cannot and I will not support a resolution that removes the ability of the president of the United States to act decisively in defence of national interests, our allies and our armed forces,” he said.

Senators were briefed on the Iran strikes on Thursday. Emerging from the closed-door briefing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said that the country’s “operational capability was obliterated.” Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said “it’s safe to say that we have struck a major blow” against Iran’s nuclear program.

Democrats said they agreed that the sites were significantly damaged but said they needed more information to be convinced that Iran’s nuclear program was set back by more than a few months and that Trump had a longer-term plan.

“We all agree that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, but bombing is not the best, most sustainable way of achieving that goal, and nothing I heard yesterday at the intelligence briefing changes that assessment,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.).

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said he left the briefing with more questions than answers.

“There is no coherent strategy, no end game, no plan,” he said.

Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) have criticised Trump for waiting days to send US intelligence officials to share classified details about the operations with lawmakers. Neither lawmaker was extensively briefed prior to the strikes.

Dow Jones Newswires