US Senate – Archives
Iraq
If the bill is finally passed in the Senate, it will be transferred to the House of Representatives, which may also pass it
The US Senate came close, Monday, to rescinding the Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq, after its members voted 65-28 to end debate (delaying procedure) on a bill calling for that, paving the way for a final vote on it this week.
US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
However, the leader of the Democrats in the House, Chuck Schumer, suggested that the final vote would take place early on Tuesday. Schumer said, “We will conduct other votes on amendments from additional Republicans. Senators should then expect to vote on the last paragraph of repealing the authorization for the war in Iraq as soon as tomorrow.”
Last week, the Senate voted 67-28 on the motion to move forward with the bill. Senators also voted against a series of amendments put forward by Republicans late last week.
Iran and terrorism cause Republican opposition to deauthorizing the Iraq war
More votes are scheduled in the coming days on amendments to a number of items related to this mandate that led to the Iraq war. A number of these amendments focus on Iran and confronting its proxies in the region, one of the main reasons why a number of Republican members of the House oppose canceling the authorization.
One of the amendments proposed by Republican Senator Ted Cruz indicates that Article II of the US Constitution authorizes the president, in his capacity as commander-in-chief, to “direct the use of military force to protect the nation from attack or the threat of imminent attack. This authority thus authorizes the president to use force against Iranian forces, The country responsible for launching and directing attacks against US forces in the Middle East, and taking measures aimed at ending Iran’s escalation of attacks on US interests and threats.”
Another amendment, submitted by Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, asked the Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, to certify, in an intelligence assessment for Congress, that “repeal will not reduce the effectiveness of US-led deterrence against Iranian aggression.”
In a similar amendment, Republican Senator Marco Rubio demanded last week that “the National Intelligence Service submit to Congress an unclassified certificate stating that there are no longer any threats in Iraq or emanating from it to United States personnel by Iranian-backed militias and proxies.”
Senate Republican leader opposes deauthorizing the Iraq war
While the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, is radically opposed to ending the mandate for the Iraq war, as he said last week that Congress should not tie the hands of American leaders in the Middle East, considering that the authorization is important in Iraq today “because it provides powers to the American forces there.” “To defend itself from a variety of real, pressing threats. It’s arguably more important in Syria.” “Do the proponents of this abolition fully understand the ways in which counter-terrorism tasks may be limited?” he asked.
If the bill is finally passed in the Senate, it will be transferred to the House of Representatives, which can also pass it. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters last week that he would support these efforts as long as part of the “authorization for use of military force” for the war on terror remains.
