Last week, the House of Representatives passed a War Powers Act continuing resolution aimed at clarifying that the president is not allowed to attack Iran without Congressional authorization, and that he doesn’t have that. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) is offering the Senate version of the resolution, and Democrats say they have enough votes now to pass it as well.
The House vote went heavily along party lines, and there were doubts in the Republican-held Senate if they’d have the votes. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Todd Young (IN), Mike Lee (UT) and Rand Paul (KY) have all backed the resolution now.
And that’s just worst-case scenario for the vote, as some are saying that as many as 10 Republican Senators are considering supporting the resolution, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and with President Trump’s continued refusal to give Congress the intelligence underpinning this attack.
Though there has not been an official schedule for the vote as of yet, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says it will happen later in the week. In the past, some Congressional leaders have tried to avoid War Powers Act votes to avoid embarrassing the president.
There doesn’t seem to be a bid to block this vote so far, and rather some Republican leaders are trying to convince the Democrats to water down the Kaine bill, making it easier to pass but also less relevant.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) argued that “thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets to celebrate Soleimani’s death,” which is plainly false. He added this showed killing him was justified.
The Trump Administration has consistently argued that Congress has no say over who he can and cannot kill, and it is likely this will serve as a major test of Congress’s constitutional authority.
Here is an interesting article that explains how governments have changed the rules so that they can justify killing anyone who they believe may at some point in time have the potential to be involved in a terrorist plot:
https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-bethlehem-doctrine-and-new.html
This rather Orwellian move gives governments the justification that they to kill any of us just because they feel that we might pose a threat and that is a very, very scary prospect. It is very reminiscent of the movie Minority Report where crimes of the future are punished in the present.
The Case-Church amendment was the political nail in the coffin to the Vietnam war. It was passed with a veto proof majority. Let’s hope the gop has finally had enough.
Yes. Hopefully. AntiInterventionist GOP Senators being ‘brothers of the same mind, unblind’.
I live in Montana and have one Republican Senator and one Democrat Senator. I was rather pleased, although quite shocked, to see that my Republican Senator, Steve Daines, may vote in favor of the resolution.
If Trump can kill whomever he wants, it won’t be long before Congressmen are next.
Truth is, however, DJT has no authority to kill whomever he wants. The assassination of IRGC Commander Qassem Soleimani and 9 others is a case in point. He’s no better than his 2 predecessors (Bush Jr. and Obama) who took it upon themselves to assassinate enemy officials, which is forbidden under both US and International laws.
An Iranian judge has already sent documents citing DJT’s unauthorized assassination of Soleimani to the ICC, declaring that DJT’s a war criminal who has to be tried for this heinous act.
Eileen how would you respond to Trump voters who say the following proves Trump’s assassination of Soleimani was legal under US law:
“What we do know is that presidents have relied on their Article II powers to use force overseas, and their attorneys have argued that the Constitution authorizes them to do so. Historical and legal precedent is seemingly established. To do so, the presidents must claim a nexus between their use of this force and national security interests.”
https://thefederalist.com/2017/05/04/rules-presidents-can-use-military-force-without-asking-congress/
He like former presidents have whatever authority they can get away with in practice… other presidents have already assassinated US citizens with the only due-process involved declaring them terrorists. Now if Trump can kill foreign leaders without a coherent reason and over Congress’ objections, Trump will be able to kill whomever he feels like killing… others can sort out the manufactured excuses for it later.
Are they still including the lie that Soleimani was a terrible wicked terrorist who deserved to be killed illegally? If so, they are all liars and murder is normal.
It is incredible to assert that an army general is responsible for killing people, I mean, isn’t that the job description?
Expect lots of psychological warfare & propaganda to dissuade or water down the bill. This came into the march to war for the Iraq Invasion, and this will come again.
Vetoed. Next?
No need. It’s toothless.
See the 1973 Case-Church amendment….congress is ponderous, but it can be effective. With enough GOP support, in an election, and impending impeachment, trump may be forced to relent on Iran.
This from the Phil Giraldi piece here today. It really sounds like Trump could do the same thing.
“…Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military, unless Congress has declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use of the Armed Forces; or such use of the Armed Forces is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent the President from using military force against al Qaeda or associated forces…” In other words, all Trump has to do is claim “imminent threat” or that he is attacking “terrorist associated forces” and he is home free no matter what he does, particularly as the resolution itself is non-binding.
The end game is for congress to retire the war on terror authorization, baby steps.
“The Government of Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism and engages in a range of destabilizing activities across the Middle East. Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was the lead architect of much of Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the world.”
Part of the text of that nonbinding resolution.
It seems that all the Dems supported these lies as well. What hope is there of any peace or even talks, when these lies are accepted by so many.
That was my point. Especially regarding their leadership.