Washington, United States. Senate Republicans backed President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, voting to block a bipartisan war powers resolution that would have required congressional authorisation for hostilities against the Islamic Republic.
Senate vote
The Senate voted 52 to 47 against advancing the resolution, largely along party lines, with almost every Republican voting against the procedural motion and almost every Democrat supporting it.
Arguments over constitutional authority
Sponsors of the war powers resolution said it aimed to restore Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war. Opponents rejected that argument, saying Trump’s action was legal and within his rights as commander in chief to order limited strikes in defence of the United States.
Republican opposition
“This is not a forever war, indeed not even close to it. This is going to end very quickly,” said Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaking against the resolution.
Outlook and prior efforts
The measure had not been expected to succeed. Trump’s fellow Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and have blocked previous resolutions seeking to curb his war powers.
Do you think Congress should be required to authorise any hostilities against Iran?
