Five days after the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in a joint operation, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a resolution introduced by Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Rand Paul that seeks to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to continue attacking Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran is attacking Israel and US bases in other Middle Eastern countries.
The vote will also be the first congressional test of support for a conflict launched without the express approval of lawmakers.
However, the resolution is likely to be defeated in a Senate vote, as Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber of Congress. Most of them largely support Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran, which also killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials.
While Republicans rallied behind Trump’s decision, Democrats argued the law was unconstitutional because it bypassed Congress. Some Republicans have indicated that their support may erode if the conflict continues.
Tim Kaine told AFP: “Let me put it this way, there was no evidence presented in that room … to suggest that the US faces any imminent threat from Iran. Nobody can hide and give the president an easy pass or an end around the Constitution.”
Senator Kaine said, “Everybody has to make a statement whether they are for this war or against it.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: “Wars without clear goals don’t stay small. They get bigger, bloodier, longer and more expensive.”
“This is not a war of necessity. It is a war of choice.”
Trump loyalist Lindsey Graham said: “Roadside bombs coming out of Iran have maimed and killed hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans. She added: ‘They mean it when they say ‘death to America’. I’m glad we didn’t let it go any further. I’m glad we didn’t let them build more missiles.”
How many votes do Democrats need to pass the resolution?
For the resolution to pass, Democrats would need at least four more Republicans to join Rand Paul if every senator votes. At least one Democrat, Pennsylvania centrist John Fetterman, has already said he would oppose it.
Even if the measure clears both the Senate and the House — where a similar resolution is expected to vote on Thursday — Trump could veto it, and Congress would almost certainly need an elusive two-thirds majority in both chambers to override it.
Administration officials told lawmakers in classified briefings this week that the Iran operation could take weeks and require additional funding from Congress. The briefing may leave lawmakers scrambling for emergency funds to keep their campaign afloat.
