US moves closer to repealing Saddam-era Iraq war powers
- Repeal of Iraq war authorisations advanced by Senate committee
- Republican opponents argue it signals US weakness to Iran
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has backed legislation that would repeal congressional authorisations for past US wars with Iraq, a significant step in lawmakers’ effort to wrest back the power to declare war from the White House.
The vote on Wednesday was 14-8. The “no” votes came from Republicans, although three voted with Democrats in favour of the resolution.
It was the first time in 50 years that a Senate committee had voted to repeal a military authorisation. In 1971, Congress voted to end the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin resolution that had led to US involvement in the Vietnam war.
The committee action sent the joint resolution to the full Senate, where it is strongly supported by Democrats and backers say it was expected to garner enough Republican support to win the 60 votes needed for passage.
Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he planned a vote this year.
“The Iraq War has been over for nearly a decade. An authorisation passed in 2002 is no longer necessary in 2021,” Schumer said as he opened the Senate on Wednesday.