WASHINGTON (AP) ā Democratic efforts in the Senate to prevent President Donald Trump from further escalating with Iran fell short Friday, with Republicans blocking a resolution that marked Congressā first attempt to reassert its war powers following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The resolution, authored by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, aimed to affirm that Trump should seek before launching more . Asked Friday if he would bomb Iranian nuclear sites again if he deemed necessary, Trump said, āSure, without question.ā
The measure was defeated in a 53-47 vote in the Republican-held Senate. One Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joined Republicans in opposition, while Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote in favor.
Most Republicans have said Iran posed an imminent threat that required decisive action from Trump, and they backed his decision to bomb last weekend without seeking congressional approval.
āOf course, we can debate the scope and strategy of our military engagements,ā said Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. āBut we must not shackle our president in the middle of a crisis when lives are on the line.ā
Democrats cast doubt on that justification, arguing the president should have come to Congress first. They also said the president did not update them adequately, with Congress' first briefings taking place Thursday.
āThe idea is this: We shouldnāt send our sons and daughters into war unless thereās a political consensus that this is a good idea, this is a national interest,ā Kaine said in a Thursday interview with The Associated Press. The resolution, Kaine said, wasn't aimed at restricting the presidentās ability to defend against a threat, but that "if itās offense, letās really make sure weāre making the right decision.ā
In a statement following Friday's vote, Kaine said he was ādisappointed that many of my colleagues are not willing to stand up and say Congress" should be a part of a decision to go to war.
Democrats' argument for backing the resolution centered on the War Powers Resolution, passed in the early 1970s, which requires the president āin every possible instanceā to āconsult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces.ā
Speaking on the Senate floor ahead of Friday's vote, Paul said he would back the resolution, saying that ādespite the tactical success of our strikes, they may end up proving to be a strategic failure.ā
āIt is unclear if this intervention will fully curtail Iran's nuclear aspirations,ā said Paul.
Trump is just the latest in a line of presidents to test the limits of the resolution ā though heās done so at a time when heās often bristling at the nation's checks and balances.
Trump on Monday sent a letter to Congress ā as required by the War Powers Resolution ā that said strikes on Iran over the weekend were ālimited in scope and purposeā and ādesigned to minimize casualties, deter future attacks and limit the risk of escalation.ā
But following classified briefings with top White House officials this week, some lawmakers remain skeptical about how imminent the threat truly was.
āThere was no imminent threat to the United States,ā said Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, after Fridayās classified briefings.
āThereās always an Iranian threat to the world. But, I have not seen anything to suggest that the threat from the Iranians was radically different last Saturday than it was two Saturdays ago,ā Himes said.
Despite Democratic skepticism, nearly all Republicans applauded Trumpās decision to strike Iran. And for GOP senators, supporting the resolution would have meant rebuking the president at the same time theyāre working to pass his major legislative package.
Kaine proposed a in 2020 aimed at limiting Trumpās authority to launch military operations against Iran. Among the eight Republicans who joined Democrats in approving the resolution was Indiana Sen. Todd Young.
After Thursdayās classified briefing for the Senate, Young said he was āconfident that Iran was prepared to pose a significant threatā and that, given Trumpās stated goal of no further escalation, āI do not believe this resolution is necessary at this time.ā
āShould the Administrationās posture change or events dictate the consideration of additional American military action, Congress should be consulted so we can best support those efforts and weigh in on behalf of our constituents,ā Young said in a statement.
Trump has said that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in place. But he and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have verbally sparred in recent days, with the ayatollah warning not to launch future strikes on Iran.
White House officials have said they soon with Iran, though nothing has been scheduled.
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Associated Press reporter Leah Askarinam contributed to this report.
Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press
