President Biden faces demands from lawmakers to seek Congress' approval for airstrikes in the Middle East, but the White House insists he already has authorization from two AUMF votes after 9/11. Lawmakers from both parties argue that the Constitution requires congressional approval for military action unless there is a sudden attack. Biden's use of military force against Iran-backed groups in the region has drawn criticism from both war-weary liberals and conservatives, with some calling for a repeal of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs and others urging stronger action against Iran.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul is drafting legislation to authorize the use of U.S. military force in the event of a wider proxy war between Israel and Iran. McCaul's draft Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) comes amid concerns over recent threats from Iran and the potential involvement of Iran-backed Hezbollah. The situation in the Middle East has escalated, with Israel launching airstrikes on Gaza in response to a coordinated attack by Hamas. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered 2,000 U.S. troops to prepare for deployment in support of Israel, and President Biden is heading to the region for discussions with leaders. While the White House has stated that an AUMF is not currently part of the conversation, McCaul claims to have been in contact with them regarding the matter.
Senate Republicans are warning House Speaker Kevin McCarthy not to hold a vote on a Senate-passed bill repealing authorization for the use of military force in Iraq without making major changes to it, laying bare the growing Republican divide over national security. McCarthy faces a tough decision after 18 Republican senators voted with 45 Democrats and three Democratic-aligned Independents Wednesday to repeal the war authorizations Congress passed in 1991 and 2002, sending it to the House. Republicans are also deeply divided over curbing defense spending as part of a deficit-reduction deal with Democrats.
The US Senate has voted to repeal the 2002 resolution that authorized military action in Iraq, with a final vote of 66-30, including bipartisan support. The repeal also includes an earlier authorization from the first Gulf War in 1991. The measure faces an uncertain fate in the Republican-controlled House, but President Biden has said he would sign it if it passes in both chambers. The vote forced lawmakers to account for a 2002 vote that many regard as one of Congress's biggest mistakes.
The US Senate has voted 66-30 to repeal the war authorizations that justified the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War. The action is largely symbolic as US combat operations against Iraq ended more than a decade ago, and if enacted, the repeals would have no effect on any ongoing military operations. Rather, supporters argued it was important for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority to start and end wars. The measure has bipartisan support in the House, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has not yet committed to a vote.
The Senate has voted to repeal the legal justifications used to attack Iraq in 1991 and 2003, endorsing a rare bipartisan effort by Congress to revoke the authority to wage war from the executive branch just days after the 20-year anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. The legislation now heads to the House, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are open to taking action. The White House has said President Biden supports repealing the 1991 and 2002 authorizations and is open to replacing "outdated authorizations" with a "narrow and specific framework more appropriate to protecting Americans from modern terrorist threats."
The Senate has voted to repeal authorizations for the use of force in Iraq, including the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that gave President George W. Bush the authority to invade Iraq. The historic bipartisan vote moves to reassert Congress' power over the use of military force abroad. The legislation will now go to the House, where it's unclear if Republicans will take it up. The 2001 AUMF, which authorizes the U.S. to target perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks, is still in effect and there is no sign that it will be repealed by Congress in the near future.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell opposes the repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq, arguing that terrorists are not ending their war against the US. He also accused the Biden administration of concealing a recent drone attack until the AUMF repeal could be moved forward in the Senate. McConnell believes that the AUMF debate this week is just the beginning of a broader look at the Biden administration's failed Middle East policies.
The Senate advanced a bill that would repeal the authorizations for war in Iraq with bipartisan support, including 18 Republicans. The bill would repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force in Iraq. President Biden has signaled that he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. The final vote in the Senate is expected next week, the 20th anniversary of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. The bill would allow Congress to reassert its authority to declare war and would not affect current US military operations in Iraq.
The Senate advanced a bipartisan bill to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force in Iraq, setting up a vote on final passage as soon as next week. The bill has 12 Republican co-sponsors among its 41 co-sponsors. The White House said President Biden supports repealing the authorizations, which would have no impact on current U.S. military operations. Opponents of repeal say it could limit U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the region and hamstring the ability to react quickly to national security threats. The bill does not repeal the 2001 authorization for use of force targeting those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks.
The White House has expressed support for repealing the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of force in Iraq if Congress passes the repeal effort, as lawmakers work to reassert their authority in military intervention abroad. The Senate is expected to vote Thursday to advance the measures, which would mark a formal conclusion to the conflicts and a symbolic reassertion of Congress’s ability to declare war. Lawmakers have worked without success in recent years to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that gave the US president broad powers to conduct military operations without approval from Congress.
