SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Anti-war activist protest in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., on January 4, 2020. (Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/via Getty Images)
Trump Demands Senate Reject Iran War Powers Resolution as Lawmakers Debate Measure to Assert Constitutional Power
 "If the Senate passes Sen. Tim Kaine's War Powers Resolution, both chambers will have taken a stand for peace and for their constitutional authority."
Feb 11, 2020
President Donald Trump doubled down Wednesday on his claims of unilateral power to wage war with a tweet urging the Senate not to pass the Iran War Powers Resolution.
The Senate on Wednesday debated and avanced the measure--introduced last month by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)--a day before it faces a vote in the chamber. It would require the president to remove troops from engaging in hostilities against Iran within 30 days "unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force."
Passing the resolution, Trump said, would send "a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party."
\u201c....If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don\u2019t let it happen!\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1581532331
As Politico reported, the measure will likely pass, given the support it has from all Democrats and several Republicans--Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Todd Young (Ind.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), and Jerry Moran (Kan.)--though likely not with enough support to secure a veto-proof majority.
Kaine noted Moran's support in a tweet on Wednesday morning. In a tweet after the resolution advanced Wednesday, Kaine said that it "sends a very powerful message to the American public."
\u201cThe Senate just voted to move forward with a vote on our war powers resolution. This bill sends a very powerful message to the American public\u2014including our troops and their families\u2014that before we get into a war, there will be careful deliberation about whether it\u2019s necessary.\u201d— Tim Kaine (@Tim Kaine) 1581538001
Other Democratic senators touted the measure on social media, including Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), who said in a Twitter thread: "Congress has an obligation to press the Trump administration for a strategy and check its power if it doesn't present a compelling one--which so far, it hasn't. Passing this war powers resolution would help us do exactly that."
Among the progressive groups backing the resolution is Quaker group FCNL, which said Wednesday that it presents "a rare opportunity."
"If the Senate passes Sen. Tim Kaine's War Powers Resolution," said the group, "both chambers will have taken a stand for peace and for their constitutional authority."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
President Donald Trump doubled down Wednesday on his claims of unilateral power to wage war with a tweet urging the Senate not to pass the Iran War Powers Resolution.
The Senate on Wednesday debated and avanced the measure--introduced last month by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)--a day before it faces a vote in the chamber. It would require the president to remove troops from engaging in hostilities against Iran within 30 days "unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force."
Passing the resolution, Trump said, would send "a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party."
\u201c....If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don\u2019t let it happen!\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1581532331
As Politico reported, the measure will likely pass, given the support it has from all Democrats and several Republicans--Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Todd Young (Ind.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), and Jerry Moran (Kan.)--though likely not with enough support to secure a veto-proof majority.
Kaine noted Moran's support in a tweet on Wednesday morning. In a tweet after the resolution advanced Wednesday, Kaine said that it "sends a very powerful message to the American public."
\u201cThe Senate just voted to move forward with a vote on our war powers resolution. This bill sends a very powerful message to the American public\u2014including our troops and their families\u2014that before we get into a war, there will be careful deliberation about whether it\u2019s necessary.\u201d— Tim Kaine (@Tim Kaine) 1581538001
Other Democratic senators touted the measure on social media, including Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), who said in a Twitter thread: "Congress has an obligation to press the Trump administration for a strategy and check its power if it doesn't present a compelling one--which so far, it hasn't. Passing this war powers resolution would help us do exactly that."
Among the progressive groups backing the resolution is Quaker group FCNL, which said Wednesday that it presents "a rare opportunity."
"If the Senate passes Sen. Tim Kaine's War Powers Resolution," said the group, "both chambers will have taken a stand for peace and for their constitutional authority."
President Donald Trump doubled down Wednesday on his claims of unilateral power to wage war with a tweet urging the Senate not to pass the Iran War Powers Resolution.
The Senate on Wednesday debated and avanced the measure--introduced last month by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)--a day before it faces a vote in the chamber. It would require the president to remove troops from engaging in hostilities against Iran within 30 days "unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force."
Passing the resolution, Trump said, would send "a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party."
\u201c....If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don\u2019t let it happen!\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1581532331
As Politico reported, the measure will likely pass, given the support it has from all Democrats and several Republicans--Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Todd Young (Ind.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), and Jerry Moran (Kan.)--though likely not with enough support to secure a veto-proof majority.
Kaine noted Moran's support in a tweet on Wednesday morning. In a tweet after the resolution advanced Wednesday, Kaine said that it "sends a very powerful message to the American public."
\u201cThe Senate just voted to move forward with a vote on our war powers resolution. This bill sends a very powerful message to the American public\u2014including our troops and their families\u2014that before we get into a war, there will be careful deliberation about whether it\u2019s necessary.\u201d— Tim Kaine (@Tim Kaine) 1581538001
Other Democratic senators touted the measure on social media, including Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), who said in a Twitter thread: "Congress has an obligation to press the Trump administration for a strategy and check its power if it doesn't present a compelling one--which so far, it hasn't. Passing this war powers resolution would help us do exactly that."
Among the progressive groups backing the resolution is Quaker group FCNL, which said Wednesday that it presents "a rare opportunity."
"If the Senate passes Sen. Tim Kaine's War Powers Resolution," said the group, "both chambers will have taken a stand for peace and for their constitutional authority."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.