On Thursday, the Senate initiated efforts to repeal two open-ended authorizations for military action in Iraq as the United States observes the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War. Senators voted 68-27 to advance legislation that would rescind the 2002 authorization for the March 2003 Iraq invasion and the 1991 authorization for the U.S.-led Gulf War to remove Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait. The repeal was supported by nineteen Republicans joining Democrats in the bipartisan effort.
As lawmakers from both parties increasingly seek to regain congressional control over U.S. military strikes and deployments, they argue that these war authorizations are no longer necessary and could be misused if not removed. President Joe Biden supports this effort, with the White House endorsing the repeal on Thursday. The White House also stated that repealing these authorizations would not affect U.S. military operations and would reinforce the administration’s commitment to a strong relationship with Iraq.
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) have led the repeal efforts and believe that the 68 supporting votes send a powerful message to Americans who want their voices heard on war and peace. However, whether the Republican-controlled House will vote on the bill remains uncertain, even if it passes the Senate. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has previously opposed the legislation.
While nineteen GOP senators supported the repeal, others argued that revoking the authorizations could signal weakness to U.S. adversaries. They noted that President Trump’s administration used the 2002 Iraq War resolution to justify the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassim Soleimani.
Reflecting on the 2002 votes that granted President George W. Bush extensive authority for the invasion, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) emphasized that repealing the authorizations would not make the U.S. a pacifist nation but rather uphold the constitutional principles of the Founding Fathers. The Iraq invasion was based on false intelligence claims regarding Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction, which led to a long-lasting, brutal conflict with significant casualties.
Next week, the Senate will continue to discuss the legislation, considering potential amendments from both sides. One possible amendment would repeal the separate authorization of military force passed following the 2001 attacks, though there is less overall support for this in the Senate and Congress. The White House indicated that President Biden is committed to working with Congress to replace outdated authorizations with a narrower, more specific framework appropriate for modern terrorist threats.
The legislation to repeal the Iraq War authorizations has gained momentum in the Senate, with bipartisan support recognizing that these authorizations are outdated and potentially open to misuse. The following steps involve further debate and potential amendments, which may include revisiting the separate approval of military force granted after the 2001 attacks.
However, some lawmakers remain cautious about immediately revoking the 2001 authorization, as the military still utilizes it. Instead, they support replacing or revising it later to address contemporary terrorist threats better. President Biden has also committed to collaborating with Congress to craft a more suitable military force framework.
While repealing Iraq War authorizations has seen bipartisan support in the Senate, its fate in the Republican-controlled House remains uncertain. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has previously expressed opposition to the legislation. If the bill passes in the Senate, the challenge will be to garner enough support in the House to ensure its ultimate approval.
In the meantime, lawmakers will continue to discuss and debate the legislation, seeking a resolution that balances the need for maintaining national security with respecting the constitutional authority of Congress over matters of war and peace.
