On Wednesday, March 18, the US Senate once again failed to vote on a war powers resolution that would have prohibited President Donald Trump from taking military action against Iran.
CBS and The Hill write about this.
53 senators voted against, 47 in favor. The resolution was sponsored by the Democratic Party of the United States, including Representative Cory Booker of New Jersey. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only member of his party to vote against it, while Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor.
The resolution would oblige Trump to withdraw US forces from combat operations in or against Iran, “unless expressly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for the use of military force.” As a reminder, the US Congress did not approve a military operation against Iran.
During his Senate testimony, Booker argued against the war, citing the skyrocketing prices of essential goods, energy, and fuel. Booker also noted that the Trump administration is spending more than $1 million a day on the war in the Middle East.
And Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer added that the fighting has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil passes.
Instead, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: “In my opinion, we cannot become the commander-in-chief. We cannot have 535 people The number of lawmakers in the U.S. Congress has become the commander-in-chief, which is what the War Powers Act does. After 60 days, if Congress doesn't approve, the military action ends.”
On March 4, the Senate failed to vote on this resolution for the first time.
On March 18, at a Senate hearing, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard dodged a question about whether she believed Iran posed an “imminent nuclear threat” to the US.