The Senate will consider the legislation next week, with possible amendments from both sides. “Americans are tired of endless wars in the Middle East,” Schumer said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in the hours before the vote that he was glad that the repeal is a bipartisan effort after the Iraq conflict was the cause of “so much bitterness” in the past. Iraqi deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Car bombings, assassinations, torture and kidnapping became a part of daily life in Iraq for years. overthrow of Iraq’s security forces precipitated a brutal sectarian fight and violent campaigns by Islamic extremist groups in Iraq. The Bush administration had drummed up support among members of Congress and Americans for invading Iraq by promoting false intelligence claims about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.Īfter the initial March 2003 invasion, American ground forces quickly discovered that the allegations of nuclear or chemical weapons programs were baseless. “It means that the United States is going to be a constitutional nation and the premise of our Founding Fathers will be respected.” “The repeal of this authorization of use the use of military force does not mean the United States has become a pacifist nation,” Durbin said. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who was in the Senate at the time and voted against the resolution, said on the floor before Thursday’s vote that "I look back on it, as I’m sure others do, as one of the most important votes that I ever cast.” 11, 2001, attacks, something Iraq played no part in. was already at war then in Afghanistan, the country that hosted the al-Qaida plotters responsible for the Sept. Bush broad authority for the invasion - coming just a month before the midterm elections that year - became a defining moment for many members of Congress as the country debated whether a military strike was warranted. The October 2002 votes to give President George W. They have pointed out that President Donald Trump’s administration cited the 2002 Iraq war resolution as part of its legal justification for a 2020 U.S. While the 19 GOP senators voted for it, opponents argue that the repeal could project weakness to U.S. Senate Republicans are also split on the legislation. Forty-nine House Republicans supported the legislation when then-majority Democrats held a vote two years ago, but current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has opposed it. It’s unclear whether leaders in the Republican-controlled House will bring the bill up for a vote, even if it passes the Senate. “It is time for Congress to have its voice heard on these matters, and I believe this will establish a very important precedent moving forward,” Young said. Kaine and Young have led the push for repeal and have worked for several years on the issue. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Todd Young, R-Ind., said they believe the 68 votes in support send a powerful message to Americans who believe their voice should be heard on matters of war and peace. military operations and would support this administration’s commitment to a strong and comprehensive relationship with our Iraqi partners,” the White House said. “Repeal of these authorizations would have no impact on current U.S. President Joe Biden has backed the push, and the White House issued a statement Thursday in support. military strikes and deployments, arguing that the war authorizations are no longer necessary and subject to misuse if they are left on the books. The bipartisan effort comes as lawmakers in both parties are increasingly seeking to claw back congressional powers over U.S. Trent Lott, R-Miss., and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo. Bush is joined by, from left to right front row, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, Bush, Sen. Bush announces he has reached an agreement with House leaders on a resolution giving him authority to oust Saddam Hussein, in the Rose Garden, Oct 2, 2002. Durbin said on the floor ahead of Thursday’s vote that, “As I look back on it, as I’m sure others do, as one of the most important votes that I ever cast.” Mariam Zuhaib/AP Show More Show Less 8 of12 FILE - President George W. Senators will take a procedural vote Thursday to take up legislation that would repeal the 2002 measure that greenlighted that March 2003 invasion of Iraq, along with a separate 1991 measure that sanctioned the U.S.-led Gulf War to expel Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait. The Senate is taking the first steps to repeal two measures giving open-ended approval for military action in Iraq, moving to end that authority as the United States marks the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks during a news conference with members of Senate Democratic leadership, Dec.
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