U.S. Senate advances resolution limiting Trump's ability to wage war
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[February 13, 2020]
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate
advanced legislation on Wednesday intended to limit President Donald
Trump's ability to wage war against Iran, paving the way for a final
vote as eight Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the war powers
resolution.
The resolution would require Trump to remove U.S. troops engaged in
hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or passes a
specific authorization for the use of military force.
The vote was 51-45 on a motion to proceed to a final vote, expected on
Wednesday or on Thursday.
Republican opponents, including Trump, said passage would send the wrong
message to Tehran.

"It is very important for our Country's SECURITY that the United States
Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution. We are doing very
well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness," Trump said on
Twitter.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the resolution abused the
War Powers Act because that law was intended to prevent the deployment
of thousands of troops into sustained combat without congressional
authorization.
Supporters disagreed.
"We don't send a message of weakness when we stand up for the rule of
law," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, a lead sponsor of the measure, told
a news conference with Republicans Mike Lee and Susan Collins and
Democrat Richard Durbin.
"That's a message of strength and it especially speaks to people around
the world who are in the streets protesting... because they want the
rule of law," Kaine said.
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President Donald Trump listens to questions while meeting with
Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno in the Oval Office of the White
House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

Calling himself a "huge fan" of Trump's foreign policy, Lee said the
resolution supported Trump's goal of limiting military action. "This
should not be controversial," Lee said.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives passed a similar
resolution last month, as Democrats and some Republicans fumed over
Trump's failure to fully inform them about his Iran strategy.
Trump last month ordered a drone strike that killed Iranian military
commander Qassem Soleimani at the airport in Baghdad, but did not
inform Congress until afterward.
Fears that the country was on the brink of war with Iran added new
fuel to an ongoing effort by members of both parties to take back
the power to declare war from the White House.
The U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power
to declare war.
Despite bipartisan backing, the resolution is unlikely to garner
enough support from members of Trump's party to overcome a veto if
it does reach his desk.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Susan
Heavey; editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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