It comes just two days after a dual group of senators, led by Tim Kaine (D-Va.) And Todd Young (R-Ind.), Introduced a bill to authorize the use of military force in 2002. recalled and one accepted 1991 before the first war in Iraq.
Senators proposed the measure amid twofold anger over Biden’s decision to launch retaliatory attacks on Iran – backed militia groups in Syria last week without first seeking congressional approval. The operation frustrated many of Biden’s allies on the hill and renewed the long – standing concern among Democrats and Republicans that Congress had abandoned its constitutional role in declaring war and authorizing military operations.
“Tim Kaine has been a leader in the field of military forces throughout his time in the Senate,” Psaki said in her statement, “and helped build a strong two-party coalition emphasizing the importance of Congress’ constitutional understand privileges. ”
A Kaine spokesman said the senator “is already in talks with his colleagues and the government.”
“Sen. “Kaine believes that President Biden, who has a deep understanding of both Congress and executive responsibilities, is in a unique position to help America restore balance in the way we make decisions about war and peace,” he said. the spokesman said.
An ideologically diverse group of senators has signed the Kaine-Young effort – a reflection of the fact that joining presidential forces has long been a dual priority.
Their effort comes amid growing tensions between the US and Iran; the US believes that a group supported by Iran was responsible for rocket attacks on an Iraqi base that houses US troops.
In the days following the attacks on Syria in Biden, however, lawmakers questioned the rationale and justification for the White House attacks. Biden said he ordered the strikes in “self-defense” after Iranian-backed military groups targeted US forces in the region in recent rocket attacks.
That statement did not satisfy the top Democrats, who used the strikes to push their long-standing push to reduce presidential forces.
Kaine in particular warned of the potential for a military conflict between the US and Iran that could explode into a full-blown war. And the Democrats have voiced widespread criticism of Biden’s government over its lack of involvement in Congress in the days since the strikes.
But unlike previous governments, the Pentagon has not cited any of the previous war authorizations, as the legal justification strikes for Syria, suggesting it plans to take a different approach.
Instead, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby pointed to Article II of the Constitution, which gives the commander-in-chief not only the authority but also the obligation to protect American forces, as well as Article 51 of the Charter. of the United Nations, which grants the award. members the right to self-defense.
After all, it can be extremely difficult to reach an agreement on a new authorization for the use of military force. For example, there remain widely differing views on the scope or duration of a new congressional war resolution that will cover ongoing combat operations in numerous locations such as Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, including counter-terrorism operations in dozens of other countries.
Former President Barack Obama also suggested replacing the current war powers, but he could not reach a dual consensus on the exact outlines.