The House voted Thursday to repeal the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed to give legal backing for the Iraq War with the support of Democrats, Republicans and the White House — an unprecedented coalition to end post- 9/11 authorities to engage in hostilities that critics argue are outdated. The Washington Post … Read more
Laura Clawson at Daily Kos writes, Trump killed Soleimani to win support in impeachment trial, Wall Street Journal casually mentions: Way to bury the lede, Wall Street Journal! The newspaper did a deep dive into Donald Trump’s decision to assassinate Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, but you have to read 29 paragraphs in to get to … Read more
Republican Senators Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.) ripped the Trump administration over a closed-door briefing on Iran on Wednesday, announcing they will now support a resolution reining in President Trump’s military powers. The Hill reports, Rand Paul, Mike Lee rip administration over ‘insulting and demeaning’ Iran briefing: Lee, speaking to reporters after a … Read more
Tess Bridgeman is Senior Editor at Just Security blog, with a lengthy resumé in national security. Ms. Bridgeman breaks down the Trump administration’s recent escalation of hostilities with Iran which puts the U.S. on a war footing with Iran. The Soleimani Strike and War Powers: With the targeted killing [i.e., assassination] of Iranian Maj. Gen. … Read more
In early July, the House voted to require congressional approval for military strike against Iran in a 251-170 vote with more than two dozen Republicans in support. The National Defense Authorization Act amendment’s adoption by the House follows Trump’s statement in June that the United States had been “cocked and loaded” to strike Iranian targets in retaliation … Read more