Ministry of Foreign Affairs: US Congressional Resolution Confirms End of Conflict with Iraq
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – US Congressional Resolution Confirms End of Conflict with IraqThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, on Friday, that the Congressional revocation of the war authorizations represents a step to strengthen the partnership with Washington and consolidates the principle of respect for sovereignty, while reflecting the development of relations with the United States. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hisham Al-Alawi told the official agency, “The US Congress’ vote to revoke the authorization for the war on Iraq is a revocation of the old laws that had granted US presidents (George Bush Sr. in 1991, and George Bush Jr. in 2002) broad powers to wage war on Iraq without the need to return each time to Congress.”
He explained that “there were two basic types of authorizations: the first was the 1991 authorization to launch the Gulf War to liberate Kuwait from the occupation of Saddam Hussein’s regime, and the second was the 2002 authorization to launch the war on Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein’s regime.” He pointed out that “the importance of the cancellation at this time is due to the fact that Iraq is no longer under Saddam Hussein’s rule, and there are no longer legal justifications for the authorization to remain in place. In addition, the step will prevent any future US president from exploiting this law to launch military operations in Iraq or the region without congressional approval.”
Al-Alawi also stressed that “the decision is also a symbolic step toward improving relations with Iraq and demonstrating that the United States is no longer at war with it.” He noted that “the cancellation does not include ongoing operations, such as military cooperation against ISIS, as these are taking place within new agreements and understandings or with different approvals, and not based on the old laws of war.”
It is noteworthy that the US House of Representatives previously voted to repeal the legal justifications used to attack Iraq in 1991 and 2003, in the latest attempt by Congress to strip the president of his authority to wage war.
This move follows President Trump’s decisions to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities and strike a boat allegedly transporting illegal drugs in the Caribbean.
Lawmakers from both parties have long questioned the validity of keeping these mandates in place, arguing that they allow presidents to abuse their power.
The House of Representatives passed the measure by a vote of 261 to 167, with 212 Democrats and 49 Republicans supporting it. The bipartisan supplement is linked to the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which passed later Wednesday. The amendment was introduced by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas.
During the House discussions, Meeks said that these authorizations were “long outdated” and “risk being abused by any administration of either party.” He added, “It is time for Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority over matters of war and peace.”
Republican Representative Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, opposed the amendment on “procedural” grounds. He said, “I think there’s broad agreement on the reasons for terminating these authorizations, but it shouldn’t be done without the proper process for something of this magnitude.”
The Senate, which was controlled by Democrats in 2023, passed a similar measure with the support of 48 Democrats and 18 Republicans, but it was not brought to a vote in the House of Representatives, which was controlled by Republicans.
In the House of Representatives in 2021, 219 Democrats and 49 Republicans voted to repeal the 2002 authorization, but it stalled in the Senate, where both chambers had Democratic majorities.
Burathanews.com