U.S. lawmakers will try again next week to pass a resolution to halt the Iran war and force President Donald Trump to obtain Congress’ approval for any further attacks, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday, hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire.
“Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment,” Schumer told a press conference at his office in New York.
Trump agreed to the ceasefire on Tuesday, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
Trump’s threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” prompted global concern and censure from Democrats, dozens of whom called for Trump’s removal from office. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians.
Schumer called Trump’s statements “unhinged” and criticized the war for failing to weaken Iran’s government or rein in its nuclear program, while global fuel prices have risen.
I don’t believe that they actually need to pass a resolution against; rather, it’s not passing an AUMF prior to the expiry of the 60-day deadline that restricts the administration.
However, if I were the Trump administration, I’d probably try to make the same case that the Carter administration did in Goldwater v. Carter to see if I could get the the Supreme Court to effectively say that Congress not passing something against could be more-or-less treated as Congress not objecting. My guess is that SCOTUS wouldn’t buy it, but it closes off that avenue. Plus, from a political standpoint, if I were the Democrats, I’d probably rather force Republican legislators to go on-record as opposing a Trump administration policy or on-record as supporting an unpopular war; if I were a Republican legislator, I’d probably prefer to avoid either.