As passed 51-45 on Wednesday, Senator Tim Kaine’s Iran war powers resolution appears well-designed.

That is, at first glance. Unlike House Democratic efforts, it does not pretend that Congress has authority to define what constitutes an imminent threat. Still, a deeper read shows a problem: The resolution would obstruct secret U.S. Military special mission units in what are likely already underway covert operations against Iran. Constitutional questions over war powers aside, this gives the resolution a big flaw.