As Congress continues its heated debate on the Trump administration’s decision to take out Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani, with an airstrike Thursday near Baghdad International Airport, liberal Democrat Ro Khanna of California made a bold declaration.
“Any member who voted for the NDAA — a blank check — can’t now express dismay that Trump may have launched another war in the Middle East,” thundered Khanna. “Our Congress let our nation down again by failing to stand up against a war in Iran.”
Khanna originally included legislation in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act that specifically would have prevented the president from carrying out Thursday’s airstrike (co-sponsored with Rep. Matt Gaetz, Republican from Florida), as did Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee.
There were two amendments stripped from the NDAA that could have prevented tonight’s escalation.
My amendment to prevent funding for war with Iran without Congressional approval.@BLeeForCongress‘s amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) January 3, 2020
Though the House passed the NDAA in July 2019, including the Khanna and Lee amendments, they were removed in the Senate. Congresswoman and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard had an amendment similar to Khanna’s that she called her “No More Presidential Wars” resolution. It was removed before the House vote.
The NDAA predictably passed the Senate — where 37 Democrats voted for it.
Only eight senators voted against it, an equal number of Republicans and Democrats in opposition.
The Democrats who voted “no” were Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
The Republicans who voted no were Senators Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Mike Lee of Utah, and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Some of these Democrats represent the more liberal elements in the party, just as some of the Republicans are more conservative or libertarian-leaning.
Eight senators did not vote, including a few current and past 2020 Democratic presidential contenders.
Democratic Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, along with Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, all did not vote. Neither did former Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
So in July, most Senate Democrats joined most Republicans in agreeing that the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, a nearly two-decade-old law designed to target the perpetrators of 9/11, gives President Trump the authority to carry out military action against Iran or presumably any other country.
On Thursday, he did just that.
Many of the same Senate Democrats who voted to pass NDAA last summer are blasting Trump’s airstrike right now. They have no right to.
Jack Hunter (@jackhunter74) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. He is the former political editor of Rare and co-authored the 2011 book The Tea Party Goes to Washington with Sen. Rand Paul.
