Essential Points
- Donald Trump went to war in Iran without consulting his allies or the American people.
- After over a month of conflict, this operation seems far from over.
- The American president is required to justify it after 60 days to the American Congress.
On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched an offensive against Iran, which initially appeared to be brief, with early successes like the elimination of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. But over a month later, the war in Iran is starting to resemble the ones that Donald Trump criticized during his political career. Iran continues to retaliate by targeting its Gulf neighbors, even managing to shoot down at least two American aircraft last week over its territory, although their occupants were eventually rescued.
As the 60-day mark approaches, the American president will have to go through Congress to extend his offensive, which he initiated without consultation. This deadline is crucial for the future of the conflict.
“War Powers Act”
The “War Powers Act,” passed in 1973, indeed requires the American president to report within 60 days to Congress about a military operation he initiated without their approval, in order to seek an extension. Some of Donald Trump’s predecessors occasionally bypassed this by conducting operations under NATO or UN mandates, a privilege the current White House tenant cannot claim.
Barack Obama, in 2011, conducted airstrikes in Libya under NATO auspices, arguing they did not constitute “hostilities” as defined by the War Powers Act. The scale of American military involvement in Iran is far greater than in Libya, and the downing of two American fighters last week on enemy territory puts an end to any debate about the use of the term “hostilities.”
Quote
“You are supposed to have an approval for that.”
Donald Trump about a declaration of war
The word “war,” initially avoided in the early days of the conflict, has since been regularly used by Republican administration officials. Donald Trump even stated on March 25th that he would not label the conflict as “war,” yet he frequently refers to the Iran offensive as such, as noted by the American news site Axios.
In detail, the War Powers Act, borne out of the Vietnam War quagmire, limits American engagement in foreign hostilities to 60 days, plus a potential 30-day extension for troop withdrawal, without a specific vote from Congress. The only other legal option is a formal declaration of war, which also requires Congressional approval.
What Can Congress Do?
Two resolutions were rejected, one in the Senate in January and the other in the House of Representatives in early March, calling for the withdrawal of American forces engaged in Iran without Congressional authorization – supported by at least two Republican legislators. After 37 days of conflict, alignment between lawmakers and Donald Trump’s decisions is far from certain.
The disapproval of the Iran war is growing among the public, with indirect effects of the conflict starting to impact Americans’ daily lives, starting with fuel prices. The entire House of Representatives and a third of the Senate face reelection in the upcoming midterms in November, increasing pressure from voters on their representatives. This uncertainty means Donald Trump is not guaranteed a free hand if the operations are not completed by the 60-day deadline on April 29th.
The Congress could reject an extension of the offensive, effectively cutting funding for it. According to American lawmakers, over a billion dollars have been spent each day since the beginning of this war, thrice the amount in Afghanistan. Donald Trump has requested a 50% increase in the military budget, sacrificing 10% of social aid. Cutting off the financial lifeline before a clear victory for the U.S. is achieved proves even more challenging since the war aims have never been clearly defined.
Ironically, committing troops on the ground, repeatedly mentioned in recent weeks, could be an advantage for the American president if ordered. It would be more challenging for Congress to halt military funding if it puts American soldiers in danger.
