"This indefinite prohibition is unnecessary and dangerous," the president wrote in his letter to the Senate.
By OMRI NAHMIAS, REUTERSU.S. President Trump holds news conference on the coronavirus outbreak at the White House in Washington(photo credit: REUTERS)
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed legislation that intends to limit his ability to wage war against Iran. The bill passed both chambers of Congress with the support of a few Republican members but lacked enough votes to get a veto-proof majority.“This indefinite prohibition is unnecessary and dangerous,” the president wrote in his letter to the Senate. Trump added that the bill would have weakened the president’s authority in violation of Article II of the Constitution, and endanger the lives of American citizens and brave service members.“This joint resolution is unnecessary because it rests upon a faulty premise,” he noted, going on to say that because of his actions and policies, the United States is not engaged in the use of force against Iran. “As commander in chief, I will always defend our nation against threats to our security.”He addressed the decision to kill Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force.“The purposes of this strike were to protect United States personnel, deter Iran from conducting or supporting further attacks against United States forces and interests, degrade the ability of Iran and Quds Force-backed militias to conduct attacks, and end Iran’s strategic escalation of attacks against and threats to United States interests,” the letter read.Trump mentioned the incident on January 7, when Iran launched 16 ballistic missiles against United States and coalition forces in Iraq.“The next day, in an address to the nation, I noted that ‘Iran appears to be standing down’ and emphasized that ‘the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,’” the president wrote.“One day later, this resolution was introduced,” he added. “Its apparent aim was to prevent an escalation in hostilities between the United States and Iran. Yet no such escalation has occurred over the past four months, contrary to the often dire and confident predictions of many.”The president added that the bill is dangerous because “it could hinder the president’s ability to protect United States forces, allies and partners, including Israel, from the continued threat posed by Iran and Iranian-backed militias.”The Senate, where Trump’s fellow Republicans hold a 53-to-47-seat majority, is expected to hold a veto-override vote as soon as Thursday.
The resolution, which passed the House of Representatives in March and the Senate in April, was the latest effort by Congress to wrest back from the White House its constitutionally guaranteed authority to declare war.
