Senate to hold key vote on repealing Iraq war authorizations
CBSN
Washington — The Senate will hold a key procedural vote Thursday on a measure that would repeal the legal justifications used to attack Iraq in 1991 and 2003, nearly 20 years to the day since the U.S. began its "shock and awe" campaign to topple dictator Saddam Hussein.
The bipartisan legislation would repeal the 2002 authorization for the use of military force, or AUMF, that Congress passed to allow the 2003 invasion, as well as the 1991 authorization approving the first Gulf War. The bill, which has 12 Republican co-sponsors, is expected to easily garner the 60 votes needed to advance.
"The 1991 and 2002 AUMFs are no longer necessary, serve no operational purpose, and run the risk of potential misuse," Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who co-sponsored the Senate version of the bill alongside Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, said when introducing the measure in February.
