The Democrats will hold a controversial US Congress vote Thursday (January 9th) on a text to prevent Donald Trump from waging war on Iran, with Washington regaining its deep political divisions after a rare moment of union calling for de-escalation.
The President may have dispatched some of his highest officials to Capitol Hill to brief parliamentarians of all stripes on Iran behind closed doors, but nothing has happened.
Partisan lines have largely defined the conclusions of parliamentarians after the briefings. For Most Republicans, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Pentagon Leader Mark Esper, CIA Director Gina Haspel, and US Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, Made a Presentation " very useful " and convincing.
Rare dissonant voices among Republicans
But for a majority of Democrats, they have left "Many unanswered questions". "Our concerns have not been resolved", ruled Nancy Pelosi, powerful president of the House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats. The lower house will therefore decide on a resolution on Thursday "Aimed at limiting the President's military acts against Iran", she announced.
This text is less likely to then pass the course of the Senate, controlled by the republican camp of the tenant of the White House. Even if a rare voice came out indignant at the briefing: Republican Senator Mike Lee.
"It is unacceptable that senior executive officials, I don't care whether they are from the CIA or the defense ministry, or whatever, tell us that we cannot discuss and debate the merits of military intervention with Iran ", he got carried away. "It goes against American values" and "It's unconstitutional".
Stating that he entered the meeting without knowing whether he would vote for a resolution similar to that of the House, he let go only after this briefing "Insulting", his choice was made: he would support it if and when it was presented to the Senate. Another anti-interventionist Republican, Rand Paul, should also do so.
Democrats say “disproportionate strike”
By announcing that she would organize this vote Thursday, Nancy Pelosi once again criticized Donald Trump for having killed last week the powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleïmani in Baghdad: It was a "Disproportionate and provocative military strike" decided "Without consulting Congress".
"This act endangered our soldiers, diplomats and fellow citizens by creating the risk of a serious escalation of tensions with Iran"even as President Trump "Demonstrated that he had no coherent strategy", she lamented.
Many members of the Democratic opposition questioned the legality of the strike to eliminate Soleimani, and the reality of the attacks "Imminent" that the Iranian general was preparing, according to the American administration, against American interests.
The confidential information provided by these senior officials did not convince them. "I leave not only dissatisfied but with real worries"said Senator Robert Menendez.
"I don't think the United States is safer" after the death of General Soleimani, added Senator Elizabeth Warren, candidate for the Democratic primary in the race for the White House.
But most Republicans said they were convinced. Former Republican primary candidate against Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, said he received "A considerable amount of information on the imminent threat", who allegedly targeted "Americans, soldiers, in the Middle East".
