Ari Melber appreciates the sentiment behind Obama's proposed resolution stating Congress has not authorized an attack on Iran. But, he wonders, is this really the best strategy for avoiding another war?
Activists should be careful what they wish for. A failed floor vote on Obama's resolution would not help avert a war. It might even give hawks more ammunition. Some would surely argue that a failure to pass the resolution reveals that a majority of Congress believes the president already has the power to attack Iran.Democrats regularly criticize the administration's distortions of congressional action to expand the president's power. Unfortunately, that dynamic cuts both ways. The administration stretches legislative language in defense of outrageous practices -- and then presents Congress' failure to override the conduct as evidence of tacit approval. It is a maddening strategy. But pushing doomed legislation on war powers won't help.
Read the rest (and comment) here. Plus, check out recent related coverage in TAP Online:
- Brian Beutler reported on congressional Democrats' efforts to disarm the White House.
- Ezra Klein chided the Democratic candidates for sidestepping the defining foreign policy question of the race: Will you attack Iran?
--The Editors
