US Airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria lead to the usual political positioning
As to be expected, members of Congress came forth with praise or condemnation of President Biden for his administration's decision to bomb sites in Syria used by Iran-backed militias.
The praise was for decisive American action in response to harm done to her allies and citizens (the Iranian-backed militia in Iraq launched a rocket attack on Feb. 15 that hit the U.S. military base housed at Erbil International Airport in the Kurdish-run region of Iraq, killing one non-American contractor and wounding a number of American contractors and a U.S. service member). Condemnation came from members of Congress who have either traditionally spurned foreign interventions, or who need to take a contrary position to the current administration for political purposes.
The bulk of Congress' response to the airstrikes have been supportive. Many of the same members who supported Trump's use of airstrikes in 2017 have come out in support of this. Members of congress like Senators Tim Kaine and Chris Murphy have both long sought the repeal of those powers according the President in the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and the following 2002 Iraq War Authorization.
It's 20 years later, and the power of the executive branch to conduct war or war-like actions against foreign entities remains largely unchecked. The 20th century has seen a steady increase in presidential power, and the 21st century has seen that enlargement expand. Congress should have the power to declare war and hold the power of the purse. But starting with Reagan and going through Bush 43 and on to former President Donald Trump, and now current President Biden, the president has made it the purview of the office to decide issues of blood and treasure.
Unfortunately, the whataboutism and 'gotchasim' of modern politics and its media handmaiden will obfuscate the legitimate and more important issue of whether the war powers granted the executive branch in 2001, and those powers seized through other forms of executive action, should continue.
