Pelosi Limits Trump's Independent Military Actions... Pushes 'War Powers Resolution'

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, announced plans to push for a vote on the 'War Powers Resolution' that would limit President Donald Trump's military actions against Iran. Although President Trump stated in a public address that the policy toward Iran would focus on economic sanctions and negotiations rather than military retaliation, this move is interpreted as an effort to establish a 'safeguard' at the congressional level. However, with the ruling Republican Party opposing the measure, it is expected that the two parties will once again sharply clash alongside the impeachment proceedings against President Trump.

According to U.S. media including the Associated Press, on the 8th (local time), Speaker Pelosi announced that the vote on the War Powers Resolution to limit President Trump's military actions against Iran would take place the following day (the 9th). In a statement, Pelosi expressed "serious concerns about the administration's decision driven by hostility toward Iran and the lack of strategy."

The Democrats' choice to vote on the resolution reflects a lack of trust in the Trump administration's Middle East strategy. Although President Trump stated in his public address that he would pursue economic sanctions and negotiations rather than military confrontation with Iran, there remains unease as military operations could be launched at any time. On the same day, CIA Director Gina Haspel and other officials held a closed briefing for the U.S. Congress regarding the operation to eliminate Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Iran's missile retaliation, but the Democrats criticized that the legitimacy of the elimination operation has still not been proven.

Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the approach as "a dangerous strategy to escalate conflict and then seek de-escalation." Democratic Senator Chris Murphy also criticized the Soleimani elimination operation, saying, "President Trump's strategy is entirely inappropriate" and "We are fundamentally worse off than a month ago." The Democrats' intensified offensive is interpreted as a backlash against the 'Obama responsibility theory,' which has long claimed that the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA ? Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) signed during the Obama administration was the source that enabled Iran's missile attacks.

On the other hand, the Republican Party continued to praise President Trump's strategy. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, "The cautious approach we see today from the Trump administration is exactly the 'Reagan Doctrine' of 'peace through strength,'" adding, "We thank the president who restored America's respected position worldwide and our brave military." Senator James Inhofe, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed hope for future negotiations with Iran, saying, "We are trying to start negotiations. The door is open."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.