The attached interview originally aired on In the Moment on SDPB Radio.
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds has reservations about repealing the Congressional resolution that facilitated the Iraq War.
Senate Democrats say the decision is an important symbolic move to reaffirm Congress’ war powers and signal support for the Iraqi government.
But Rounds worries repealing the 2002 Iraq War authorization could undermine the United States’ goals in the region. Though the war formally ended in 2011, about 2,500 U.S. military personnel remain in the country.
“We still have young men and women in Iraq today,” said Rounds, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I don’t want to be in a position where we don’t have the authorities in place to protect them, should anything happen.
Rounds supports repealing the 1991 resolution authorizing the Gulf War.
Last week, he and Sen. John Thune voted against advancing a bill to repeal both authorizations. Rounds described the decision as a procedural vote.
“We wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to offer some additional amendments, specifically because we still have an interest in that part of the world,” he said.
Rep. Dusty Johnson voted against repealing the 2002 authorization in June 2021.
The Senate is debating the proposal this week. The legislation, which is supported by the White House, does not affect the 2001 war on terrorism authorization.
