Senate Blocks Effort to Prevent Trump From Attacking Cuba

The Senate on Tuesday blocked an effort to prevent President Trump from launching an attack on Cuba without congressional authorization amid a ramped-up US oil embargo and planning for a potential war against the island nation.

The War Powers Resolution, introduced by Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), was blocked from moving forward in a vote of 51-47, with just two Republicans, Senators Rand Paul (KY) and Lisa Murkowski (AK), voting against shelving the bill.

Only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman, voted with Republicans to block the resolution. Fetterman has also joined Republicans in opposing legislation aimed at halting the US war against Iran.

Ahead of the vote, Kaine said: “Trump’s war against Iran has been a disaster—servicemembers and civilians have died, and gas prices are skyrocketing. Now, he wants a new war with Cuba. My colleagues and I are firm: no new, unnecessary wars.”