Republicans 'deeply divided' as party falls apart over funding Trump's endless war

Republicans in Congress are once again "deeply divided," according to The Hill, as a new civil war breaks out over whether and how to authorize funding for President Donald Trump's war in Iran, which many lawmakers fear has no end in sight.

In a Wednesday morning report, The Hill revealed the uncertainties driving this new division within the GOP, including whether or not to give war authorizations beyond a 90-day limit and requiring the White House to provide a clearer sense of strategic goals that could mark a much-needed endpoint to the war.

"Senate Republicans are deeply divided over how to handle an expected request from President Trump to fund the military conflict with Iran, which some GOP lawmakers worry has no end in sight," The Hill explained. "Several Republican senators are talking with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) about crafting a resolution to authorize military force against Iran beyond the 60- to 90-day period set by the 1973 War Powers Act to respond to national security threats without congressional authorization. They believe Congress needs to authorize the fight beyond the end of May, which they view as a prerequisite to approving tens of billions of dollars in new funding for the war. And they want the White House to provide much more information about its strategic goals and plans for eventually ending the conflict before agreeing to another big tranche of funding."

Speaking with the outlet, Sen. John Curtis, a Utah Republican, said that he would need to see a "long list" of requirements met by the Trump administration before he would consider voting to authorize the Iran war beyond the War Powers Act limit. This would include a clearer picture of the "goals, objectives and strategies" needed to bring the conflict to an end and the avoidance of putting boots on the ground in Iran. The senator said that "everybody is worried" about the conflict spiraling on indefinitely.

"As far as a large force, that would not be a place I would want to go,” Curtis said.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican and outspoken Trump critic, added his voice to the call for a clearer exit strategy from the White House.

"We’re at the 45-day mark, now we got to start talking about an authorization for the use of military force,” Tillis said. “The White House has to have a very well-articulated plan for exiting... We need just a clear indication of where the administration wants to go: double-down or begin the cessation of hostilities."

Tillis added that while the war is proving toxic with most American voters, an authorization to extend it longer could give the Trump administration greater leverage in peace talks with Iran.

"The GOP leadership’s decision to keep funding for military operations against Iran out of the package reflects divisions within their caucus over how to handle the administration’s desire for more defense money," The Hill added. "Some Republicans are voicing frustrations over the war’s impact on fuel and fertilizer prices, which have hit farmers especially hard."

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