Dems join Republicans to crush Tlaib's war powers resolution in lopsided House vote

By Fox News · Fox News

The House of Representatives rejected a measure from Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., targeting U.S. military involvement in Lebanon. Tlaib’s measure failed in a bipartisan vote of 189-235 on Tuesday, with 22 Democrats joining nearly all Republicans against it. The resolution would have specifically barred U.S. forces from engaging in "any hostilities" in the country, despite the U.S. military not joining Israel's war in Lebanon and conducting few operations there. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a leading critic of Israel, was among the Republicans who supported the measure. DEMOCRATS SPLIT OVER TLAIB'S LEBANON MEASURE AS REPUBLICANS SEIZE ON HEZBOLLAH OMISSION The Squad member’s measure was a concurrent resolution, which is largely symbolic and not sent to President Donald Trump's desk for a veto if passed. Tlaib, Congress’ sole Palestinian American, is a fierce opponent of Israel and has accused the Jewish state of pursuing "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza and Lebanon. Her sharp criticism of Israel’s war in Lebanon has spurred GOP attacks that she is providing cover for Iran-backed Hezbollah. The resolution did not mention the terrorist group, which has been engaged in a military conflict with Israel since early March around the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Tuesday’s vote came after Tlaib previously forced a vote on a more expansive Lebanon war powers resolution earlier this month that critics argued would have required U.S. military personnel protecting embassy staff to leave the country. Opponents also charged that the measure would have restricted any assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which is fighting Hezbollah. REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: TLAIB FORCES RARE HOUSE PROCEDURE AFTER REPUBLICAN ACCUSES HER OF DEFENDING TERRORISTS Tlaib tailored her second resolution to clarify that it exempted protection of diplomatic personnel and cooperation with Lebanon’s military. Republicans questioned the timing of the resolution since the U.S. is not at war in Lebanon.…