US Senate poised to vote on repeal of Iraq war powers

Repeal is not expected to affect current deployments, as about 2,500 US troops remain at invitation of Iraqi government

The US Senate was poised to vote on Wednesday to repeal the 2002 measure that green-lit the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, a move to end more than 20 years of authorization for US presidents to use force in that country and return those war powers to Congress.

The repeal is not expected to affect current troop deployments. About 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, to assist and advise local forces. The bipartisan legislation would also repeal the 1991 measure that sanctioned the US-led Gulf war.