20 years after its invasion, the US Senate withdraws the "green light" to invade Iraq

The US Senate is set to vote Wednesday to repeal a 2002 measure that green-lighted the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

By doing so, the "US Senate" would end more than twenty years of authorization for US presidents to use force in that country, and return the powers to declare war to Congress.

The decision is not expected to affect any current deployment of US forces, of which there are still about 2,500 soldiers in Iraq at the invitation of the Baghdad government, where they provide assistance and advice to Iraqi forces.

The decision would also overturn a 1991 measure imposing sanctions over the US-led Gulf War.

The number of Iraqis killed during the war is estimated at hundreds of thousands, and about 5,000 American soldiers were killed after the administration of former President George W. Bush falsely claimed that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: "Americans want an end to the endless Middle East wars. Passing this repeal is a necessary step to put these bitter struggles behind us."

Supporters, including nearly 20 Republican senators, say the repeal is necessary to prevent future abuses and advance the process of making Iraq a strategic partner of the United States, while opponents say the repeal could show weakness because the United States still faces conflict in the Middle East.

Source: "Associated Press"