Senate votes to repeal Iraq War approval many see as mistake

Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters Tuesday at the Capitol. “Americans want to see an end to endless Middle East wars,” he said, adding that passing the repeal of the war authorization “is a necessary step to putting these bitter conflicts squarely behind us.” (AP Photos)

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Wednesday to repeal the resolution that gave a green light for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a bipartisan effort to return a basic war power to Congress 20 years after an authorization many now view as a mistake.

Iraqi deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands, and nearly 5,000 U.S. troops were killed in the war after President George W. Bush’s administration falsely claimed that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.