Top U.S. Democrats are starting to voice their opposition to President Trump’s recent act of war – the ordering of a drone strike earlier this week in Iraq that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, also killing Iraqi PMU leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement on Thursday calling the deadly airstrike “provocative and disproportional” and risks further escalation of violence in the region.

But just weeks ago, the Pelosi-led democratic majority voted overwhelmingly (188-41) in favor of the House’s version of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – effectively stripping  it of important antiwar measures that would have required congressional authorization for any future attacks on Iran.

In July of 2019, a bipartisan amendment to the NDAA was introduced by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to prevent unauthorized use of military force against Iran. At the time, Pelosi applauded the co-sponsors for the antiwar provisions during a House floor speech in support of the bill:

“We applaud Representative Ro Khanna and the many bipartisan co-sponsors of their amendment to prohibit federal funds from being used for any military force against Iran without congressional authorization. As I rise to support the bill, I also rise to support Mr. Khanna’s amendment.”

2020 Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders followed Pelosi and other top Democrats this week condemning Trump’s actions but has now joined Rep. Khanna in an attempt to reintroduce legislation that would block funding for a war with Iran.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) used her Twitter pulpit on Friday urging Congress to reintroduce the previously “gutted” antiwar provisions but some critics have called it grandstanding:

We already have the no more presidential wars act. I appreciate ur voice in trying to simmer this situation, but how about we use the laws we ALREADY HAVE rather than introducing another bill to grandstand? Stop playing politics and use the tools already at ur disposal.

— Niko House