海角大神

In a rare case of unity Wednesday, lawmakers on Capitol Hill welcomed President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision not to retaliate against Iran for its missile strikes on U.S. forces. Both Democrats and Republicans welcomed his restraint and the pause for peace after five tense days following the U.S. killing of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran鈥檚 elite Qods Force.

Lawmakers also welcomed Mr. Trump鈥檚 call for European allies to join in negotiating 鈥渁 deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place.鈥�

On matters of peace, members of Congress find it easy to achieve consensus with shared reason and wisdom.

On preventing or encouraging a president鈥檚 ability to take military action, however, those qualities of leadership are too often missing 鈥� no matter who is president.

On Thursday, in yet another attempt to control the powers of the commander in chief, the House planned to vote to block military action against Iran unless聽Congress聽authorized it. In the Senate, a similar bill stands a chance of passing. Yet as in past years, both chambers probably lack a supermajority to override an expected presidential veto.

For more than 70 years, Congress has steadily ceded war-making powers to the chief executive, partly because new types of weapons demand quick decisions and partly to avoid blame for a conflict that goes badly. Yet after the latest close encounter with Iran, it is time for Congress to finally set aside partisanship and assert its constitutional responsibility on issues of war. This requires leadership in order to achieve what James Madison called 鈥渢he cool and deliberate sense of the community.鈥�

The bipartisan praise for Mr. Trump鈥檚 restraint on Iran should now be mirrored in giving him definitive direction on how and when to use force against Iran to counter its aggression in the Middle East. For the world鈥檚 sake, the prospects for peace in the Mideast depend on the quality of deliberation in Washington. To rephrase a British prime minister, jaw-jaw can prevent war-war.