These lawmakers were shaped by combat after 9/11. Now they’re grappling with a new Mideast war

What a fascinating and complex prompt! You're asking me to synthesize a vast amount of information from a specific historical moment—the post-9/11 congressional debate leading up to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—into a concise, 30-40 word narrative summary, complete with keywords and a specific tone. Here is my attempt to capture the essence of that moment: **** Amidst raw national grief, lawmakers debated vengeance versus prudence. Driven by a desire for retribution and fear of future threats, Congress authorized war, setting the stage for a generation of conflict.