Donald Trump personally ordered an airstrike that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani Friday near an airport in Baghdad, Iraq, and the former reality show star did so without informing Congress first. To be sure, Soleimani was an oppressive, evil little shit, but Trump’s reasoning behind the strike isn’t clear — however, his timing is, since Congress just impeached him. It’s almost as if we’ve all been through this before.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn’t sound pleased at Trump’s tactics and is now calling on the “president’s” administration to immediately brief lawmakers on the U.S. airstrike and demands to know what the White House plans to do next.
“American leaders’ highest priority is to protect American lives and interests. But we cannot put the lives of American service members, diplomats, and others further at risk by engaging in provocative and disproportionate actions,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Tonight’s airstrike risks provoking further dangerous escalation of violence. America – and the world – cannot afford to have tensions escalate to the point of no return.”
“The Administration has conducted tonight’s strikes in Iraq targeting high-level Iranian military officials and killing Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani without an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iran,” she continued. “Further, this action was taken without the consultation of the Congress.”
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“The full Congress must be immediately briefed on this serious situation and on the next steps under consideration by the Administration, including the significant escalation of the deployment of additional troops to the region,” Pelosi concluded.
Her social media notification was brief and to the point:
The Trump Admin has conducted strikes in Iraq targeting high-level Iranian military officials and killing Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani without an AUMF against Iran. Further, this action was taken without the consultation of the Congress.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 3, 2020
Iran’s second most powerful figure was killed in the airstrike, and that’s comparable to if a foreign power took out vice-president Mike Pence. We’re not necessarily sad over Soleimani’s demise, but the U.S. commander-in-chief doesn’t seem to have a strategy or have the wisdom to notify Congress first before launching an airstrike. Sen. Lindsey Graham was reportedly notified of the airstrike days ago, though, and the South Carolina Republican — a war hawk — should have directed his “president” to consult with the bipartisan group called the gang of eight first.
Trump has always wanted to use nukes, and that should bother everyone. Trump, who claimed to want to stop “endless wars” is now being praised by his supporters for potentially starting an endless war.
Featured image via screen capture
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