ZCZC
BFF-11
IRAQ-IRAN-US-UNREST-POLITICS
Trump says doesn’t need Congress’s OK for even ‘disproportionate’ strike
WASHINGTON, Jan 6, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – President Donald Trump thumbed his nose
Sunday at critics angered at being kept in the dark over the US killing of a
top Iranian general, saying he didn’t need Congressional approval — even for
a “disproportionate” strike.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been leading the backlash against Trump’s
decision to authorize a drone strike against Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, an
operation that Trump only officially informed Congress about on Saturday —
nearly 48 hours after the event.
Two Democratic lawmakers announced on Sunday that they would introduce a
new resolution before the House of Representatives that they said would
prevent Trump from unilaterally leading the United States into a war against
Iran.
But a defiant Trump made light of the calls for him to get Congressional
approval in any future military action, saying such notice was “not required”
— and then saying his tweet would serve as prior notification if he did
decide to strike against Iran again.
“These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress
that should Iran strike any US person or target, the United States will
quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner,” Trump
wrote.
“Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!”
While previous administrations have tried to garner bipartisan support for
significant military operations by briefing opponents beforehand, neither
Pelosi nor the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, were told in
advance about the targeting of Soleimani.
A furious Pelosi said that what she called “this initiation of hostilities”
was taken “without the consultation of the Congress and without the
articulation of a clear and legitimate strategy to either the Congress or the
public.”
“As Speaker of the House, I reiterate my call on the Administration for an
immediate, comprehensive briefing of the full Congress on military engagement
related to Iran and next steps under consideration,” she said in a statement.
Speaking on ABC television, Schumer said he was worried that the president
would drag the US into “what he (Trump) calls another endless war in the
Middle East”.
“I am really worried, and that is why Congress must assert itself. I don’t
believe the president has authority to go to war” in Iran without
congressional approval, he added.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration had begun to brief
Congressional leaders about the justification for the strike and promised to
“keep them fully apprised.”
Asked whether the administration would seek authorization for any new
military action, he told ABC television: “We have all the authority we need
to do what we’ve done to-date. We will continue to do things appropriately,
lawfully, and constitutionally.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0935 hrs