Part 6: Congressional Reaction

January 9, 2020

U.S. lawmakers had mixed responses to killing of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Qods Force. The split was largely along party lines. Republicans supported the assassination of the general, whom the United States held responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American servicemembers in the region. "The architect and chief engineer for the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism has been removed from the battlefield at the hand of the United States military," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Democrats warned that Soleimani’s death could escalate U.S.-Iran tensions into open war. "The Trump Administration’s provocative, escalatory and disproportionate military engagement continues to put servicemembers, diplomats and citizens of America and our allies in danger," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Democrats claimed that President Trump did not have congressional authorization to carry out military strikes related to Iran. The following are reactions from U.S. lawmakers.

Capitol

 

Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

“This classified War Powers Act notification delivered to Congress raises more questions than it answers.  This document prompts serious and urgent questions about the timing, manner and justification of the Administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran.  The highly unusual decision to classify this document in its entirety compounds our many concerns, and suggests that the Congress and the American people are being left in the dark about our national security.

“The Trump Administration’s provocative, escalatory and disproportionate military engagement continues to put servicemembers, diplomats and citizens of America and our allies in danger.  This initiation of hostilities was taken without an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iran, 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.  The Administration must work with the Congress to advance a bonafide de-escalatory strategy that prevents further violence.”

—Jan. 4, 2020, in an official statement

“American leaders’ highest priority is to protect American lives and interests.  But we cannot put the lives of American servicemembers, diplomats and others further at risk by engaging in provocative and disproportionate actions.  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.  Further, this action was taken without the consultation of the Congress.

“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.”

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

“This morning, Iran’s master terrorist is dead. The architect and chief engineer for the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism has been removed from the battlefield at the hand of the United States military.”

—Jan. 3, 2020, in remarks on the Senate floor

 

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY)

“President Obama had an opportunity to take out Soleimani. They didn't. We don’t know the reasons that it had to be done now — they don’t seem very clear.”

“The document they sent us last night is very unsatisfying as to that. Even though I can’t talk about it because the whole thing is classified.”

"I really worry that the actions the president took will get us into what he calls another 'endless war' in the Middle East. He promised we wouldn't have that. And I think we're closer to that now because of his actions."

—Jan. 5, 2020, in an interview on ABC’s “This Week”

 

House Minority Leader, Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

 

Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY)

“Qasem Soleimani was the mastermind of immense violence, suffering, and instability. He had the blood of Americans on his hands and I won’t grieve his death. But many will consider him a martyr and I’m deeply concerned about the repercussions of tonight’s strike.

“Iran is the world’s most prolific state sponsor of terrorism. The regime in Tehran and its proxies have global reach that they may use to seek retribution for this strike, endangering the lives of Americans around the world. And we are now again on the brink of direct confrontation in the Middle East. Tonight’s action represents a massive escalation in our conflict with Iran with unpredictable consequences.

“Finally, this strike went forward with no notification or consultation with Congress. To push ahead with an action of this gravity without involving Congress raises serious legal problems and is an affront to Congress’s powers as a coequal branch of government. Even if this strike was in self-defense, no current congressional authorization covered it and the President needs to notify Congress within 48 hours pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. The law requires notification so the President can’t plunge the United States into ill-considered wars. We must also hear without delay from senior officials about this action and their plans to deal with the aftermath.”

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)

“Congratulations to President Trump on his decisive action and the successful outcome. Qassem Suleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and his death presents an opportunity for Iraq to determine its own future free from Iranian control. As I have previously warned the Iranian government, they should not mistake our reasonable restraint in response to their previous attacks as weakness. The U.S. will always vigorously defend our interests and allies in the face of terrorist conduct and provocations.

“On behalf of every American serviceman and servicewoman who has either been killed or injured due to an Iranian-provided IED or rocket in Iraq over the years, today justice was done. Suleimani was responsible for the weapons program that caused those casualties and injuries with the use of those treacherous and cowardly devices.”

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

 

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 

 

Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT)

"When I voted against the war in Iraq in 2002, I feared it would lead to greater destabilization of the country and the region. Today, 17 years later, that fear has unfortunately turned out to be true.

"The United States has lost approximately 4,500 brave troops, tens of thousands have been wounded, and we've spent trillions on this war.

"Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars.

"Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one."

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

 

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) 

 

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) 

 

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

 

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)

 

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)

 

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

“The question that has to be answered is, what brought us to this moment? What’s the intelligence behind that? And what comes now? I fear that this administration used tactics but has no strategy in the long term. … What we can’t accept is a march to an unauthorized war.”

—Jan. 3, 2020, in an interview with MSNBC

 

Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE)

“This is very simple: General Soleimani is dead because he was an evil bastard who murdered Americans. The President made the brave and right call, and Americans should be proud of our servicemembers who got the job done.”

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)

"The briefing lasted only 75 minutes, whereupon our briefers left. This, however, is not the biggest problem I have with the briefing, which I would add was probably the worst briefing I've seen at least on a military issue in the nine years I've served in the United States Senate."

“What I found so distressing about the briefing is one of the messages we received from the briefers was, ‘Do not debate, do not discuss the issue of the appropriateness of further military intervention against Iran,’ and that if you do ‘You will be emboldening Iran.’ ”

"I find this insulting and demeaning to the Constitution of the United States. It's un-American. It's unconstitutional. And it's wrong. ... They are appearing before a coordinate branch of government responsible for their funding, for their confirmation, for any approval of any military action they might take. They had to leave after 75 minutes while they were in the process of telling us that we need to be good little boys and girls and not debate this in public. I find that to be absolutely insane."

—Jan. 8, 2020, in an interview with Fox News

 

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)

"I see no way in the world you could logically argue that an authorization to have war with Saddam Hussein has anything to with having war with people currently in Iraq.”

"Let's have the debate, and let's have some senators stand up."

—Jan. 8, 2020, in remarks to reporters

 

Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)

“President Trump is bringing our nation to the brink of an illegal war with Iran without any congressional approval as required under the Constitution of the United States. Such a reckless escalation of hostilities is likely a violation of Congress’ war making authority – as well as our basing agreement with Iraq – putting U.S. forces and citizens in danger and very possibly sinking us into another disastrous war in the Middle East that the American people are not asking for and do not support. Congress must step in immediately to reclaim its Constitutional war powers. I urge members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to show courage on this issue, and I urge the Trump administration to change course and pursue diplomacy before we are entangled in yet another war in the Middle East with no end in sight.”

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)

“Iran and its terrorist proxies killed an American this week and attacked our embassy, threatening hundreds of Americans. This came after months of escalating Iranian aggression against the United States and our allies in the Middle East.

“Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said today President Trump would take action if he had reason to believe another attack was imminent. The Administration also made clear it will protect our service members and other Americans in the region.

“Qasem Soleimani made his living wreaking havoc on the freedom-loving people of the Middle East. His resume included nurturing the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon; protecting and enabling the tyrant Bashar al-Assad in Syria; and destabilizing Yemen. He supported militias in Iraq that killed over 600 Americans as well as thousands of Iraqis. According to the Pentagon, Soleimani was actively plotting more attacks on Americans. The President acted decisively to protect our country, diplomats, service members and citizens.

“For months, President Trump exercised restraint in the face of repeated hostility. Iran’s aggression continued to escalate. I encourage Iran to finally stand down and discontinue their attacks on Americans.”

—Jan. 3, 2020, in an official statement

 

Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA)

“[Qassem Soleimani] was an enemy of the United States with American blood on his hands. But the question we’ve grappled with for years in Iraq was how to kill more terrorists than we create. That’s an open question tonight as we await Iran’s reaction to Donald Trump’s escalation, which could ignite a regional war, with still no strategy from the Administration.”

—Jan. 2, 2020, in an official statement

 

Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY)

 

Representative Dan Kildee (D-MI)

“Qassim Soleimani was a brutal Iranian military commander who has killed many Americans and orchestrated countless terrorist attacks. Yet many Iranians and Iran’s hardline leaders will see his killing as a serious provocation that could incite additional attacks against American service members, diplomats and citizens abroad. Iran has already vowed ‘harsh revenge’ against the United States and could further escalate violence. It is important to remember that every foreign policy action we take has potential life-and-death consequences, and we must consider the short and long-term repercussions of such actions.

“I am concerned that the Trump Administration conducted these air strikes killing high-level Iranian military officials without an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iran. Congress was also not consulted on this military attack. The existing AUMF was authorized by Congress almost two decades ago to hold those responsible for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. I have long asserted, under President Obama and now President Trump, that the commander-in-chief cannot continue to conduct any military actions they see fit under the existing AUMF.

“The American people are owed a plan by the administration on how the President plans to deescalate this dangerous situation and prevent this attack from spiraling into greater conflict that could result in more American casualties or troop deployments. The American people do not want war with Iran.”

—Jan. 3, 2020, in an official statement

 

House Foreign Affairs Committee

 

Some of the information in this article was originally published on January 6, 2020.