On the recordJanuary 9, 2020
I thank the ranking member. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this brazen political stunt. Qasem Soleimani was a vicious terrorist who built a cult following on the backs of dead Americans. He armed Hezbollah, KH, and other Iranian proxies who killed American troops and our allies throughout the Middle East. The Homeland Security and Defense Departments have kept close watch on his terror campaigns for years. Soleimani was not visiting Baghdad because it was a great holiday destination. He was there to meet the leader of a terrorist group that killed an American just days before. Our President used the law and his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief to eliminate this terrorist mastermind before he could kill again. Democrats immediately responded by doubting our intelligence and dismissing the expertise of our military leaders. Now they bring this resolution to the floor that maligns our President, undermines our national security, and makes a martyr of a man who killed nearly 600 Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.
