Political Quotes

“we are here today to ensure the Senate fulfills its constitutional duties in having the sole power to send U.S. troops to war. Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution is explicit in saying the power to declare war is an explicit power of the Congress. Congress overwhelming reaffirmed this Constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers law in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon after the American people were lied to by both political parties about that war. Under the law, the President has the authority to approve military attacks as a response to an imminent threat or with the expressed authorization of Congress. Neither of these was the case with President Trump's decision to kill Iranian General Suleimani in January, a decision that led to a horrific missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq and only further added to ongoing tensions with Iran. The majority leader has argued that the War Powers law is somehow only relevant to thousands of troops being deployed to a Vietnam type situation, not a military action the President argues is simply a deterrence. Well, that is a dangerous rationale argument and exactly what this law had in mind, the reckless or creeping escalation to war without the authorization of Congress. In fact, the recent briefing by the administration on Iran was filled with echoes of the Gulf of Tonkin, vague assertions used to justify stunning military escalation in Vietnam.…”