On the recordJanuary 9, 2020
The President cannot unilaterally go to war with Iran, nor are we safer since January 2, 2020, after having targeted and killed the second-in-command of Iran. The American people, as well as our troops, are in more jeopardy. In 2002, I was here, and I offer these words from my statement on the floor regarding President Bush. ``Always a question of the greatest importance, our decision today,'' in 2002, ``is further weighted by the fact that we are being asked to sanction a new foreign policy doctrine that gives a President the power to launch a unilateral and preemptive first strike against Iraq before we have utilized our diplomatic options.'' I further went on to say that ``our own intelligence agencies report that there is currently little chance of chemical and biological attack from Saddam Hussein on U.S. forces or territories.'' Proven right, endless war, continuous loss of life of our treasured young men and women and many injured--this resolution and rule are imperative to assert constitutional authority to ensure the protection of the American people.
