Thomas Massie joins Democrats opposing Trump Iran strikes with out approval

[ad_1] NEW Now you can hearken to Fox Information articles!

One among President Donald Trump 's longtime Republican critics, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., joined Gang of Eight Democrats in opposition to Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. strikes on Iranian army targets.

Trump has not sought congressional approval for an assault on Iran, Massie wrote on X, rebuking "acts of conflict unauthorized by Congress."

"I'm against this Conflict," Massie added in a second X put up Saturday morning. "This isn't 'America First.'"

"When Congress reconvenes, I'll work with @RepRoKhanna to drive a Congressional vote on conflict with Iran. The Structure requires a vote, and your Consultant must be on document as opposing or supporting this conflict."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly met earlier this week with the Gang of Eight and a spokesman for Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., informed Fox Information Digital that Rubio referred to as the speaker earlier than the in a single day strikes have been carried out in Iran.

Notably, Trump has reminded the world that Iran's regime had focused him, together with fomenting assassination discuss in retaliation of his first administration's taking out Islamic Republican Guard QUDs drive commander Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3, 2020.

"I used to be the hunted, now I'm the hunter," Trump stated on the White Home garden earlier than the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes and amid previous warnings to Iranian leaders.

Article I of the U.S. Structure grants Congress the facility to declare conflict, however a U.S. official informed Fox Information Chief Nationwide Safety Correspondent Jennifer Griffin that Trump's U.S. army armada within the Middle East , working in live performance with Israel, is focusing on army targets and ballistic missile websites that pose an "imminent risk."

The U.S. army isn't focusing on Iran's management, however Israel is, the official added.

KHANNA AND MASSIE THREATEN TO FORCE A VOTE ON IRAN AS PROSPECT OF US ATTACK LOOMS

Alerting Congress was a subject of rivalry throughout the stealth operation to extract Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, when Trump and Rubio stated they didn't alert the Gang of Eight prematurely, fearing leaks and placing U.S. troops in danger earlier than the operation.

The Gang of Eight is the 4 Republican and Democrat leaders of Congress and 4 different members of the Home and Senate Intelligence Committees.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., rating member of the Home Intelligence Committee, is a part of the group.

"All the pieces I've heard from the administration earlier than and after these strikes on Iran confirms it is a conflict of alternative with no strategic endgame," Himes wrote in an announcement. "As I expressed to Secretary Rubio when he briefed the Gang of Eight, army motion on this area nearly by no means ends effectively for the US, and battle with Iran can simply spiral and escalate in methods we can not anticipate. It doesn't seem that Donald Trump has realized the teachings of historical past.

"The president's personal assertion acknowledges that is conflict, and the Structure requires the Administration to return to Congress for authorization, one thing it has not carried out. Subsequent week, the Home will vote on a conflict powers decision, and I'll assist that decision. Within the meantime, I will likely be praying for the protection of our servicemembers and all civilians who're in hurt’s means."

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke out towards Trump's Operation Epic Fury motion.

GOP LAWMAKERS SPLIT ON US MILITARY INTERVENTION TO FULFILL TRUMP'S CALLS FOR REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN

"Iran's management has lengthy supported terrorism throughout the area, undermined regional stability, continued to advance its nuclear ambitions, and brutally repressed its personal individuals, however acknowledging these realities doesn't relieve any president of the duty to behave throughout the regulation, with a transparent technique, and with Congress," Warner wrote in an announcement.

"The American individuals have seen this playbook earlier than – claims of urgency, misrepresented intelligence, and army motion that pulls the US into regime change and extended, expensive nation-building. We owe it to our service members, and to each American household, to make sure that we're not repeating the errors of the previous."

Warner added a name for Trump to offer the "nation clear solutions: What's the goal? What's the technique to stop escalation? And the way does this make People safer?"

TRUMP HAS THREE STRIKE OPTIONS THAT WOULD AID THE PROTESTERS AND DEVASTATE IRAN

"The president moved ahead with out searching for congressional authorization," Warner's assertion concluded. "The Structure is evident: the choice to take this nation to conflict rests with Congress, and launching large-scale army operations – notably within the absence of an imminent risk to the US – raises critical authorized and constitutional issues.

"Congress should be totally briefed, and the administration must come forward with a transparent authorized justification, an outlined finish state, and a plan that avoids dragging the US into one more expensive and pointless conflict."

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., the chair of the Home Intelligence Committee, famous Trump gave "Iran loads of alternatives to take the diplomatic route."

REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAY LEAKED IRAN DAMAGE REPORT WAS INACCURATE, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

"Previous to the initiation of this motion, in earnest diplomatic engagements with Iran, President Trump was very clear about his crimson line from the beginning and his expectations of Iran throughout these negotiations," Crawford wrote in an announcement. "Iran completely can't be allowed to take care of a nuclear weapon or capabilities. The security and safety of People and our allies are on the road."

Crawford's assertion careworn concern for American forces conducting the operation versus Democrats' issues over Trump's authority as commander in chief.

TRUMP ISSUES STERN IRAN WARNING AS TEHRAN ANGRILY REACTS TO SPEECH AMID MUTED WORLD REACTION

"America of America has essentially the most premier army on the planet, and I'm assured it is going to efficiently perform the very clearly said targets of this operation," Crawford wrote. "Because the operations proceed, we pray for the protection of the U.S. military forces concerned, People within the area, and our allies.

"I'd strongly advise the Iranian regime heed President Trump's warning," he continued.

Trump warned in his State of the Union earlier this week that he'll maintain to his longtime vow that "Iran won't ever have a nuclear weapon," saying in his Reality Social video in a single day explaining the strikes that Iran was trying to reconstitute its designs on a nuclear arsenal.

TRUMP TELLS IRANIANS THE 'HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND' AS US-ISRAEL LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST IRAN

"One factor is for certain, I'll by no means permit the world's No. 1 sponsor of terror, which they're by far, to have a nuclear weapon," Trump stated within the State of the Union. "Cannot let that occur."

Senate Armed Forces Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praised the "decisive motion" towards "the world’s main proliferator of terrorism."

"It is a pivotal and needed operation to guard People and American pursuits," Wicker wrote in an announcement. "The president has said the operation's targets clearly: thwart completely the ayatollahs' need to create a nuclear weapon, degrade their ballistic missile drive and their manufacturing capability, and destroy their naval and terrorism capabilities.

RUBIO, RATCLIFFE TO DELIVER CLASSIFIED IRAN BRIEFING TO 'GANG OF EIGHT' AHEAD OF TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION

"These are the toughest selections that face any American commander-in-chief, and I admire that President Trump and his crew carried out a complete technique utilizing all instruments of nationwide energy and a well-orchestrated army planning course of."

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. , a member of the Senate Armed Companies and International Relations Committees, echoed the long-time Trump place towards "regime-change wars."

"Has President Trump realized nothing from a long time of U.S. meddling in Iran and eternally wars within the Center East?" Kaine wrote in an announcement.

MASSIE-LED PUSH TO HANDCUFF TRUMP ON IRAN GETS JEFFRIES' BACKING

"For months, I've raised hell about the truth that the American individuals need decrease costs, no more conflict — particularly wars that are not licensed by Congress, as required by the Structure, and don’t have a transparent goal," he added.

"These strikes are a colossal mistake, and I pray they don't price our little kids in uniform and at embassies all through the area their lives," Kaine stated. "The Senate ought to instantly return to session and vote on my Conflict Powers Decision to dam using U.S. forces in hostilities towards Iran."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Each single senator must go on the document about this harmful, pointless, and idiotic motion," Kaine stated.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., echoed the decision to vote on Kaine's conflict powers decision.

"People don’t wish to go to conflict with Iran," Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., wrote in an announcement. "By launching strikes, President Trump has made the identical harmful and silly choice President Bush did a era in the past. He put People in hurt's means with out clearly exhibiting there’s an imminent risk to our nationwide safety. He put the Iranian individuals in hurt’s means by calling on them to stand up with no broad coalition of companions to help of their safety.

"And Trump as soon as once more began a cycle of violence that has already escalated and will spiral uncontrolled," he continued. "That is unacceptable. The Senate ought to vote on Senator Kaine’s Conflict Powers Decision instantly."