House Democrats on Tuesday were left fuming over Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ explanation for why President Trump had the right to conduct a military strike against Syria, after a briefing on the incident that left some lawmakers clamoring for more information about the long-term U.S. strategy for the war-torn region.
Both Republicans and Democrats attended the briefing, which was held in a secure room in the new basement wing adjacent to the Capitol. Lawmakers had to leave their phones in cubbies before entering the auditorium.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., was clearly angry when he left the meeting an hour later.
“Nonsense,” Nadler said, describing Mattis’ explanation that Trump had the authority to launch a retaliatory strike against three Syrian targets under his powers as commander in chief, as cited in Article II of the Constitution.
“Whatever that means,” Nadler said of the briefing.
Democrats and some Republicans are demanding a congressional vote on a new authorization for the president to use military force and they believe action in Syria should also require a new Authorization for Use of Military Force vote. Trump has cited Article II of the Constitution as justification, which left Democrats unsatisfied.
Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., said that’s too broad and called it a “justification to wage war anyplace, anytime he believes that the national security interest of this nation and our allies is threatened. Toss a dart at the globe and he could do it there.”
Republicans mostly said they believe Trump had the authority to launch the strikes, which the administration said was in retaliation for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s recent chemical attack on civilians that killed at least 70 people. Republicans said after the meeting that Mattis pointed out that the strikes were carried out with Britain and France, who like the United States, are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
“What they worked together to do is enforce a ban on chemical weapons that has been outlawed for more than 100 years,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas.
Thornberry said Mattis provided “a very clear, fulsome briefing.”
Mattis “provided some response about what they are trying to do about the peace process” in Syria, when asked by lawmakers about a broader strategy, Thornberry said.
Sen. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., said he received information from Mattis “that I had not previously heard,” but declined to provide details.
The latest strikes were the second retaliatory attack by the Trump administration against Syria.
Republicans, who control majorities in both chambers of Congress, largely believe the attacks do not require congressional authorization, but some Republicans are becoming impatient to hear a more specific plan, particularly because the U.S. stations 2,000 troops in the region.
“I would like to see a broader strategy,” Lance said. “The administration should come to Congress with a broader strategy.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is planning to vote on a new AUMF for dealing with the overseas fight against terrorism. Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said he believed the actions in Syria fall under Article II and did not require congressional authority.
