Democratic members of Congress continue to complain that the White House failed to inform congressional leaders prior to the hit on Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. The Democrats have charged that President Trump should have informed the so-called Gang or Eight of senators; four Republican and four Democrats who are typically briefed on intelligence matters by the executive branch.
In response to the complaints, Trump suggested they need only read his Twitter feed to keep up with what he’s doing. “These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!”
In response, the official Twitter account of the House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote: “This Media Post will serve as a reminder that war powers reside in the Congress under the United States Constitution. And that you should read the War Powers Act. And that you’re not a dictator.”
Iraq, for its part, remains furious that the United States violated Iraqi sovereignty by carrying out the attack on Iraqi soil without consultation or permission from the Iraqi government. In response, the Iraqi parliament has passed a nonbinding resolution disinviting the 5,000 American troops there and revoking their request for U.S. military assistance.
In his chat with reporters on Air Force One, Trump said if Iraq follows through and expels U.S. forces, he would punish them with economic sanctions.
Read more from our senior writer on defense and national security in today’s edition of Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense.
