Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told lawmakers to withhold criticism of the U.S. military strike in Iraq that killed a top Iranian military leader until they receive a classified briefing on the operation.
McConnell’s warning Friday came after numerous Democrats criticized President Trump’s decision to take out Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force, in a drone strike Thursday.
“Predictably enough, in this political environment, the operation that resulted in his death may prove controversial or divisive,” McConnell said. “Although I anticipate and welcome debate about America’s interest in foreign policy in the Middle East, I recommend that all senators wait to review the facts and hear from the administration before passing much public judgment on this operation, and it’s potential consequences.”
McConnell said an all-senators classified briefing on the strike is likely to happen by early next week while Senate staff will be briefed by Trump administration officials today.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said Soleimani was “an architect and chief engineer of the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism,” and that the drone strikes ordered by Trump have removed him from the battlefield.
“No man was more directly responsible for the deaths of more American service members,” McConnell said, opening the Senate floor for the second session of the 116th Congress.
Many Democrats have argued Trump should have consulted Congress before the strike.
Although some GOP lawmakers had advanced notice of the strike, among them Trump ally and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, Democrats had no notice.
“Presidential administrations of both parties have traditionally consulted with Congress before conducting strategically significant military actions, not only because it is constitutionally appropriate, and not only because doing so provides the opportunity to secure bipartisan congressional support, but also because that process allows for the airing of outside perspectives that might not otherwise be considered, and ensures that tough questions get answered,” said Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and member of the Intelligence Committee.
