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Smith opposes Dems’ War Powers Resolution

Nancy Pelosi’s House of Representatives passed a non-binding War Powers Resolution on Thursday, 224-194, mostly along partisan lines. The resolution purports to limit President Trump’s authority to engage in hostile action against Iran.  Eight Democrats, including NJ Rep Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), voted against the resolution. Three Republicans and an Independent former Republican voted The Squad.

Congressman Chris Smith voted against the resolution and made the following statement on the House floor:

On H. Con. Res. 83

By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

Madam Speaker, according to ABC News, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said that the “Dec. 27 attack on the Iraqi base near Kirkuk that killed a U.S. civilian contractor and wounded several U.S. and Iraqi forces…was designed and intended to kill, and [Soleimani] approved it.  I know that 100 percent.”

General Milley said that the trigger for the drone strike that killed Soleimani was “clear, unambiguous intelligence indicating a significant campaign of violence against the United States in the days, weeks, and months,” and that the administration would have been “culpably negligent” if it didn’t act.

Former Obama Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said on NBC’s Meet the Press that “whether Soleimani was a terrorist or a general in a military force that was engaged in armed attacks against our people, he was a lawful military objective.”

Madam Speaker, Soleimani is responsible for killing over 600 Americans and disabling thousands more.  He is directly responsible for massive death and injury of innocent civilians in the region.  In the last two months alone, he orchestrated 11 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq—killing an American contractor and wounding four soldiers—and for the attack on our embassy in Baghdad.

After yesterday’s classified briefing by America’s top diplomatic, military and intelligence leaders, I came away convinced that the action by President Trump was justified, proportionate and above all necessary to protect American lives.

That said, it is astonishing that the resolution under consideration by the House today has absolutely no legal power, is non-binding—and by design can neither be signed nor vetoed by the President.

Remarkably, the text of H. Con. Res. 83 also sends a mixed message.  While purporting to “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran…”  the non-binding resolution goes on to say that such a prohibition is null and void if “such use of the Armed Forces is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with the requirement of the War Powers Resolution.”

Imminent armed attack on our Armed Forces and diplomats is precisely the Trump Administration’s justification for the drone strike against Soleimani.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, no president used drone strikes more than President Obama who ordered 542 drone strikes killing an estimated 3,797 people including 324 civilians.”

 

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Posted: January 10th, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Chris Smith | Tags: , | 12 Comments »

12 Comments on “Smith opposes Dems’ War Powers Resolution”

  1. Barb said at 9:24 am on January 10th, 2020:

    This Resolution is just another way for the Democrats to attempt to torture this President. When he became President, he ripped off the Band-Aid and exposed the ugly wound that exists in Washington DC. Every day of his presidency has not only been dealing with the issues in the world and our country, but having to deal with the swamp ….aka…the ugly wound. Pray for him.

  2. Persecuted said at 9:46 am on January 10th, 2020:

    is the word that is appropriate. This is by far the best President of my lifetime thus far and he hasn’t had the ability to display all of his true power due to an outdated notion that is “Congress.” Get rid of Congress, get rid of term limits, we need a ruler for life.

  3. Agreed all around. said at 11:17 am on January 10th, 2020:

    Things are going amazingly well, considering the horrible roadblocks continually thrown in his way, on a daily basis, from many factions, the moment the man got there. Doubt if there will ever be either term limits or no Congress, (without a total revolution,) but all the more reason to get him back in this year, then continue progress with more conservative elections. The other side is simply childish, jealous, hateful, and dangerous to the country’s future. We can never relent or give up, or future generations will live under tyranny and actual communism..

  4. Exactly said at 10:27 pm on January 12th, 2020:

    the only savior is to vote for candidates who embrace the pure tenets of fascism. Then we can outlaw the Democratic party and prosper.

  5. Lol, said at 5:50 pm on January 13th, 2020:

    not. Bet you’d love living in San Fran or LA , right about now? They’re doing a fine job there- not.

  6. Lol said at 11:28 pm on January 13th, 2020:

    not surprised you do not know what fascism is. Sad.

  7. So you say. said at 10:19 am on January 14th, 2020:

    In the “brilliant” words of Madame Pelosi: you sound like someone who is what you call others. Have a great day.

  8. Can't even said at 3:09 pm on January 14th, 2020:

    do a quick Google search? Incompetent and lazy. Tremendous.

  9. Judge and jury said at 6:51 pm on January 14th, 2020:

    over all, huh? Welcome to the 2020’s of tolerant, pleasant people- not.

  10. Ha said at 10:27 pm on January 14th, 2020:

    I was simply looking for you to define what fascism is, even giving you a tool in which to do so. The depths of your laziness and sheer stupidity is amazing. In most any other country, you would have starved to death long ago.

  11. Wow. said at 8:02 am on January 15th, 2020:

    Got up on the wrong side of the world, huh? You might want to consider getting some help for all that anger/ hostility- it can kill a person. Don’t have to define anything for you-and am doing quite well, thanks- especially when you go right to name-calling and attacks, rather than sticking to a political discussion. Stay off the roads and away from small children, until you take a nice pill, or something…

  12. @ Wow said at 9:20 am on January 15th, 2020:

    I’m with you 100%, that other rude poster should have his comments deleted. This isn’t a blog for debate, thought, or “proper definitions” of a word, it is meant solely to boost up the GOP in general. Is nothing sacred anymore?