Early Friday Evening Statement from Lauren Underwood Fails to Thank the President for Eliminating a Killer Responsible for Loss of American Lives
Early Friday evening, after nearly 24 hours of deafening silence, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood issued a statement on the Thursday night action by the Trump Administration in Iraq resulting in the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Underwood’s statement was sent only through her congressional Twitter ID, and the statement is transcribed below the tweet for ease of reading:
“My responsibility as a Member of Congress is to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad.
“The military actions of this week represent an unprecedented escalation of tensions with Iran that increases the dangers of war in the Middle East, posing grave risks to Americans and to our allies in the region.
“The Administration must provide additional information to Congress to explain the intelligence that justifies these actions and its plan to keep America safe in their wake.
“We have hundreds of our neighbors serving America’s interests in the Middle East right now; above all, I am praying for their safety.”
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood statement via Twitter 1/3/20
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My immediate response to Underwood’s statement in Twitter is below, and is my own opinion:
ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY: Given the apologist lunacy being spread by Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Squad leader Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) issued the following tweets on Friday which lays out the next step Congress will attempt this coming week, and why vigilance on Underwood will be needed by voters.
AOC’s thread of tweets transcribed for ease of reading:
“Last night the President engaged in what is widely being recognized as an act of war against Iran, one that now risks the lives of millions of innocent people. Now is the moment to prevent war & protect innocent people – the question for many is how, publicly & Congressionally:
“Right now is the moment to decide if you are pro-peace or not. The cheerleaders of war, removed from its true cost, will gladly convince you that up is down – just as they did in Iraq in ‘03. But war does not establish peace. War does not create security. War endangers us all.
“War advocates start off saying ‘we all want peace, but…’ or ‘it’s too late…’ & frame a pro-peace agenda as naïve to realpolitik. Don’t give into this gaslighting. The same folks selling us Iraq and selling us this latest provocation of violence. We cannot repeat this cycle.
“Congress now has a moral and legal obligation to reassert its power to stop this war and protect innocent people from horrific consequences. We have two immediate options:
“1. Vote on a War Powers Resolution, which requires Trump to attain Congressional approval.
“2. Reintroduce & vote on Congressman Ro Khanna bipartisan NDAA amendment, which blocks dollars for offensive action to Iran. This amendment passed the House w/ bipartisan support not long ago, and was later gutted in negotiations. We can bring it back as a standalone bill.”
AOC on Twitter 1/3/20
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What is the “bipartisan NDAA amendment” AOC references?
Back in July, the House approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020 under H.R. 2500. Concurrently, the Senate approved its version of NDAA under S. 1790.
Early last month, a congressional conference committee completed its work resolving differences between the House and Senate versions, and the final conference committee report on the NDAA was approved by both the House and Senate last month under S. 1790 and signed into law by President Trump on December 20th.
AOC refers to an amendment sponsored by Congressman Ro Khanna (D, CA) prohibiting the funding of war against Iran. Specifically, the NDAA amendment on Iran funding included the following provisions:
(c) Prohibition of Unauthorized Military Force in or Against Iran.– no Federal funds may be used for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress has–(A) declared war; or (B) enacted specific statutory authorization for such use of military force after the date of the enactment of this Act that meets the requirements of the War Powers Resolution
Excerpt of Khanna Amendment from House NDAA
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As AOC brought up in her tweets, the NDAA Khanna amendment was approved by a bipartisan vote in the House. The July 12 vote on the amendment was 251-170. Since 27 Republicans voted with the Democrats, the amendment’s vote is genuinely bipartisan.
While the Khanna amendment was part of the House-passed NDAA H.R. 2500, the conference committee negotiations removed it from the final legislation in the conference report.
Please note, Congresswoman Underwood served on the conference committee for NDAA as a House conferee from Homeland Security.
Late Friday, as AOC alluded, Congressman Khanna and Senator Bernie Sanders (I, VT) whom AOC supports for the Presidency, announced they would introduce the Khanna amendment as standalone legislation in the coming week when Congress returns to Washington.
Both Underwood, and Congressman Sean Casten voted in favor of the Khanna amendment back on July 12.
Will they vote to support it again?
COMMENTARY: For Underwood, given her muted statement in response to the action in Iraq on Thursday and not advocating new legislation, the Khanna legislation carries real risk since it is the far leftists like Sanders, AOC and Khanna who are pushing for this legislation.
Much has changed since July 12, and the President has shown he will defend American interests, and if Underwood wants to go on record to hamstring the commander-in-chief after-the-fact of the elimination of Iranian General Soleimani, she does this at her own electoral peril.
UPDATE: State Representative David McSweeney Body Slams Underwood’s Statement
While an assist to Catalina Lauf may be in order for McSweeney’s verbal jiu jitsu since she retweeted his tweet to her over 42,000 followers, he definitely has the most likes.
Honestly, one must wonder if McSweeney has federal office plans to run for in 2022, like U.S. Senate?
The old republican strategy of starting a war to deter from other problems, like the fact that Trump has been impeached.
LOPEZ…when did you become a Middle East expert? Where did you study and what are your sources. I suspect based on your opinion, you are easily swayed by right wing propaganda.
When it comes to petty gibberish, it’s hard to beat the McHenry Blog teenage comment Stasi.
The only possible way that Trump could have consulted Congress would have been to quickly and ONLY call in a few Republicans such as leaders McConnell, McCarthy and Lindsay Graham. They of course could be trusted to keep secret the attack plan. In contrast, top(?) Democrats Pelosi, Schumer, Schif could not have been trusted. A real possibility is that they would have, through surrogates, leaked the plan to Democrat loving left wing media on the east coast of which all of these have been out to destroy Trump since 2016.
Rukmini Callimachi
@rcallimachi
1. I’ve had a chance to check in with sources, including two US officials who had intelligence briefings after the strike on Suleimani. Here is what I’ve learned. According to them, the evidence suggesting there was to be an imminent attack on American targets is “razor thin”.
2. In fact the evidence pointing to that came as three discrete facts: a) A pattern of travel showing Suleimani was in Syria, Lebanon & Iraq to meet with Shia proxies known to have an offensive position to the US. (As one source said that’s just “business as usual” for Suleimani)
3. More intriguing was b) information indicating Suleimani sought the Supreme Leader’s approval for an operation. He was told to come to Tehran for consultation and further guidance, suggesting the operation was a big deal – but again this could be anything.
4. And finally, a) and b) were read in the context of c) Iran’s increasingly bellicose position towards American interests in Iraq, including the attack that killed a U.S. contractor and the recent protest outside the American embassy.
5. But as one source put it a) + b) + c) is hardly evidence of an imminent attack on American interests that could kill hundreds, as the White House has since claimed. The official describes the reading of the intelligence as an illogical leap.
6. One official described the planning for the strike as chaotic. The official says that following the attack on an Iraqi base which killed an American contractor circa Dec. 27, Trump was presented a menu of options for how to retaliate. Killing Suleimani was the “far out option”
7. Trump chose a more moderate option which involved the Dec. 29 strikes on the positions of an Iranian-backed militia. Then came the protest at the gates of the US embassy in Baghdad:
8. It was after the embassy protests that the president, according to one US official, chose the Suleimani option, but the problem at that point in time is that American intelligence did not know his precise whereabouts. They scrambled to locate him, says the official.
9. According to the official, the strike on Suleimani was pulled together so quickly that initially the US was not sure PMF leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was in the convoy. He was also killed and is also viewed as an Iranian proxy:
10. Since the strike, Iran has convened its national security chiefs. Chatter intercepted by American intelligence indicates they’re considering a range of options. Cyberattacks, attacks on oil facilities and American personnel and diplomatic outposts have all been cited so far.
11. But among the “menu options” that I had not heard before were: (1) kidnapping and execution of American citizens. (This might explain why the State Department has ordered the evacuation of all US citizens in Iraq, not just government and embassy employees).
12. Another is attacks on American diplomatic and military outposts not just in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, but as far afield as UAE and Bahrain. The official I spoke to was particularly concerned for American troops stationed in Iraq, some of whom are co-located with Shia militias
13. How does this impact the war against ISIS? I turned to @Mikeknightsiraq for insight. He’s studied Iraq since the 1990s. What he told me is that months before the strike that killed Suleimani, the tensions with Iran had already degraded America’s ability to fight ISIS in Iraq:
14. In 2019, America has been denied airspace and access to operations in Iraq to go after ISIS at the behest of Iran-backed groups. The US has also been told to stop communicating with Sunni tribes. These are important setbacks that have already weakened the US’ posture in Iraq
15. “It’s all been downhill,” @Mikeknightsiraq told me, in terms of America’s access to the ISIS battlespace in recent months due to Iranian pressure on Iraqi officials. One upshot? US special operations forces have been on the offensive in Diyala, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces
16. A likely outcome of the recent strike is that small, out-of-the-way outposts for special operations forces will be deemed too vulnerable and will be eliminated. Fighting ISIS is no longer the priority if the outer wall of the US embassy is being attacked.
17. Before I go back to the pool let me just say the obvious: No one’s trying to downplay Suleimani’s crimes. The question is why now? His whereabouts have been known before. His resume of killing-by-proxy is not a secret. Hard to decouple his killing from the impeachment saga.
The lady congressperson says:
“The military actions of this week represent an unprecedented escalation of tensions with Iran that increases the dangers of war in the Middle East, posing grave risks to Americans and to our allies in the region.”
A typical Democrat response. Instead, Democrats if given authority would follow the disastrous examples of the previous President Barak Hussein Obama in dealing with the middle east and the rogue and terrorist nation Iran, such as :
Withdrawing US Troops from Iraq too soon in 2011 (against the advice of outgoing President Bush) and leaving the vacuum promptly filled by ISIS. (Trump then gave military commanders and US Troops authority and resources to go in there and clean up ISIS)
Starting a war in Libya that ousted Momar Gadafi and left a vacuum filled by ISIS.
Failing to respond to a threat Obama made to Assad about chemical WMD and then not following through (the Red Line) when Assad used chemicals. Obama then gave authority to Putin to clean up the chemical WMD. A tremendous embarrassment to the U.S.
Making a very bad nuclear deal with Iran that exempted inspections of military installations.
Freeing up billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets.
Delivering a cargo plane full of millions in cash to Iran.
etc, etc, etc
The two most inept presidents ever of the U.S. (Obama, Carter) especially had a bad record re Iran.
Carter was unable, unwilling to go into Iran with massive force to free hundreds of US hostages held there for over one year.
Constitution John. Congress declares wars. Where’s the evidence of an imminent threat? You fake conservatives claim to love the Constitution but he didn’t go to Congress and Congress is OWED answers. Period. End of story.
Iraq War was started on BS and lies. I don’t want my Rep in Congress to kiss the ass of the POTUS. I want my rep in Congress to do his/her job and make sure we still live in a country where the constitution means what it says.
It is crystal clear that he owes Congress and the American people an explanation. That hasn’t been done yet.
These guys lie about F’en EVERYTHING. Pence tweeted out lies about how this general was tied to 9/11 and he got basic facts wrong.
The problem with telling obvious verifiable lies over and over again is when something like this happens and they say “trust us”
Trust the guy that has 15k false/misleading claims, including in last week saying PM Trudeau had cut his cameo from HomeAlone2; tweeting he (not Obama) gave vets option of seeing private doctor.
The only argument they have is “Qassem Soleimani was a very bad guy.”
Well guess what.
So was Saddam Hussein.
Doesn’t make it a good idea.
Just because people say my sunshine blogger is a very bad guy, that does not mean a drone attack against him is justified, is it? I rest my case. Stay tuned…tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, 304 days, tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, meeeeeeoooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww…
Good. It makes me like Casten and Underwood more for standing with Sanders and Khanna.
You want to start a new war against an organization that has only been designated as a terrorist organization since April of last year, and which was done so unilateraly by the president, when we signed an AUMF in 2002 against a completely different enemy for completely different reasons?
If that’s what you want then vote on a new AUMF.
Obama made us a laughing stock.
Not easy to put the hammer down when necessary following that buffoon.
Gen. Soleimani cleaned out ISIS and al Queda. that is a fact which the fake news is hiding.
Now the fake news makes him out the devil.
Could it possibly be that the GOP US senators under the thumb of their Israeli operatives have threatened to jjoin the impeachment charade against Trump and put in the deep state’s Pence UNLESS Trump finally (he refused over 5 earlier times) to execute that General? Now the neocons get their way. Another war against American interests!
Trump pointed out the craziness of our endless wars program. That’s how he trumped the entire GOP field for the nomination and Madame Hillary in 2016.
The Iranians aren’t dumb however. Watch for more false flags.
I can’t understand how dumb the American booblic is!
Hey Mr. Lopez: Didn’t Lord Bushie the Younger and Stupider, kill far more Americans with his unconstitutional, bankrupting, militarily disastrous invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan?
And didn’t our ‘Peace Prize’ nonentity Obama double down on the stupidity with his fake surges?
These were military disasters. That’s why these wars never end.
Wake up. You are being played.
Hey Chief Callamari, thanks for all your leaked intel, but we could have gotten that much from a palm reader.
You stated almost all the obvious retaliatory responses that one would expect, so if they do something, you had it listed, just like a Gypsy.
We needed to spank Iran and what better way than to sink their lazy eyed General.
They have been poking the Bear for 40 years, since when I joined the USMC in 1980.
Trump had no time to consult Congress, it had already been leaked to the press, almost like a Simpson episode.
This is the guy OBAMA RELEASED FROM GITMO!!
He was let out with a tracking bracelet and surely was not going to be a problem.
Was the silence really deafening?
Yes, Watching, it was.
Given we were inundated with all the traitorous nonsense from Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as well as AOC’s ridiculous courses for next steps, many of us were hoping for Underwood to stand firm and express gratitude a major terrorist leader of Iran responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans faced justice and got what was coming to him.
Instead, Underwood gave a partisan statement wanting information, but expressing no gratitude to the President or the Department of Defense for executing the mission with 0 American casualties.
Underwood was influenced by the Squad and House Democratic leadership, instead of being a statesperson and real leader and thanking the ordering of the mission by the President and the successful execution.
Trump succumbed to the War Party (made up of both ‘Democrats’ and ‘Republicans’. Two wings of the same bird of prey.
Fortunately the Iranians will thwart the Deep State rats. By doing nothing.
Does it bother anyone that the rotten likes of Clapper, Bolton, Gates and Brennan now praise Trump?
What fools ye be.
The worst enemies of this Country cannot be found in Teheran, the Kremlin, or even in Peking.
They are right here. https://www.mediaite.com/tv/ex-cia-chief-brennan-outspoken-trump-critic-praises-iran-decision-i-applaud-him/
Underwitch is a Squad wanna-be and not representative of the Peoples wishes in her District. I havent met a “squad supporter” yet. Where should I look for them in the County? Where do they hang out?…thank you state representative McSweeney for saying what needed to be said. Dave can always be counted on to at least represent the majority of what his constituents want…Underwitch not so much.
Did we murder Soleimani? Execute him? Assassinate him?
Who are the terrorists? https://www.rt.com/usa/477428-black-soleimani-terror-iran/
Tea Pain @TeaPainUSA
Trump: “I will end the endless wars.”
MAGA: “Boo, wars!”
Trump: “I assassinated the top general in Iran.”
MAGA: “Yay, wars!”
Trump: “I will bring the troops home.”
MAGA: “Yay! Bring them home!”
Trump: “I’m sending more troops to the Middle East.”
MAGA: “Yay! Go Troops!”
Stephen King
✔
@StephenKing
The guy ginning up this new conflict is the same guy who was too chickenshit to go to Vietnam.
I hear Iran is looking for a new top general. Trump is even creating jobs in IRAN!
On Friday, Pompeo said Iraqis were “dancing in the streets,” celebrating the Soleimani assassination
Today, members of the Iraqi parliament are chanting anti-American slogans
The Iraqi prime minister is recommending US forces be kicked out
Trump was finally captured by the neocon traitors. I will NOT be voting for him now. I will be voting for a third party. Sorry Trumpers, you’ve been had. He became part of the swamp.
https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/476828-five-lessons-afghanistan-teaches-us-about-iran
The congress lady Lauren and her equally stupid Democrat freshman representatives such as AOC ought to read and learn something from history. The history of Great Britain in the 1930’s whereby their policy toward Germany and the monster hitler was appeasement. It was promoted by their Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain and it allowed hitler to bite off chunks of countries near Germany.
The previous president of the U.S., the worst ever president of the U.S., in a sense appeased Iran. This was by way of agreeing to a disastrous nuclear deal that did not have provisions to inspect military installations and did allow a path toward developing nuclear in the out years. Israel had vehemently objected to the nuclear deal provisions in that Iran had and has continuously called for the total destruction of that nation.
In addition, our previous president had freed up tens of billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets which could/would be used to further Iran’s terrorist activities in the mideast region. Further appeasement by our previous president is him authorizing the delivery of millions in cash via a US transport plane flown to Iran. This supposedly was payment for hostages that Iran held.
Our previous president’s actions with Iran should be viewed as appeasement probably not much different than Neville Chamberlain. Be nice with Germany and maybe they will not harm Great Britain. Our previous president and today’s Democrat politicians would repeat the mistakes of Neville Chamberlain. They say, be nice to Iran and maybe they will not harm the U.S. nor its allies or interests.
Since my posts have been censored, which did not support Trump’s betrayal of conservative, non-interventionists like me. I’m quitting this blog.
Well that’s not much of a farewell speech LadyJane.
When I go out it will be a Biblical Epic of lightning bolts, hail and a tidal wave of vodka.
Yahoo! Another Crazy War in the Middle East!!!
That’s NOT why I voted for Trump!
Why are we still there?
Why is the wall not built?
The left would have you believe Soleimani was in Iraq ringing the bell for the salvation army, handing out free turkeys or visiting orphans.
The critical point is that he was in Iraq.
CP, so what?