TOOTHLESS MILITARY BRIEFING DECLARED BY GOP LAWMAKERS

…Utah Rep. Mike Lee criticizes the military briefing of Trump's decision

Per Rep Mike Lee: “…Probably the worst briefing I've seen…in the nine years I've served in the United States Senate

The staunch Utah Republican Representative, Mike Lee is usually a strong Trump supporter.  But after attending the US Military briefing for key congressional personnel, Lee declared that,  "I want to state at the outset: I support President Trump," Lee began this, by telling reporters that he appreciated the administration's efforts to keep the US out of war. "But the briefing lasted only 75 minutes, whereupon our briefer's left. That, however, is not the problem I have with the briefing, which I would add was probably the worst briefing I've seen at least on a military issue in the nine years I've served in the United States Senate. I find this insulting and demeaning to the Constitution of the United States."

The briefing was conducted by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, CIA Director Gina Haspel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley.  They spoke to the lawmakers behind closed doors. The briefing concerned the Trump decision to kill Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike last week, as well as briefings on Iran's rocket attacks Tuesday evening targeting US bases in Iraq.

Lee also claimed that one official had warned him during the "lame" and "insane" meeting saying that Congress shouldn't debate whether additional military action against Iran would be appropriate.

Democrats piled on, with Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly calling the briefing "sophomoric and utterly unconvincing."  Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, for her part, condemned President Trump's new sanctions against Iran as "economic warfare."

Lee emphasized that it was "distressing" that a briefer told Congress not to "debate" or "discuss" further military intervention in Iran because it would "embolden" Iran.

Lee said he would support a War Powers resolution introduced by Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine to curb Trump's authority to take unilateral military action. The briefing, Lee made clear, "is what changed my mind." 

Republican leadership aides, though, have told Fox News that the War Powers resolution is "unserious" and has no chance of becoming law.  Lee said of the basis of the reason for killing the Iranian general:  "It's un-American. It's unconstitutional. And it's wrong. ... Here they were appearing before a branch of government responsible for their funding, for their confirmation, for any approval of any military action they might take. They had to leave after 75 minutes while they were in the process of telling us that we need to be good little boys and girls and not debate this in public. I find that to be absolutely insane."

Speaking after Lee, Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul added that he would also support Kaine's War Powers resolution, even as he praised Trump's instincts to keep the country out of war as "good."

Other Republican lawmakers had an opposite and more positive reaction to the sit-down meeting, with North Carolina GOP Rep. Mark Meadows praising the "compelling" presentation and saying it was the, "strongest and most decisive briefing that has ever been conducted in that classified setting.  It leaves little doubt in my mind and certainly should leave little doubt in any member’s mind that not only did the president make the right call, but that this was a clear and present danger for American interests and American individuals,” Meadows told reporters.

Separately, Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom Cotton called Iran's rocket strike on Tuesday was, "feckless and anemic," and Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio praised Trump for waiting for a "full assessment" rather than launch an immediate counterattack on Iran.

Washington Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, however, accused the administration of an illegal killing.  She did not discuss Soleimani's own role in scores of attacks and killings in the region, including successful efforts to target US troops.  Per Rep. Jayapal: "President Trump recklessly assassinated Qasem Soleimani," Jayapal said. "He had no evidence of an imminent threat or attack."

As usual, the president just had to take a stab at the previous Obama administration when he falsely claimed: “Iran was able to pay for those missiles with money released by Obama.”  Of course, there is no proof of any such deal.

According to Esper and Milley, a total of 16 missiles were fired from three locations in Iran, with four missiles failed in their flight. The missiles were intended to kill US troops, based on the targets that were hit, but ultimately the US Early Warning System helped prevent any casualties.  The system, initially set up during the Cold War, is a network of satellites and radars that can detect imminent launches and track missiles in flight.  Asked to be more specific, Milley replied, “In my estimation from what I know now, I think it has more to do with the defensive techniques that our forces used as opposed to intent.”

Milley added that 1,000- to 2,000-pound warheads were sitting on top of the Iranian missiles fired into Iraq. “We took sufficient defensive measures,” he said.

Late Wednesday, the House Rules Committee was considering the War Powers resolution offered by Democrats. It would have prohibited the Soleimani killing without Congress' approval, and requires the president to consult with Congress ‘in every possible instance” before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities."

The resolution also states that  “Congress has not authorized the President to use military force against Iran.”

But, Republican leadership aides told Fox News (of course) that the resolution is “toothless" and has no chance of becoming law, noting that it was “not a joint resolution" but instead was a "concurrent resolution."

As long as the Republicans are running the US Senate, there is no way the War Powers resolution would become US law unless more GOP lawmakers follow Mike Lee's decision.

Copyright G. Ater 2020