On Thursday, Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-Ind.-05) provided the following statement after voting against H. Con Res. 83, Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran.
Brooks
“As Commander-In-Chief, the President has inherent Article II authority to defend the United States and our forces. He possessed the legal authority for the strike on Soleimani and complied with the 48-hour reporting requirements under the War Powers Resolution. Under Article II powers, presidents of both parties have claimed the inherent Constitutional right to use U.S. military force without Congressional authorization in pursuit of an important U.S. national interest, such as defense of U.S. personnel or diplomatic facilities abroad, as long as that use of force is limited in nature, scope, and duration – as the strike on Soleimani was.
“President Trump made the correct decision to keep Americans safe by removing the head of one of the most dangerous and well-armed terrorist organizations in the world. Since 1998, Qassem Soleimani commanded the terror arm of the Iranian Regime, the Quds Force. Soleimani was responsible for killing at least 603 U.S. service members and injuring thousands more in Iraq, while continuing to orchestrate attacks that would have threatened even more American lives.
“In the last two months alone, Soleimani ordered to dramatically escalate Iran’s campaign of violence against U.S. citizens in the Middle East. Iran used its proxies in Iraq to launch more than a dozen rocket attacks aimed at U.S. forces or interests including the rocket attack on December 27, 2019, which resulted in the death of an American citizen, wounded four American service members, and threatened the lives of many more American personnel. Soleimani also ordered the assault on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
“According to intelligence officials, Soleimani was actively developing plans to strike U.S. diplomatic personnel and service members throughout the region. If the President had not intervened to stop Soleimani, one of the most dangerous terrorists, the result could have been more attacks on our U.S. Embassies, more American lives lost, and undermining the Iranian peoples’ pursuit of freedom.
“Iran’s retaliation to the killing of Soleimani was unsuccessful thanks to the preparedness of our incredible military. No Americans or Iraqis were harmed in Iran’s recent missile attack on our military bases.
“The Administration has stressed the U.S. does not seek war and is committed to de-escalating Iranian hostility. H Con. Res. 83 ignores President Trump’s clear ongoing efforts to avoid war and bring Iran to the negotiating table. He has called upon NATO and other allies to help us work toward a responsible diplomatic de-escalation in the Middle East.”