We now have a glimpse of the War Powers Resolution promised by Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.), which is reportedly scheduled for a vote in the Senate on Tuesday. The resolution purportedly ends all combat operations against Iran … until you reach the very end where there is a hole that you could drive a combat task force through.
I respect members asserting their inherent constitutional authority. I have long criticized the lack of declarations of war as demanded by the Framers. We have not had a formal declaration of war since World War II. However, courts and Congress have long deferred to presidents in the conduct of such operations.
I represented congressional members challenging the Libyan war operation launched by President Barack Obama. Most Democratic members were entirely silent when Obama (and President Joe Biden) exercised such authority against different countries. Notably, the Libyan operation clearly sought regime change without an imminent threat to the United States. Some of those members are now the loudest condemning President Donald Trump in this operation.
This resolution shows how presidents can easily box in Congress once combat operations begin.
The resolution boldly declares “Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use 14 of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against the 15 Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government 16 or military.”
However, at the very end, the resolution has this line: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.”
As I wrote this week, the problem with such resolutions is that they are effectively meaningless in the context of full combat operations against a nation: “Kaine and others insist that hostilities were not imminent when we attacked. Even if that were true, they are now.”
In these circumstances, it would be nearly impossible to limit the war powers of the President without putting American personnel or allies at risk. After decapitating the leadership in Iran, Iranian assets are clearly operating under prior orders in a decentralized structure. The United States is now seeking to neutralize any assets that it can find in preemptive attacks while trying further to degrade the command structure and military capacity of the Iranian government.
As I wrote earlier:
“The choice now for Democrats is either a senseless or suicidal resolution. It can either resolve to end hostilities as soon as practically possible (an objective already stated by the Administration) or it can actually seek to limit the Administration’s options amid full-fledged war.”
This is the senseless option. All threats from Iran are now “imminent,” and all attacks are arguably preemptive. So what does this actually do?
Here is the resolution: Iran War Powers Resolution
That Tim Kaine and his ilk believe the Iranian Regime’s threats were not “imminent” has been echoed over and over again in progressive media as the reason why the status quo that was should still be in place. One wonders just what exactly they understand “imminent” to mean. Surely, it does not mean until it becomes too late to address. If sanctions and military operations like Midnight Hammer have not dissuaded the Iranian Regime from resuming further development and eventual use of nuclear weaponry to prosecute its agenda, what will? Imminence is not always only what will occur next. It also entails under the given circumstances what is much too likely to occur ultimately. Get it done now, Tim Kaine, before it is too late to do so.
At least one dedicated democrat has it in proper perspective.
https://x.com/i/status/2028114583534100910
Wait–Didn’t Trump say last June that Iran’s nuclear facility was “totally obliterated”? Did he lie? Did Rubio lie when he said that Iran did not have the capacity to build a nuclear weapon or an ICBM? Did he lie? Or, are you just repeating MAGA media talking points?
I personally believe that the President should have to go to congress before initiating hostilities.
But that has not been true for my entire lifetime.
Right now most of us are hoping for a quick relatively bloodless conclusion to all of this.
We hope Iran will run out of missles soon.
That US and Israeli forces will take out enough Iranian leadership and they will capitulates.
If this is over quickly with little bloodshed beyond the Irainian regime, then this will prove a great Triumph for Trump.
I hope and pray that is the case – because that is good for the world. A peaceful Iran that is not a terrorist theocracy would massively change the world.
But I have hoped and prayed things turned out well far too many times and it has not.
The US has an abysmal record in attempts at Regime Change.
I hope I am wrong and that unlike nearly every US president in my lifetime Trump actually knows what he is doing here.
There is very little doubt that Trump has a far better understanding of the various nations of the mideast than any prior US president.
There are many things the US can without question accomplish.
WE can further damage the Irainian Nuclear program,
We can destroy the Irainian missle program
We can cut off Irainian oil to China and Cuba.
We can cutoff Irainian munitions to Russia.
But absent an end to the Iranian regime all of the above will eventually come back.
Pro US Iranian protests throughout the world are meaningless – those people left Iran – they are NOT friends of the regime.
Thus far I have not seen inside Iran any hints that the Iranian people are ready to change the Regime.
It is possibly a bit early – and maybe we will see something as it becomes safer to come out on the streets.
But so far there are no indications this regime is going to topple.
One thing that is becoming obvious is that The regime of the Ayatolahs is not a personality cult
That there are a large number of people that are part of the power structure of that regime and that decapitation was not sufficient
to get a change of direction.
Those in power seem to be content to endure a severe beating from the US, and claim victory by surviving.
Toppling this regime requires millions in the streets, it requires the military to back the protestors,
it requires dramatically disempowering the IRGC
Iran is probably weaker than it has been in almost 50 years.
But this regime does not appear to be failing under its own weight or that of our impressive millitary, and without some force on the ground – preferably that of the Iranian people. This regime seems likely to survive.
When Maduro was Removed in Venezuela, Rodriguez stepped in and is cooperating with the US.
That is not happening in Iran so far.
Politicians being politicians. who knew? You know what this is? A dodge and a set up. Nobody wants to be seen as weak on war, it is a stick Republicans have beat on Democrats for a long time. Yet, they get to stand beat their chest saying they stood up to the President.
At the same time, if the Democrats take back the House, this is what they will use impeach Trump.
Regardless of where one stands on this particular issue at this moment, if you angry about it now and not in the past because it was your guy, then you are a hypocrite. If you were angry in the past and not now because it is your guy, then you are a hypocrite too.
Oh wait, they are politicians……
Given only milquetoast communists (liberals, progressives, socialists, democrats, RINOs, AINOs) such as Tim Kaine et al., America would have never been separated from Great Britain; established in 1789; expanded by the Louisiana Purchase; developed to the Pacific Ocean; and supplemented by Hawaii and Alaska.
America would have been too pantywaist, craven, and pusillanimous to accomplish anything of value and worth, anything good.
But then, where would the communists (liberals, progressives, socialists, democrats, RINOs, AINOs) obtain all the wealth from other people’s money they redistribute per Karl Marx?
re: Tim Kaine
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
– Gospel of St Matthew 7:15-20
Woody Kaine Gets “Slap On The Wrist” Over March 4 Trump Antifa Riot
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Linwood “Woody” Kaine has been sentenced over his involvement in the Antifa riots against March 4 Trump supporters.
Kaine, who made national headlines when he was arrested with seven other co-defendants in connection with riots at the Minnesota State Capitol in March, is the son of former vice presidential candidate and sitting U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). On March 4, Antifa members, including Kaine, flooded the Capitol building to disrupt local Trump supporters who were gathering in conjunction with the national March 4 Trump movement.
Many Antifa members attempted to conceal their identity by covering their faces with bandanas and goggles. As Alpha News reported, the rioters used mace, tasers, smoke bombs, and firecrackers on members of the pro-Trump rally, and punched others in the face. Kaine was one of six counter protesters arrested over the violence.
https://alphanews.org/woody-kaine-gets-reduced-charges-march-4-trump-antifa-riot/
Centcom: Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO. The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over. Freedom of maritime navigation has underpinned American and global economic prosperity for more than 80 years. U.S. forces will continue to defend it.
https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2028553001644736808
OMFK
There is zero doubt that the US and Israel can destroy anything they wish in Iran
But anything destroyed can be rebuilt eventually.
Wiping out the top leadership has not brought the leaders to the negotiating table.
The Iranian people have not risen to fight the IRGC, The Iranian army has not backed them.
I expect that the drone and missle attacks will cease soon – Iran will run through its stock or we will destroy the missles and launchers.
Then What ?
We are not putting boots on the ground – and they know it.
Absent a coup or revolution, eventually we are going to declare victory and leave, And Iran will slowly rebuild everything we destroyed.
Trump and the MAGAs are a domestic enemy of the US and the biggest threat to international peace. We need to go to war against them. It is the sworn legal obligation of all US military personnel to eliminate Trump and the MAGAs.
Better watch out there, bub, you might get a visit from USSS.
So says the unassimilable anti-American illegal alien foreign invader who must be compassionately repatriated.
Anonymous– Use your real name. You have called for the insurrection of our military and murder of our President and those of us to support his programs which includes me. I want to know who are and in light of your threat, I think I have a right to know.
I am calling for the US Military to uphold their oath of office. I want Trump arrested and tried for treason.
Trump/Maga hater ANON supports our enemies!! TRAITOR!!
Keep talking dirtbag!
This is backwards. Trump needs to get Congressional authorization to start a war, not Congress needs to order Trump to stop it.
Cain is trying to generate publicity for his re-election.
The American Founders established a restricted-vote republic, not a “dictatorship of the majority,” aka “the poor,” through a one-man, one-vote democrazy.
In the intended severely restricted-vote republic, such as the actual America of its Founders, this clown would have never been elected.
i had waited for time to change her
the only change that came was over me
give us time. we got 3 years left
Tim Cain survived purely because his mother refused to take him back — proof that sometimes the return policy really does shape a man’s destiny.
Barron Trump burst into tears on Monday after an examination by a prominent Washington, DC podiatrist found no evidence of bone spurs.
“I’m totally screwed!” the young Trump reportedly shrieked, hurling himself to the floor of the doctor’s office in anguish.
At the White House, Donald J. Trump said that the podiatrist’s x-ray equipment had treated his son “very unfairly,” adding, “This should never be allowed to happen in this country.”
“This is what happens when you trust a real doctor,” he said. “I should have just sent the kid to my new Surgeon General.”
LAME…
Liberals trying to be funny like the Babylon Bee always fail because . . . liberals simply don’t understand humor. Give it up. Better to be thought a fool that to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Once upon a time they did. For several gnerations most good comics were liberal, some extremely liberal.
Today no one on the left knows how to be funny.
Did Joe Biden(or Hunter) serve in the military DF ANON?? Phony Asthma excuse for Joe; or was it for stuttering????
The Iranian regime was buying time to complete their nuclear objective, a weapon to hold the world hostage to its demands. Obama and Biden bought them off thinking they, in their delusion of superiority as President, could hold them off and control the situation with cash. They were stupid and helping Iran to achieve their goal. The Islamic terrorists would never again need commercial jetliners to do their dirty work they would have the means to totally destroy the west not just a few buildings. They almost succeeded but Trump has stopped them. Thank you Mr. President.
woke is the dumbest body of political causes of all time. it is hard to grasp how retarded they are. they lock on to a morsel of truth and are convinced they have the whole story. trump/the u.s. military ain’t going nowhere soon, girls.
woke is the dumbest body of political causes of all time
Yup. When your efforts include putting men in women’s sports, locker rooms, and showers, and when you divide humanity into oppressed and oppressors based on skin color, and when you favor goals like defund the police and child sexual mutilation, you’ve kind of lost all claim to intelligence or even sanity.
“kind of”
i no. they really built a powerful platform, ain’t?
they should forbid pellio and co. from doing more insider windfall theft, too, although their King has already mentioned it, they could latch on to it and benefit. What does nanny have now, $400,000,000.00? i’m in the wrong line of greed, i mean “work”.
Here is Nancy Pelosi saying that Obama did not need congressional authorization to begin operations in Lybia, or to continue such operations, which including bombing Lybia. What has changed, Nancy? POTUS’s party affilication?
https://x.com/Lancegooden/status/2028455205495349345
How about some Regime Change closer to Home.
Nicaragua
Cuba
Mexico
Alberta Canada (because they already lean toward becoming an American State – No.# 51)
Regime Change in exchange for Statehood.
A great Idea!