Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) said she was “outraged” with President Donald Trump for his decision to “assassinate” Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, a designated terrorist organization.
Soleimani was killed Thursday night in a drone strike ordered by President Trump at the Baghdad International Airport.
The U.S. State Department announced in April 2019 that Iran was responsible for the deaths of 608 U.S. troops during the Iraq War, and Soleimani was the head of the Iranian-backed forces conducting those operations. The State Department said Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of 17 percent of all U.S. troops killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2011, Fox News reports.
“We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war,” President Trump said Friday afternoon. “We take comfort in knowing his reign of terror is over.”
The president said Soleimani was in the process of “plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and personnel.”
Democrats quickly began describing President Trump’s actions as an “assassination” that will increase tensions between Washington and Tehran. They also complained that the president acted without congressional approval.
“We are outraged the president would assassinate a foreign official, possibly setting off another war without congressional authorization and has zero plan to deal with the consequences,” Omar wrote on Twitter.
We are outraged the president would assassinate a foreign official, possibly setting off another war without Congressional authorization and has zero plan to deal with the consequences.
But of course you know that. https://t.co/GzfdKilV4t
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
She later called President Trump a “reckless mind” who is “now leading us to war.”
This reckless mind is now leading us to war! pic.twitter.com/hx3IcZubU0
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
“So what if Trump wants war, knows this leads to war and needs the distraction?” Omar added. “Real question is, will those with congressional authority step in and stop him? I know I will.”
So what if Trump wants war, knows this leads to war and needs the distraction?
Real question is, will those with congressional authority step in and stop him? I know I will. https://t.co/Fj9TMossEW
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) made similar comments in a statement released Friday.
“President Trump’s decision to assassinate Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Suleimani inside Iraq will have severely negative consequences on U.S. interests around the world and puts a target on every American – military and civilian – in the region,” she said. “Further, it strengthens the Iranian regime’s domestic hold on power, and empowers Iranian-backed elements in Iraq to create more chaos. Americans now know that 17 years of war in Iraq was based on a manufactured lie touted as ‘credible intelligence,’ and I fear that President Trump is creating his own rationale for war with Iran.”
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02) acknowledged that Soleimani was “an evil man,” but said his death has “significantly escalated tensions with Iran, putting the safety of American service members, diplomats and others at risk.”
Soleimani was an evil man, responsible for the deaths of thousands. But last night’s pre-emptive airstrike on Soleimani has significantly escalated the tensions with Iran, putting the safety of American servicemembers, diplomats and others at risk.
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) January 3, 2020
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the “timing, manner, and potential consequences of the administration’s actions raise serious questions and concerns about an escalating conflict.”
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 3, 2020
“Our immediate focus needs to be on ensuring all necessary security measures are taken to protect U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Iraq and throughout the region. The administration needs to fully consult with Congress on its decision-making, response plans, and strategy for preventing a wider conflict,” she said.
Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01) applauded President Trump for his “decisiveness and for demonstrating that no attack on Americans will be tolerated.”
America and the world are safer with the elimination of Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was a known terrorist whose very existence was a threat to U.S. troops and Syrian civilians. (1/2)
— Congressman Jim Hagedorn (@RepHagedorn) January 3, 2020
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ilhan Omar” by Ilhan Omar.
[…] was one of many lawmakers to condemn Trump’s actions, saying she was “outraged” by his decision to “assassinate” Soleimani, […]
[…] was one of many lawmakers to condemn Trump’s actions, saying she was “outraged” by his decision to “assassinate” Soleimani, […]
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