Following President Trump’s Sunday bombing of nuclear installations in Iran, delegates from all around Massachusetts voiced their opinions, ranging from urging constraints on the president’s war powers to applauding the difficult decision to reestablish Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Operation Midnight Hammer, a military operation in which more than 125 aircraft mobilized to bomb three nuclear installations in Iran, was confirmed by Pentagon officials on Sunday. Officials from the Trump administration said on Sunday that the operation was not a part of a larger war strategy and was intended to interfere with the nation’s nuclear capability.
Many Democratic lawmakers in Massachusetts believed that the operation was unlawful since it was conducted without Congressional consent, which went against Congress’s exclusive authority to declare war.
According to Rep. Stephen Lynch, a leading member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, no president has the unilateral power to launch a direct military action this important and with such catastrophic repercussions without first consulting Congress. Now, Congress ought to take back our constitutional power right away and closely examine President Trump’s choice to launch this strike.
Along with Rep. Jim McGovern, Lynch publicly endorsed the War Powers Resolution that Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie filed in Congress last week. The resolution seeks to prevent unapproved war against Iran without Congress’ approval.
According to Senator Elizabeth Warren, only Congress has the authority to declare war, and the Senate must act right away to save another protracted conflict. This war of choice is terrifying.
Other members of Congress, including as Sen. Lindsey Graham, who stated in a Sunday morning NBC Meet the Press interview that Congress had the power to declare war or cut off financing, countered that Trump stayed within his Article 2 powers throughout the strikes.
Trump’s difficult choice to employ military force to guarantee that Iran would never be able to carry out broad nuclear destruction was praised by the MassGOP.
According to MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale, it is important to remember that bad agreements made by our own former Senator John Kerry contributed significantly to Iran’s nuclear capability. May peace ultimately triumph and may God bless Israel and the United States in the days to come.
Rep. Lori Trahan expressed gratitude to the participating service men for their unparalleled bravery, professionalism, and accuracy.
Nobody at all wants the Iranian dictatorship to obtain nuclear weapons. Trahan said. Years of bipartisan diplomatic and strategic engagement to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons have been directed by this common objective. By ordering direct military strikes without congressional consent, President Trump runs the risk of undermining such initiatives and entangling the US in yet another expensive, protracted conflict in the Middle East.
According to Trahan, the move goes against the president’s campaign pledges to halt the war in Gaza, defuse tensions in the Middle East, and release Hamas hostages.
However, according to persons familiar with the matter who were asked to speak anonymously, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., both claimed to have been briefed before Saturday’s strikes.
“I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in harm’s way as we take action tonight to ensure a nuclear weapon remains out of reach for Iran,” Thune stated on Saturday night.
“The military operations should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says,” Johnson said in a statement.
Rep. Ayanna Pressely, Sen. Ed Markey, and Sen. Warren all expressed worries about the administration’s plan and the possibility of another protracted conflict in the area.
Related Articles
-
Massachusetts State Police union fighting accusations after Karen Read verdict
-
Pols & Politics: Secretary of State William Galvin has concerns about upcoming census
-
Critics fear tall towers turning downtown Boston into Manhattan
-
Bay State channel-surfers could see higher bills as Massachusetts eyes new sales tax
-
Karen Read verdict prompts calls for Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey to resign: Do better, sir
Iran’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon will not be stopped by this attack, according to Markey. The regime will now have a strong incentive to restore its program. The greatest, long-term, and verifiable approach to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is still through diplomacy.
Markey demanded that ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Iran immediately begin.
Rep. Katherine Clark stated that the American people, our service members, and their families should be given answers.
