Rand Paul Presses Mike Pompeo on Iran: ‘You Do Not Have Our Permission To Go to War’

Via Reason

Ron Sachs/AdMedia/Newscom; Stefani Reynolds - CNP/Sipa USA/Newscom

Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) pressed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday to say whether the Trump administration believes it has the power to go to war in Iran without congressional approval. Pompeo would not give a straight answer.

The exchange, which occurred while Pompeo was testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, came two days after President Donald Trump announced he was designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful Iranian paramilitary organization, as a foreign terror group. The IRGC has long faced accusations of sponsoring global acts of terror, and it’s also been known to support various militant groups in the Middle East.

Paul was concerned that the White House might use the new designation to go to war with Iran without congressional authorization. The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force gives the president the power to take military action against any entity he believes to have been responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks.

“Do you believe that the 2001 authorization to go war with those who attacked us on 9/11 applies to Iran or Iran’s Revolutionary Guard?” Paul asked Pompeo.

“I’d prefer to just leave that to lawyers,” the secretary of state responded.

But Paul wasn’t satisfied. “Well, I would think it would be a pretty important question that whether or not you think you have the right invade or declare war or engage in war with Iran,” Paul said. Referencing the IRGC being labelled a terror group, he added: “Do you think that that somehow includes them in the 2001 [AUMF] and is that any part of the decision-making process with including this designation?”

Pompeo claimed the designation “was not part of the decision-making process. The designation was a simple recognition of reality.” But Pompeo did point out that Iran has connections to al-Qaida, who carried out the 9/11 attacks.

“I am troubled that the administration can’t unequivocally say that you haven’t been given power. I can tell you explicitly you have not been given power or authority by Congress to have war with Iran,” Paul responded. “And in any kind of semblance of a sane world, you would have to come back and ask us before you go into Iran.”

This is not the first time Paul has expressed concerns over a potential war with Iran. In October, he cosponsored a bill that would largely ban money from being used for military action in Iran unless it’s “in response to an imminent threat to the United States.” The legislation has yet to make any progress in the Senate.

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to authorize military intervention, and in the case of Iran, it has not.

“You do not have the permission of Congress to go to war in Iran. If you want a war in Iran, you have to come to us. It’s the way the Constitution was written, and it needs to be very clear,” Paul said Wednesday. He said it again, just in case Pompeo missed it the first time: “You do not have our permission to go to war in Iran.”

Paul is absolutely right. Hopefully, Pompeo and his boss will listen.

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anarchyst
anarchyst

JEWS…It’s always the JEWS…It’s no secret that our “leaders” get their marching orders from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Follow the shekels.
It’s long overdue to cut the money spigot from Israel.
Remember the deliberate Israeli act of war against the U S A with the murder of 34 sailors and wounding of 173 sailors of the USS Liberty (GTR-5) on 8 June 1967, covered up by Israel and our own government.
If I had my way, Israel would have been turned into a “glass parking lot” on 9 June 1967.

Donkey Balls
Donkey Balls

The war on terror is WWIII. We are currently fighting WWIII.

Hardscrabble Farmer
Hardscrabble Farmer

Rand? Do we need to send another “irate neighbor” over to visit?

Sit your ass back down and be a good boy.

BB
BB

Anybody with two brain cells can see our government is owned by the Jews. Nothing is going to change until white america gets slapped up side the head with Poverty. Maybe after the middle class is destroyed people will wake from their slumber or spell it’s under . When the Democrats Communist finally get the lock on the white house because of mass immigration it be two late. Fuck this madness.

Montefrio

Well, Beeb, “white america ” has been slapped upside the head so often that it’s staggering around like a stewbum on sterno, but the wake-up call has come and gone. The “rage of the Saxon” seems limited to harsh words. Hint: that won’t cut it.

NoThanksIJustAte
NoThanksIJustAte
Bob P
Bob P

The administration won’t bother asking Congress for permission to go to war; they’ll just do it. And if they did ask permission, the Congress would rubber stamp it. They all get paid by the military-industrial-security complex to keep the wars coming.

NoThanksIJustAte
NoThanksIJustAte

BREAKING NEWS: Mike Pompeo Response to Rand Paul,”When Have We EVER Asked for Your Permission to Go to War, Silly Goose ?”

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wdg
wdg

“The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force gives the president the power to take military action against any entity he believes to have been responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks.”

It is clear therefore that Trump is authorized to use military force against Israel for its role in the 9/11 terrorist attack on America. He also has the authority to indict Zionist traitors in the US for promoting and facilitating 9/11 (a new Pearl Harbor) and using it to wage a War OF Terror throughout the Middle East, Afghanistan and North Africa for Israel.

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