Durbin Slams The Trump Administration For Its Unclear Strategy Regarding Iran, Urges Colleagues To Support Senator Kaine’s Iran War Powers Resolution

Durbin Slams The Trump Administration For Its Unclear Strategy Regarding Iran, Urges Colleagues To Support Senator Kaine's Iran War Powers Resolution

Durbin: "We're in the fifth day of this war, and so far, we have five different explanations from the White House as to why we invaded Iran."

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today urging his colleagues to support Senator Tim Kaine's (D-VA) war powers resolution, which would block President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran unless authorized by Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers Act in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon. During his remarks, Durbin laid out the five different explanations the White House has offered for launching military strikes in Iran five days ago. Durbin was one of 23 Senators who voted against the war in Iraq and recalled the many American service members who lost their lives in that conflict.

Durbin said, "Well, we're in the fifth day of this war and so far, we have five different explanations from the White House as to why we invaded Iran. Iran is triggering turmoil and chaos in the Middle East… but when you listen to these explanations of why we are willing to risk American lives, you wonder if the White House has clearly made up their mind about a strategy. It started with the State of the Union address and the President sa[id] we have to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. There's a bipartisan consensus for that position. But it's hard for this President to explain why in his first term, he eliminated the international inspectors in Iran who were making sure they didn't develop a nuclear weapon."

"The second explanation of why we are at war in Iran was their development of ballistic missiles. Yet we know this is reminiscent of the excuse given for the invasion of Iraq years ago. Remember the allegations that there were weapons of mass destruction, which could harm our allies, even the United States? Ballistic missiles in Iran are not capable of reaching the United States. Using that as an excuse of 'clear and present danger' is hard to rationalize," said Durbin.

"The third explanation of the five from the White House is regime change," said Durbin. "Certainly, the Iranian people deserve a regime change. Are we willing to back them up? If they go in the streets and are being massacred and slaughtered like the previous Administration in Iran was responsible, what will we do? Send troops to the streets of Tehran? That has never been explained by this Administration."

Durbin continued, "The fourth explanation for our invasion of Iran given by the White House in this early stage, is that the Israelis were going to do it anyway, and we'd probably be dragged into the conflict. Really? So, Israel is dictating America's foreign policy?"

"The fifth explanation I heard on the radio this morning from the President last night: a nuclear war was about to be launched by Iran. Really? With what missiles? What capacity? What weapons? This is a theory that has not been backed up by any type of fact. Here's the reality: five days into this war, we've had five different explanations why we're in this war," said Durbin.

"Let me tell you my experience having been here on the vote to go to war in Iraq: It is far easier to get into a war than it is to get out of a war," said Durbin.

Durbin then spoke about President Trump's harmful foreign policy stances toward our allies. He was obsessed with acquiring Greenland and declared that our neighbor and ally, Canada, should become the 51^st state of the United States. Durin also commented on the need to maintain our strong NATO alliance and his worries that President Trump's impulsiveness will destroy the confidence of other NATO countries.

Durbin concluded his speech by calling on his Senate Republican colleagues to vote for Kaine's war powers resolution.

Durbin concluded, "Before we ask the men and women of America, the families of America, to put their sons and daughters at risk in a war, shouldn't we have a fulsome debate on the floor of the Senate? That's what Republicans fear-a real debate why this war is being launched… The Constitution says the American people have a role in it [deciding if we go to war] through their elected Representatives in the Senate and in the House. I urge my colleagues to support Tim Kaine [War Powers Resolution] to establish what this Constitution clearly says: the power to declare war is ours. If we give it up, then we're turning our back on the Constitution and our responsibilities to the American people."

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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