Tension between the Middle East and the United States has grown since the death of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. However, tension has also increased domestically as Democrats and Republicans have grown contentious over disagreements regarding the attack.
In response, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) claimed this week that she was suffering from PTSD, but now an Indiana lawmaker is fighting back, taking the freshman congresswoman to task.
Omar said earlier this week that she was suffering from PTSD because of the recent events that have taken place in the Middle East, but Indiana Rep. Jim Banks (R), who is a veteran, slammed Omar by saying that her comments are a “disgrace” to military veterans and what they’ve had to endure while serving time.
Rep. Ilhan Omar complained she’s “stricken with PTSD” because of recent events in the Middle East.
This is a disgrace and offensive to our nation’s veterans who really do have PTSD after putting their life on the line to keep America safe. pic.twitter.com/twhZDuUDu0
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) January 8, 2020
On Twitter, the lawmaker further explained that it’s “offensive to our nation’s veterans who really do have PTSD after putting their life on the line to keep America safe.”
In a press conference with fellow Democrats, Rep. Omar expressed that every time she hears “conversations around war,” she finds herself “being stricken with PTSD.” Furthermore, she noted that she finds “peace knowing that I serve with great advocates for peace and people who have shown courage against war.”
In response to Banks’ comments, Omar reminded him of her upbringing, explaining that she survived war as a child.”
Hi Jim,
I survived war as a child and deal with post-traumatic stress disorder—much like many who have served or lived through war.
It’s shameful that you as a member of Congress would erase the PTSD of survivors. pic.twitter.com/QdDBKDSOCS
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 8, 2020
She concluded by saying that “it’s shameful that you as a member of Congress would erase the PTSD of survivors.”
Florida Rep. Brian Mast (R), who served in Afghanistan and injured, did not address the PTSD issue, but he did point out that Trump's targeting of Soleimani was "justified" and that many American "deaths were paid for by Obama."
Mast told the Floridian that there are many Americans military personnel “who’s death was paid for by Obama.”
“Obama gave billions to a terror state who was actively attacking our troops in our theaters of war,” stated Mast. “It would be like sending a pallet of cash to the emperor of Japan in the middle of WWII… What I know for a fact is that there are names on the wall, just down from us here in Rayburn or all our fallen from the war on terror, names of people who’s death was paid for by Obama.”
