Florida House Democrats Split Over the US and Israel Military Action Against Iran

Florida House Democrats appeared divided over the joint U.S. and Israeli attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran, with some members praising the kinetic military action that resulted in the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Shortly after Operation Epic Fury commenced, Progressive lawmakers, namely Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Florida's own Rep. Maxwell Frost, denounced the Trump administrations use of military actions against Iran, calling the move as being nothing more than "illegal."

House Democrats, as well as Senate Democrats like Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,  on one hand praised targeting Iran and its "malign regional activities" and "nuclear ambitions," but on the other hand, politicized the administration by demanding that President Trump address Congress about its reasoning for the attack.

Democrats believe that the President should have consulted with Congress before attacking Iran or before declaring war on Iran.

Much like his predecessors, Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and just about every other sitting U.S. President have done in the past, Trump did not declare war and used his power as "Commander-in-Chief" to us the military in defense of American interests.

Remember, President Clinton did not seek congressional authorization when he launched a bombing campaign against then-Yugoslavia, and President Obama did not first seek congressional approval when he launched military strikes in Libya and Syria back in 2011 and 2014, respectively.

Presidents have the authority to use military action at a moment's notice, but when it comes to continuing to use military action, they have to seek Congressional approval.

Trump has 48 hours to notify Congress of the military actions, and has 60 days to continue use of this power before he has to obtain congressional authorization keep moving forward.

House Democrats

Again, since World War II, Congress has not declared war in any conflict, including the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and all of the presidents since the last great war have used the U.S. military unilaterally.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), arguably one of the staunchest supporters of Israel, stated her support of the military action, pointing out that the Iranian regime has "American, Latin American, Ukrainian, Israeli, and Iranian blood on their hands," and must "never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon."

Rep. Wasserman Schultz is also calling for the Trump administration  to "fully brief Congress before any further action is taken."

" The Iranian regime is a sadistic, malevolent actor, unrepentant for their worldwide, murderous actions. For decades, it has armed and funded violent terrorist proxies, brutalized its own people, pursued ballistic missile capabilities, and exploited diplomatic negotiations to buy time while continuing its march toward nuclear weaponization," stated Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "Iran’s rulers have American, Latin American, Ukrainian, Israeli, and Iranian blood on their hands. They can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and they must be held accountable for their missile program that threatens the safety of Americans and regional partners, especially Israel. Iran and its proxies continue to call for death to America, Israel, and Jews around the world. It goes without saying that the status quo was unacceptable. The Iranian regime is destructive, repressive, and committed to terror. The threat they pose to peace has left the region and the world on the precipice of war for generations."

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D), a moderate pro-Israel Democrat, echoed what many Republicans have been saying about the Iranian regime, but unlike Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Moskowitz did not press, demand the administration to address Congress.

"Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s legacy was one of violence and bloodshed. For more than three decades, Ali Khamenei presided over a government that: Killed 241 American service members in 1983 in the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut. Supported the attack that killed 17 American sailors aboard the USS Cole in 2000. Supplied explosives and training to Shia militias that killed and maimed hundreds of U.S. troops during the Iraq War. Propped up Bashar al Assad and fueled a conflict that devastated Syrian cities and cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Turned regional instability into policy by funding Hezbollah, Hamas, Iraqi militias, and the Houthis across the Middle East.With every bomb dropped and every life lost, Iran extended its reach and deepened the chaos. In Iran itself, life grew darker for the people living under his rule. Elections controlled. Journalists imprisoned. Political opponents silenced. Women beaten for defying morality laws. Life in Iran under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was one of systematic repression, and when the Iranian people took to the streets earlier this year to demand freedom, Khamenei answered the only way he ever did: With force. 30,000 Iranians protestors are dead because Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refused to listen to his citizens. That is his legacy. Now the focus must turn to what comes next. The United States must remain committed to protecting our national security while standing with the Iranian people in their pursuit of freedom and democracy. The future of Iran belongs to the Iranian people, and they deserve the fundamental right of self-determination."—Rep. Jared Moskowitz

The aforementioned Rep. Frost, did not condemn the Iranian regime over the past and ongoing human rights violations, not to mention their military actions through their proxies that has killed countless Americans. Instead, Frost followed the lead of Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, and condemned both the U.S. and Israel.

"Congress must reconvene immediately to vote on a War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s illegal and dangerous war. We know what comes next: instability, innocent death, our troops risking their lives, and chaos. These regime change wars do not work. We can support the people of Iran without bombing them. Just days ago, Trump was already misrepresenting what his own generals were telling him, including warnings about the high risk of American casualties," stated Rep. Frost. "The American people deserve the truth, especially as innocent civilians are already dying and U.S. service members are being put in harm’s way. Whether this is about politics, oil, shielding himself from scandal, or backing Benjamin Netanyahu, one thing is clear: this is an unnecessary war of choice, launched without transparency or accountability."

This military action could last weeks.