Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate Sen. Inhofe On Iran War Powers Resolution 20240713

Predecessor, were in the best negotiating position with iran since 1979 and irans escalation, which includes attacks on tankers, Saudi Arabian Oil Facilities and the killing of an american citizen. At least for now. Yet some democrats would have you believe a vote for a war powers resolution, pretending as though the president is rushing to war. Thats just not happening. But the facts are not there. There is no war with iran. An air strike is not a war. Punishing iran for killing an american citizen is is not a war. Nor has it just hasnt happened. Its been three weeks since the democrats first tried to vote on this resolution and during those three weeks, nothing has happened. Let me just repeat that. Nothing has happened. There have been no new iranian attacks against us. And weve with not attacked them. How can anyone claim that were in some caned of a war . Moreover, nobody wants with with iran. The president has made it clear he doesnt want war with iran, and in fact the president s decision to eliminate soleimani has made war much less likely because it showed iran that its terrorism would come at a price. That wasnt the price before. So despite this success today, were debating whether we want to tie the hands of our commander in chief or any commander in chief to respond when american lives are put at risk, as the constitution gives them the authority to do. Well, i want to be sure all my colleagues are Crystal Clear on this exactly exactly this war powers resolution means, what it will actually d the resolution calls the president to terminate the use of American Armed forces for hostilities against iraq. But there are no hostilities against iran. There is no war with iran. The resolution calling for the termination of hostilities against california would be just about have the same effect. Practicallily speaking, this vote will do nothing. Its nonsense, but we should be very concerned about the symbolic effect this vote will the have. This will send a very damaging message to iran. The iranians will interpret a vote in favor of this resolution as tying the president s hands and that would lead iran to believe once again that it can get by with anything. Remember, that wasnt that long ago. They really believed that. Now nobody wants it. Congress doesnt wasnt it, the president doesnt want it and certainly not the american people. I dont know why were debating a resolution that can make war more likely when were trying to do just the opposite. But if the democrats insist on tying the president s hands, then the least we can do is minute mice the damage. So minimize the damage. So while i urge colleagues to vote against to resolution, i also i want to comment briefly on the amendment offered by the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services committee, my friend and the gentleman from rhode island. He is correct to highlight the traumatic brain injuries that a number of our troops suffered during the january 8 iranian strike on irk. We understand that. And, however, i would like to clarify that i believe we are not were not we were not misled in this at all. They can only be confirmed through m. R. I. Scans. The department of defense implemented its screening procedure properly and madessured that all troops in the vicinity of the strike were screened. I think we need to understand that. Yet all of this was done and its as if that wasnt done at all. Once those results were made available, the department of defense notified the public in a press release. It then briefed our committee, the committee i chair. I therefore want to commend the department of defense for taking all the right measures to protect our forces during the iranian strikes and for appropriating screening our forces for aftereffects. This is i didnt think its extremely important that we vote this resolution down, even as its anticipated amended now, it will signal that theres no price for aggression. It will undermine deterrence. It will leave our troops, diplomats diploma the presiding officer duly noted. Mr. Risch thank you. Mr. President and fellow senators, were about to vote on an important pie