CNN:
The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted that its decision to kill Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was justified because he posed an "imminent threat" to American lives, but that phrase was notably absent in an official White House report sent to Congress that outlines the legal and policy rationale for conducting last month's strike.
A copy of the report -- released by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel Friday -- is an unclassified version of what is called a 1264 notification, which the White House is required to send to Congress if it changes its view on the legal framework for using military force.
In this case, the notice not only outlines the administration's legal justification for killing Soleimani, but acknowledges that the White House expanded its interpretation of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force to include military action against Iran.
"Iran's past and recent activities, coupled with intelligence at the time of the air strike, indicated that Iran's Qods Force posed a threat to the United States in Iraq, and the air strike against Soleimani was intended to protect United States personnel and deter future Iranian attack plans," the report reads.
It argues that the airstrike is consistent with longstanding interpretation of the President's authority under Article II of the Constitution and the 2002 AUMF, as the use of military force was "tailored narrowly to the Qods Force target's presence in Iraq and support to ... Iraqi militias that attacked US personnel."
The administration suggests that the notice itself reflects a change "in application" of existing legal and policy frameworks, but, "it obviously reflects a significant change in the executive branch's view of its legal authority to strike Iran," according to Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University and co-editor-in-chief of Just Security.
"It is very different from the Obama report, and it is very different from what senior US officials told Congress in 2019," he added.
State Department officials repeatedly assured lawmakers last year that "the administration has not, to date, interpreted either the 2001 or 2002 AUMF as authorizing military force against Iran, except as may be necessary to defend US or partner forces as they pursue missions authorized under either AUMF."
The administration's claims prompted a sharp rebuke from Engel who called their legal theory "absurd," their explanation "spurious" and said he looks forward to questioning Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the matter during his expected testimony on February 28.
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Imminent or not, one fewer terrorist converting oxygen to CO2 is good for humanity and the environment as well!
“Before Iran's Qassem Soleimani was abruptly brought to justice on Jan. 3, the majority of our illustrious members of Congress didn't know him from Sean Connery. Now, many are suddenly armchair experts proclaiming devastating fallout from his death.” THE HILL
One daring question: Does Trump being a bad fellow, make Soleimani a good dude?
@Simple,
Akhoon being a bad person/leader, would that make tRump a good person/leader?
And to be fair and answer your question:
In my opinion, NO. Few fair-minded people think Soleimani was a good dude, but assassinating him and the way in the manner that it was done is believed to be short-sighted, stupid and politically motivated which could result in far more blood spilled.
When it comes to gun violence, don’t pray vote instead
The impeached tRump is helping to make Russia great again
BDS to deprive the oppressive occupied miltary of its bullets and bombs
Buy American, say NO to Chinese made impeached tRump
“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King