‘Insane’: Lawmakers Respond to Senators’ Calls for Direct Strike on Iran

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 26, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Lawmakers in Congress are hitting back at some senators’ calls for a direct U.S. strike on Iran, with some calling the suggestion “insane.”

On the evening of Jan. 27, a drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan ended in three U.S. Army soldiers’ deaths and injury to more than 30 others. The drone strike is alleged by federal officials to have come from a group based in Syria and backed by Iran, the latest in a string of attacks by proxies of the Islamic state.

Following the attack, many lawmakers were quick to call for the United States to exact vengeance—not against the proxies, but against the Iranians themselves.

In a two-word post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called for the United States to “target Tehran,” Iran’s capital.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) made the same demand.

“I am calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression,” he said on X.

“Hit Iran now. Hit them hard,” Mr. Graham said in another post.

That same demand was echoed by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Ala.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and others. The calls for a direct strike on Iran were particularly common in the Senate Republican conference.

But other lawmakers, particularly in the House, aren’t buying it.

Speaking on these and other calls for war, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told The Epoch Times, “They went absolutely insane. Like basically wanting to start world war three. I very much believe in peace through strength.”

She also spoke about the consequences that such a strike could have on Americans.

She cited the roughly 2 million illegal immigrants who have entered the country and successfully evaded detection by Border Patrol since President Joe Biden took office.

Some of those, she suggested, could be Iranian-backed actors.

“We know Iran would definitely want payback on Americans” in the event of a retaliatory strike, she said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks to reporters in Washington on Oct. 12, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) indicated that he thinks the United States should go after the proxies.

“Some of these proxy groups that are operating under the under the protection of the Iranian regime, they should be obliterated as far as I’m concerned,” Mr. Donalds said.

“If you have an American soldier lose their life let alone three, let alone 10 ... these proxy groups launching missiles at our servicemen and women ... need to be eliminated. ”

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) called for a more nuanced approach, saying the United States should seek to impose a “three-pronged” response including military, economic, and diplomatic consequences.

But he said, “Certainly, I’m not a warmonger. I don’t want to go after any persons inside their mainland.”

Instead, he said that the United States should impose heavy economic sanctions, target critical infrastructure like offshore oil rigs, and encourage U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey to cut the Iranians off from access to their airspace.

‘Wannabe Generals’

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) shared his Republican colleagues’ concerns on the calls for war.

“I’m really concerned by some of the hardline rhetoric coming out to some of my colleagues about let’s engage in a full-blown war with Iran,” he told reporters.

Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) at a hearing in Washington on Dec. 17, 2019. Samuel Corum/Getty Images

“I mean, none of us up here are gonna be fighting in any war,” Mr. McGovern said.

“I’m sick and tired of these wannabe generals in the Congress rattling the saber and cheering on bigger and wider wars.”

“Look, I think Iran is a bad player,” Mr. McGovern added. “And I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be a consequence here. But I mean, this casual talk of all-out war, it’s chilling.”

Congressional Approval Needed?

Several opponents of an immediate retaliatory strike on Iran also said that President Biden would need to come to Congress for permission before carrying out any strikes against the Iranian mainland.

In early U.S. history, U.S. military activity was formalized by a congressional declaration. But Congress hasn’t formally declared a war since World War II.

Since then, Congress has at most provided authorizations for the use of military force, effectively ceding the war power to the executive.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a longtime advocate of Congress reclaiming its war powers, was unequivocal about the need for congressional approval in this case.

“Without question, any president—Republican or Democrat—that wants to take us to war or commit significant acts of war has to come to Congress,” Mr. Paul said in a post on X.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks during a hearing with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 3, 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Getty Images

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) echoed the sentiment in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.

“The Biden Administration and Warhawks cannot unilaterally authorize military action against Iran,” Mr. Biggs said.

“The Constitution clearly grants Congress the sole power to declare war and authorize military action. We should not put our servicemembers in harm’s way and spend taxpayer money without strategic discussions.

“Right now, the United States should apply maximum economic and political sanctions on Iran.”

Ms. Greene also said that congressional authorization was necessary.

“[The Constitution] gives authority for war,” Ms. Greene said. “So the president has to come to Congress and ask permission to go to war. I think that’s important. That’s part of our Constitution. And, you know, we need to we need to understand which AUMF the Biden administration is operating under before they proceed. They owe us a lot of answers to what they’re doing.”

Mr. Donalds said, “The president should bring whatever his battle plan is, or whatever his plan is going to be. If he needs an authorization for that, he should absolutely bring it to Congress.”

Mr. McGovern agreed.

Asked whether he believed Congress would need to authorize a strike on Iran, Mr. McGovern replied, “I do. I think making war, expanding war is not ... something you should do on a whim ... We have checks and balances here for a reason.”