That this thread on Trump’s actions around Soleimani being constitutionally legitimate comes from David French is a big deal because if you are familiar with French at all you know he’s not exactly a Trump fan boy.
And for him to write an entire thread debunking Democrats screeching about congressional authorization is therefore pretty significant.
Take a gander.
There's much to say about the potential strategic benefits (and perils) of tonight's decision, but make no mistake, separate congressional authorization was not necessary. This was not a separate act of war in the constitutional sense. I'll explain why in a brief thread. /1 https://t.co/JSGEDFAQLs
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 3, 2020
We also kinda sorta love that he’s dunking on Chris ‘Flip-flop’ Murphy.
It's very important that Suleimani was killed in Iraq. Why? Because American troops are lawfully in Iraq — there by congressional authorization and with the permission of the Iraqi government. Moreover, they have a right of self-defense. /2
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 3, 2020
There’s yer congressional authorization, ya’ whiners. They just cannot accept that what Trump did here was a good thing.
And don't forget, they were reintroduced to Iraq by the Obama administration. The present military operations are a continuation of military operations initiated by President Obama. This is Obama's deployment as much as Trump's. It was proper then, and it is proper now. /3
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 3, 2020
So suck it.
Ok, French said this far more eloquently than we did but still.
Iranian-backed militias attacked U.S. troops lawfully present in a combat zone under valid legal authorities. Moreover, America's military response isn't limited to immediate self-defense or tit for tat. It can act to remove the threat. That threat includes enemy commanders. /4
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 3, 2020
Like Soleimani.
The true "act of war" was thus Iran's — by putting one of its commanders, boots on the ground, in Iraq to assist in planning and directing attacks on U.S. forces. America is entitled to respond to that threat. /5
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 3, 2020
How ya’ like them apples?
Suleimani was an evil, evil man. There is much American blood on his hands. And he was killed lawfully, in a properly constitutionally-authorized conflict. There is much risk and peril to come, but Trump's action was constitutionally legitimate, and that matters. A lot. /End
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 3, 2020
This was really well-written and again, since French has been openly critical of Trump, no one can accuse him of being a partisan ‘hack’ here.
Well, they’ll accuse him anyway because what he said makes too much sense and totally takes their talking points apart BUT anyone not already looking for a reason to pretend Trump is the bad guy here will at least take a moment to consider what he wrote.
And that’s pretty legit all on its own.
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