Dems Issue Response To Strike
President Joe Biden has come under fire from members of his own party following airstrikes carried out by American and British forces in Yemen on Friday morning. The strikes were in response to over two dozen attacks by Houthi rebels against ships off the coast of Yemen, which have escalated since the recent terrorist attack launched by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7th. The attack, which killed over 1,400 people, including at least 30 Americans, has sparked strong reactions from Democrats who argue that the airstrikes go against the Constitution.
Representative Cori Bush of Missouri took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her disapproval of the strikes. In her tweet, she stated, "POTUS can't launch airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. This is illegal and violates Article I of the Constitution. The people do not want more of our taxpayer dollars going to endless war and the killing of civilians. Stop the bombing and do better by us."
Fellow Democrat Rashida Tlaib of Michigan echoed Bush's sentiments, tweeting, "POTUS is violating Article I of the Constitution by carrying out airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. The American people are tired of endless war." Many other House Democrats also cited Article I of the Constitution, which gives Congress the authority to declare war, in their criticism of the airstrikes.
Representative Ro Khanna of California, who has long been a vocal opponent of American involvement in overseas conflicts, stated, "The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another Middle East conflict. That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House."
Fellow Democrat Val Hoyle of Oregon also took to Twitter to express her disapproval, writing, "These airstrikes have NOT been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party."
Even former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii spoke out against Biden's actions, stating in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, "What they are doing here now appears to not be well thought out at all or considering what the ramifications of this will be and how it serves our national security interest." Gabbard also criticized the Biden administration for previously removing the Houthis from the terrorist list and giving millions of dollars to Iran without considering the consequences.
The White House has yet to respond to these criticisms, but the Congressional backlash highlights the growing discontent within the Democratic party over the use of military force without congressional approval. In recent years, many members of the party have become more vocal in their opposition to wars in the Middle East and have called for a reevaluation of American foreign policy.
The strikes in Yemen, which were carried out in coordination with British forces, are seen as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been fighting against the internationally recognized government of Yemen since 2015. The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people facing food and medical shortages.
Biden's decision to carry out these airstrikes without congressional approval is a departure from his previous stance on the issue. During his campaign, he promised to end U.S. involvement in "forever wars" and to consult Congress before taking military action. However, critics argue that these airstrikes in Yemen go against his promises and continue the pattern of U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts without proper authorization.
The airstrikes in Yemen have also raised concerns about the potential repercussions and the impact on U.S. relations with Iran. As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, many fear that this attack could lead to further conflict and instability in the region.