4 Senators ask Biden what legal authority he has to strike Houthis

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to President Biden on Tuesday questioning what legal authority the commander in chief has to authorize strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The senators condemned Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and acknowledged the U.S. can carry out defensive strikes to protect its troops and assets under Article 2 of the Constitution — but raised questions about the authority to strike the Houthis when the rebels are mainly targeting international ships and not American ones.

“There is no current congressional authorization for offensive U.S. military action against the Houthis,” the senators wrote. “While the Houthis and their backers, namely Iran, bear the responsibility for escalation, unless there is a need to repel a sudden attack the Constitution requires that the United States not engage in military action absent a favorable vote of Congress.”

The letter was signed by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).

The repeated strikes on Yemen also spurred concerns in the House, where progressive lawmakers such as Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and more conservative lawmakers such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) have questioned Biden’s authority.

4 senators ask Biden what legal authority he has to strike Houthis

A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to President Biden on Tuesday questioning what legal authority the commander in chief has to authorize strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The s…

thehill.com

 

[THE_DEVIL]

I believe the retaliation strikes are warranted. I also think the administration should have to answer its justification for them.

 

[Finance85]

I believe the retaliation strikes are warranted. I also think the administration should have to answer its justification for them.

They may very well be warranted, but we have a Constitution that has rules about this stuff. I hope you aren't suggesting that Biden is above the Constitution.

 

[THE_DEVIL]

They may very well be warranted, but we have a Constitution that has rules about this stuff. I hope you aren't suggesting that Biden is above the Constitution.

No, I am suggesting that he needs to give a justification for the actions. If people dislike those reasons then there is a process to follow.

 

[anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r]

Not going to lie I opened this assuming it was the “squad” expanding their support from just Hamas to the Houthis.

This administration should have had a stronger military response earlier. I get having oversight, but come on people. This is exactly why they sat on their hands while Iran’s puppets continually bombarded US Navy ships, U.S. bases, and commercial ships.

 

[Titanhawk2]

They may very well be warranted, but we have a Constitution that has rules about this stuff. I hope you aren't suggesting that Biden is above the Constitution.

He hasn't declared war, a strike is not such a declaration. He can direct the military has he sees he needs to

 

[Finance85]

He hasn't declared war, a strike is not such a declaration. He can direct the military has he sees he needs to

Wait.... Taking military action against people in a sovereign nation isn't an act of war?

Would the US consider it an act of war if ANY other nation did that to us? Syria? Yemen?

 

[Slappy Pappy]

Wait.... Taking military action against people in a sovereign nation isn't an act of war?

Would the US consider it an act of war if ANY other nation did that to us? Syria? Yemen?

If they are attacking and boarding international shipping, including US flagged ships and warships, it's piracy, bro. We've done the same thing to their Somali buddies.

Also important to note the Houthis aren't a sovereign nation, the are an Iranian-run terrorist gang that has occupied part of Yemen and is in conflict with Yemen's actual government.

Blast the bastards.

 

[goldmom]

They may very well be warranted, but we have a Constitution that has rules about this stuff. I hope you aren't suggesting that Biden is above the Constitution.

I agree they must be stopped and I also agree that the US cannot always be the lead dog -
I think the Brits and others have both the capability and the responsibility of stepping up the game. Although the Brits have a bit of a political situation since they have a large and vocal Muslim population who support anyone but Israel.
It’s a situation not entirely unlike what’s going on with Ukraine.
80 years after WWII we’re still carrying almost ALL the water? What’s wrong with this picture?

 

[auntie_fah]

Biden doesnt do anything, people will bitch

Biden does something, people will bitch

Biden does something people wouldnt bitch about, they would bitch that he didnt do it earlier.

 

[Fijimn]

Houthis have attacked American commercial vessels with Naval escorts....the authority derives from the War Powers Act.

 

[goldmom]

Biden doesnt do anything, people will bitch

Biden does something, people will bitch

Biden does something people wouldnt bitch about, they would bitch that he didnt do it earlier.

I don’t disagree but it’s a perennial gripe regardless of who’s in office.