The Senate continues to work on the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. As expected, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to block all substantive amendments by “filling the tree” (which is filing enough meaningless amendments to take up all the time allocated for amendments). However, McConnell may have run into a roadblock, which is Democrats and at least two Republicans (Rand Paul and Mike Lee) insistence on a vote on an amendment stating the president does not have constitutional authority to go to war with Iran.
This amendment is important since Secretary of (the deep) State Mike Pompeo has suggested the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force gives the president authority to attack Iran—even though this 18-year old AUMF is limited to giving the president authority to take action against those responsible for the 9-11 attacks. There is no credible evidence that I am aware of that Iran had any involvement with the 9-11 attacks.
Democrats have threatened to block consideration of the NDAA unless McConnell agrees to have the vote on Iran. Yesterday, Senator McConnell said he was open to having a vote but sources in the Senate say he probably will not, so stay tuned!
Utah Senator Mitt Romney has introduced an amendment allowing the armed services to defend themselves and U.S. citizens against Iranian attack, which seems to be nothing more than a set-up for a full war under the guise of U.S. troops attacking in self-defense.
For more on this, watch C4L Chairman Ron Paul on yesterday’s Liberty Report here.
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