After the attack against General Soleimani, it was very interesting to see the wide variety of reactions among our elected representatives.
One of the more interesting battles, though, happened between Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Omar Ilhan (D-MN).
Going Toe to Toe
Senator Cruz openly supported the attack while Rep. Omar actually defended Iran.
What makes this interesting is that Ted Cruz was rather critical of Trump before Trump won the election, at one point saying Trump was too unstable to have his finger on the trigger of our nukes.
“I don't know anyone who would be comfortable with someone who behaves this way having his finger on the button.”
– Ted Cruz, 2016
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
There is also the fact that Trump openly thought Barack Obama, at the end of his first term, would get into a war with Iran to boost his chances of being re-elected.
This reckless mind is now leading us to war! pic.twitter.com/hx3IcZubU0
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
The situation today is far different because of the most recent attacks by Iran and the intelligence that Iran was about to carry out significant attacks against our troops and ambassadors in the area.
Democrats don’t want to hear about any of that, though, so Omar did as expected and threw all of that up in her argument against Ted Cruz.
Cruz, however, did not back down.
Here are just a few of the tweets that were fired off between the two of them…
According the the Obama Department of Defense, Qasem Soleimani was a terrorist directly responsible for the murder of over 500 US service men & women. Why are congressional Dems outraged that he’s finally dead? See more: https://t.co/7MrD4tyM5y https://t.co/cKYSPLSLmj
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 3, 2020
We are outraged the president would assassinate a foreign official, possibly setting off another war without Congressional authorization and has zero plan to deal with the consequences.
But of course you know that. https://t.co/GzfdKilV4t
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
Perhaps it would have been a better idea to send him $1.7 billion in unmarked bills, in pallets on planes in the dead of night, so he could kill more Americans? https://t.co/t5Mj2SMyq5
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 3, 2020
We Must Defend and Be Proactive
Sometimes, you need to strike hard to ensure a conflict does not escalate, and that is exactly what Trump was doing here.
Based on statements made by Iran, we know for a fact they have identified almost three dozen targets to attack.
Many of those targets are our ships in the Strait of Hormuz that are there to defend our allies transporting oil.
The sanctions put in place by the United States have brought Iran to the breaking point and rather than come to the table, Iran has decided to go down the path of violence.
We clearly cannot just sit back and allow them to carry out attacks when our intelligence has made it clear these attacks are imminent.
The Soleimani killing was a warning that we can find any of you and take you out at any time.
Going to Baghdad was a bold act by Soleimani and he paid for it with his life.
Omar is siding with a clear enemy, taking up the case of a terrorist while Cruz is defending our President for trying to prevent a war and protecting our interests.
Shockingly, much of the Democrat party has backed Omar in this debate, which should tell you all you need to know about which party we need in power come 2020.