'This Was Not Constitutional': Adam Schiff Decries Trump's Iran Strikes, Swipes At Hegseth's 'Arrogance'

Forbes Breaking News

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) spoke about President Trump's decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

Transcript

00:00First of all, Casey, I want to express my gratitude that the pilots are all out safely

00:08and acknowledge the skill, the bravery, and the professionalism of all the military forces

00:14that were engaged in this military operation.

00:17But it's not an operation that should have ever been authorized by the President

00:21in the absence of intelligence showing that Iran had made the decision to break out and build a bomb.

00:27The intelligence I've seen, and it's been limited, indicates that Iran had certainly enriched uranium

00:33but had not made the decision to build a bomb or pursue the mechanism of a bomb.

00:38And in the absence of that, this is not a strike that should have been ordered.

00:42In watching Hegzeth during that press conference this morning,

00:45we saw a lot of arrogance from the Defense Secretary.

00:48And as wars in the Middle East have demonstrated, arrogance is a deadly commodity.

00:54We simply don't know what is going to occur now, whether Iran will retaliate,

01:00whether Iran was able to evacuate some of the enriched material from Fordow.

01:05There were commercial satellite images of trucks lined up at Fordow and leaving Fordow in the days preceding the strike.

01:12So a lot of questions, including the risks to American service members,

01:17in terms of is there anything positive to come out of it?

01:20Yes.

01:21I mean, the destruction of these facilities is a positive in the sense that it will set back Iran's program.

01:28And look, this is a nefarious regime that is the preeminent state sponsor of terror,

01:35should have never been pursuing a nuclear program.

01:38But it is very possible, and I think we have to anticipate, Iran now kicks out any inspectors.

01:44It leaves the nonproliferation treaty.

01:47And if it wasn't in a sprint for a bomb, it is now going to engage in a sprint for the bomb.

01:53So a lot of uncertain...

01:55Finally, this was not constitutional.

01:58It was not lawful in the absence of a declaration by Congress.

02:01And so the administration should have come to Congress.

02:05We will have a vote on a War Powers Resolution.

02:08But there's a reason to bring this to Congress, and it is you want the Congress bought in,

02:12you want the American people bought in on an action this substantial that could lead to a major outbreak of war.

02:19I don't think, to be honest, Casey, there's any way for us to know.

02:32Anyone who says they can see into the future and what the Iranian response will be,

02:37whether it will claim American lives or whether there will be some change in the Iranian regime

02:42or new opening, a new opportunity, we simply don't know.

02:46We simply don't know.

02:47And I think because of that uncertainty, you don't want to take an action like this without a strong basis,

02:55that is, that Iran was imminently pursuing a bomb.

02:59And we simply don't have that intelligence.

03:01Or if we do, it hasn't been shared with the Congress.

03:04And that last question asked of Hegseth at the press conference indicates he doesn't know either.

03:10He was asked, do we have some new intelligence?

03:13Is it our own intelligence?

03:15Or are we relying on Israeli intelligence for the conclusion that we had to take this strike now?

03:19And he simply said, well, the President looked at everything.

03:22That's really not an answer, but we will demand answers this week when we're briefed.

03:27In the absence of it, though, and not knowing what the future will bring and the consequences,

03:33this is an order that should not have been given.

03:35This is an order that should not have been given.

03:39And later, if for this way, the President messed up.

03:41In the absence of it has fallen off as Ian, and here, the President Looks have been sent.

03:49He also does not have to say his on mulher.

03:51Now that they are STUDENTS, they will not be affected by its ownness.

03:54There are other words on who's bocaish participation in them.

Category

Transcript

Recommended