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Trump team to brief Congress on Iran; Dems seek counterpoint
WASHINGTON (AP) ‐ As questions mount over President Donald Trump’s tough talk on Iran, top national security officials are heading to Capitol Hill to brief Congress. But skeptical Democrats have asked for a second opinion.The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday, unusual and potentially polarizing, come after weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf that have raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Lawmakers are warning the Trump administration it cannot take the country into war without approval from Congress, and the back-to-back briefings show the wariness among Democrats, and some Republicans, over the White House’s sudden policy shifts in the Middle East. Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened Monday to meet provocations by Iran with "great force," but also said he’s willing to negotiate. "We’ll see what happens," Trump told reporters Monday as he left the White House for a campaign rally. He said Iran has been "very hostile." "We have no indication that anything’s happened or will happened, but if it does, it will be met, obviously, with great force," Trump said. "We’ll have no choice." Trump said while there are no talks with Iran he still wants to hear from them, "if they’re ready." Posted by: Besoeker 2019-05-21 |
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