Hawaii’s congressional leaders expressed strong reservations about the U.S. airstrikes that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
Sen. Mazie K. Hirono said “General Soleimani was a reprehensible figure responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members and thousands of innocent people around the world.”
But she fears his death “further escalates hostilities and increases the potential for widespread violence in a part of the world already fraught with peril.
“In normal times, we could have confidence that the president — fully cognizant of the potential ramifications of this strike — was mobilizing a whole-of-government response and coordinating with our allies to seek a diplomatic outcome. But these are not normal times,” she said in a press release.
“Congress must reassert its constitutional responsibility and demand the
president seek
authorization prior to any military conflict with Iran.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, said, “This was very clearly an act of war by this president, without any kind of authorization or declaration of war from Congress, clearly violating the Constitution.”
In an interview with Fox News, Gabbard said the airstrikes and death of Soleimani will escalate a tense situation and “will elicit a very serious response from Iran, and pushes us further and further into this quagmire, and it really begs the question, ‘for what?’ What are we trying to accomplish?”
Gabbard said she has long maintained that going to war with Iran “will make the war in Iraq and even Afghanistan look like a picnic. It will be far more costly and devastating in American lives and in taxpayer dollars. I don’t believe the American people want to go to war with Iran.”
She said the airstrikes could lead to an outcome that “actually further undermines our national security and needlessly sends more of our troops into harm’s way.”
Sen. Brian Schatz posted several comments on his twitter account. Thursday, he wrote:
w “The neocons are back on television with their magical thinking, their moral hectoring and their amnesia about Iraq. They could very well get us into another, even more catastrophic war;”
w “I don’t mean to be alarming and I haven’t been briefed, but Ari Fleischer and Karl Rove are on TV, and that alone makes me think no one has thought this through’”
w “Young people are going to have to vote in record numbers in order to put this madness to an end.”
Friday, he added:
“They have lied about almost everything. There is no reason to suddenly give them the benefit of the doubt because they took a precipitous military action. Instead, our deepest skepticism, our toughest oversight, our most probing questions, must come now.”
•••
Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
Cleary Trump’s motivations for assassinating a high Iranian official go beyond retaliation for the embassy attack, tho he likely wanted to avoid comparisons with Benghazi (and Hilary!) at all costs. His top two motives? 1. Diversion: from the non-stop impeach-a-thon saturating the airwaves. 2. Upping his election prospects, a la Wag-The-Dog—only with a potentially real war. Does anybody really believe his primary impulse was defense of the United States…after Ukraine? If so you haven’t been paying attention. Sadly what passes for a middle-east foreign policy strategy for Trump came down to his inescapable obsession with undoing everything Obama, in this case the hard-won JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal). If there’s anything Americans should have learned from Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria it’s that these costly wars didn’t get us anywhere. But instead of valuing all the incredible diplomacy it took to get Iran to the table after years of hurling threats and having to use Swiss intermediaries to talk to Iran, Trump threw it all away in a burst of narcissistic ego-tantrum. And so here we are. What ever happened to Trump the incomparable deal-maker, the Great Negotiator?
Not all directed at citizen cane
You talk about cost, what have you PAID? Blood, Sweat Tears? If so thank you for your service. If not continue to read below.
As a Hawaiian, son of Kauai, Serviceman (2003), Democrat, but most importantly an American there are a lot of Couch Quarterbacks on here commenting that “this is not good” or “If I was President I would have done differently”.
I’m glad I have given you the opportunity to exercise your freedom of speech.
What you probably don’t know because you have not been to Iraq as many times as I have is that most of the Bombs, IEDs, EFPs, Katyusha rockets, and other awesome weapons that are designed to kill from a cowards position were coming from IRAN. SUPPORTED BY THOSE SAME SHIAs in the news today!
Don’t forget that if IRAN could have had their own restraint from the beginning we as Americans would not be in this situation.
Comment further if you have had one of your buddies die at the support of Irainians in OEF, OIF. Comment further if you’ve shed blood sweat and tears to allow everyone in here to post a comment because this country is free.
Focus your energy on Kaua’i matters! Fix the Kapaa traffic, stop being a grumbling Hawaiian that our land was taken and put that energy into getting more Kids into Kamehameha and stop voting for Kauai councilmen with no experience because you think its a popularity contest.
The fighting on the other side of the world will go on. Just know that there are men out there on the ground at all times ensuring that you sleep well in your warm bed at night.
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/01/05/ranger-contingent-deploys-to-mideast/
While you’re at it remember those Service Members and Families who have given EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AFTER 9/11 to do something about it.
https://www.fallenheroesproject.org/united-states/omar-j-vazquez/
While some of you who were sitting in your warm houses watching the news of Bin Laden getting killed and being proud of America, some of us where sending our friends back home from Iraq because of IRAN SUPPORTED MILITIAS.
Everyone on here enjoy Kauai and your lives there. Stay with what you can control around your Aina. Be Happy for what you have.
Tulsi got this right. Bad things will happen to Americans around the world. Trump has started a war that we cannot lose and we cannot win.
U.S. troops have been in combat for nearly 20 years in Afghanistan.
Iran has recently joined naval manuvers with Russia and China.
North Korea has become more belligerent.
Leaders of Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Hezbollah are smiling today.
TULSI got this right? I do believe Schatz and Hirono also commented on this, and the behavior of those two has been far more consistent on the broader issue of the danger that this orange fool poses in the Oval Office. Tulsi can’t even stick her neck out far enough to vote for or against an impeachment resolution against said fool, preferring instead to engage in fence-straddling stunts which demonstrates her leadership impotence.
Without any information on what Soleimani was planning, our senators and representatives jump on the bandwagon of hate against the president. Did Obama ask if he could take out bin Laden. There is no vote on things like this.
So nice to read something that makes sense….. I agree completely
My friends, I just hope we have not crossed a Rubicon! We have precisely to the point I think a lot of people have been fearing and warning against. We are at a critical juncture and we must be able to trust the President and, alas, we cannot.
Of course! This is their “I’m a hypocrite parrot” response to everything! These Pelosi sycophants, you elected, are great at doing nothing. Except playing back seat driver/arm chair quarterback for a living! That’s all the Democrats do. “Their motto should be “Do nothing and whine about everything”! It’s in their nature! The only thing better for Hawaii than being a Democrat controlled state would be a “Hawaii Kingdom” controlled one!
Gord, you just love to label and demean anyone with a dissenting opinion. Maybe your boy in the white house is not up to the job. Maybe your decision making process is flawed. And just know your boy said there are 52 targets in Iran. Must be some of those negotiating skills he brings.
This “regime” has destroyed everything they steal worldwide, and here in Hawaii-nei, the “set up” with this particular incident is now included as ground zero target out from PMRF. All politicians, their nonjurisdictional status, divisions, departments, killing machines and the peoples who fire them up, like DEW and chem trails and all those other tools used that perpetuate evil terrorism death and dying, means GAME OVER! It isn’t terrorism, if america does it!
Kind of like how some people have created a nice huge garbage dump on Aliomanu Rd- Ya know, living in tents without plumbing or electricity, dumping cars on Hawaiian Homes agriculture land- that kind of destroying Debra???? That kind of Game Iver for the environment down there?
In comparison to Obama, Trump is without a doubt more patriotic.
The Democrats above who insist on repeating misrepresentations, misinterpretations, misunderstandings, mistakes, and misguided ideology are in a large part responsible for the divisiveness of Trump’s term.
Looking forward to 2020 and a continued dislodging of these incumbent establishment politicians who have poisoned the minds of so many Americans with their deceit and self-serving cronyism.
Not sure you understand the definition of patriotic. Inviting foreign inference in a US election is the opposite of patriotism. Trump is a traitor and an idiot.
Some of the ravings above are incoherent and illiterate…… I thought the comments were moderated?
One wonders how a high school graduate has trouble figuring that out.
Instead of taking credit for or bragging about eliminating the continued bad evil well hated person and a high command enemy of America, why not just do the job and “walk away” saying no more about it. What murderer points at their self after the dirty deed is done?
In this case just get the job done and move on silently to the next target, there must be more the earth could do without, without endangering the little old Ladies and children back home…stupid…!
For sure someone of Soleimani’s reputation must have enemies inside his own circle, or the revenge seeking families of his Iranian or Mid East victims, perhaps even Russia or who knows who, that would or could have killed him, and leaving the BRAGGING RIGHTS, or fake Bragging Rights to anyone except our egomaniac “Big Orange”, whose ignorant thrill of look at me, at the very least leaves Americans or American locations worldwide now at risk…the Big Dummy…
When a silent missile strikes on its loud landing, what “smithereens” facts are left to lay blame…looks like in this case only the Big Mouth Big Orange braggard…!
Can’t someone shut that guy up…? His admittance lays blame on our whole nation and for that alone…”Impeach the Fool…!”
A greater sadness is that neither the Dems or the R’Pubs appear to be able to field a nation leader, a Commander-in-Chief, a tough businessman or woman, a charismatic international communicator…like an “all in one”…just like a quiet 4 Way Screwdriver…!
If this drone take out of Soleimani is an act of murder, seems to date only the commies, abu sayaf, isis, tamil tigers , sandinistas, and towel-e-banned and the Zodiac ever take credit for killing…well except for in the case of the very rapid demise of Moamar the Qaddafi, Saddam Housein, Baghdaddy, and Ben Laden…so why does the death of this relatively unknown superstar of murder and mayhem need credit taken for…?
Big Orange, you have brought the wrath of Iran down upon America it would seem.
Big Orange, you could save the day and say you were just kidding, trying to get your name in the paper, like that, and that it was really Putin putting the missile to the put of Soleimani. Amen to that.
Just like some Silent but Deadly gas attacks, just let it do its job and silently move onto the next deserved trouble maker…certainly not putting yourself in the Orange “crosshairs” target finder.
Well it only takes 4 days to cross space to the moon, but it appears it can take more than a lifetime to penetrate 1/4” of the numb skull of the Orange Man from Earth.
By the way “SAVE THE PLANET…!”…while you are recklessly saving Democracy and Christianity…and like them there…It’s Our Way or No Way at All…!
Jeez Brian, seems like you and tulsi would rather have another do nothing Benghazi slaughter than have a reaction to the burning of our embassy. As for young people voting, they got their faces on their fones looking at FB and instagram, Why dont you do some good and implement some programs like Israel, at 18 you get a choice of where you will serve the 2 years of your life you owe to your country, military, peace corps what ever. The when you vote you’d be wiser. I say we nuke Tehran and level it, done, gone, finished, 3 million dead. unleash it all on them. As well Forget giving any money to Ukraine, just send 100,000 troops to smoke Russias invasion. Ukrainian politicians are crooks, they’d just buy hookers and cocaine with our money. We are the strongest in the world, if were going to be in other peoples business lets do it right.
Wait, isn’t Tulsi a Republican? I thought Republicans love starting wars.
When you admit to the fact that all government (federal,state,local) has been nothing more than a giant skimming operation, you might be able to make an intelligent response.
First of all. Mr. Oswald. Why do you continually attack anyone that disagrees with you as an uneducated, liberal Democrat? Being a blind Republican that supports their party that is being led by an egotistical, self serving, narcissist that only cares about his position, power and self worth, not the American people makes these people as guilty as the people you attack.
Why can’t you just accept that people have different opinions. There are more than just Republicans and Democrats. There are Independents, Liberals, Green Party members and just plain educated people.
Second. Why would anyone support a possible War that helps nothing in the end?
Oh gee… the president didn’t get the approval of congress. I wonder why Obama didn’t get the approval of congress for the almost three thousand!! strikes against Iran and Syria. Not a word from the press or congress.
We cannot continue with an appeasement policy and the killing of American troops and citizens. Let’s tell congress and the news media we are going to strike back… duh.
Democrats would love it if this led to an escalation of conflict and even war. What better excuse for impeachment. Trump says he authorized this strike to prevent war. Why not take him as his word?
As a Hawaiian, son of Kauai, Serviceman (2003), but most importantly an American there are a lot of Couch Quarterbacks on here commenting that “this is not good” or “If I was President I would have done differently”.
I’m glad I have given you guys the right to utilize your freedom of speech.
What you probably don’t know because you have not been to Iraq as many times as I have is that most of the Bombs, IEDs, EFPs, Katyusha rockets, and other awesome weapons that are designed to kill from a cowards position were coming from IRAN. SUPPORTED BY THOSE SAME SHIAs in the news today!
Don’t forget that if IRAN could have had their own restraint from the beginning we as Americans would not be here.
Comment further if you have had one of your buddies die at the support of Irainians in OEF, OIF.
Focus your energy on Kaua’i matters! Fix the Kapaa traffic, stop being a grumbling Hawaiian that our land was taken and put that energy into getting more Kids into Kamehameha and stop voting for councilmen because you think its a popularity contest. The fighting on the other side of the world will go on. Just know that there are men out there on the ground at all times ensuring that you sleep well in your warm bed at night.
Uh, the rights you speak of are deemed to self evident and codified by the founders of our country in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Thanks anyway.
I criticized Trump for recalling U.S. bombers after Iran downed a U.S. drone in the Persian Gulf. This time it is so Presidential. Every democrat agree Soleimani was a monster that ordered the killing of hundreds of thousands. Yet they are afraid of retaliation. If the world was afraid to go against Hitler think of the world would be today. If U.S. government was afraid of the Cosa Nostra or KKK what would the country be like. Think about that.
Tulsi is a Republican at heart. Remember that Hawaii in 2020.
Tulsi Gabbard is a Republican at heart. Remember that Hawaii in 2020 if she runs again
Thank you for risking your very life for keeping America free and safer! For giving us the true perspective. To support your view, I want to remind All Americans and especially those on Kauai, because it will always be my heart’s home That The president did not officially declare war on Iran therefore he was not obligated in anyway to run it by congress. As you shared This General had been setting up the killing of Americans for Many years. He never did honor any peace agreement. He like the other leaders of Iran always has had one objective- to wipe Americans off the face of the earth. This General was planning to attack Americans Once again. The only way to stop these attacks was to eliminate him. He was attacked and killed where civilians were spared because to do nothing would be a price America might not ever recover from. No one can negotiate with such evil. Yes, the Iranians might still try to retaliate! But for Trump to authorize this attack on Their General first sends a strong message. Do not try! I know many people from Iran who escaped tyranny by coming here. We are not weak victims. Under the right leadership we can stop a war through a show of Strength. Not weakness.
Trump doesn’t need to distract people from impeachment
Because The Congress did not prove this president was guilty!. And it must be handed over to the Senate. To ignore Iran’s leaders’ statements and acts of evil toward Americans would be similar to how America ignored Hitler’s murderous actions for too long. Ask yourselves, “How many Jewish and others lives would have been saved if America had not dragged its feet in fighting against That Evil dictator and His Nazis. Now the Ball is in Iran’s court. We did not loose to Hitler. We would not loose a war with Iran if they attack Americans again. If a bully hits you on the school yard he will continue to fight you and hurt others also. You can not pay off an evil bully with bribes or negotiate with the Americans of today have forgotten what we stand for. We have forgotten that we stand for freedom. We have forgotten that Hitler, Japan years ago hated us for our stance for freedom. Now Iran, and other countries under the hand of evil hate us because we stand for freedom. We fought Japan under the power of an emperor and after we won the war, Japan became a democratic country. We fought Germany under the control of bondage to Hitler. Now they are a free country! To stand by and knowingly allow Evil to reign over people, to attack us without strategic action is feeding the Devil. Thank you that you have faced the forces of evil with great courage.
Thank you “commonsense” for a well written comment! I happen to agree with you. Unfortunately, going beyond civility is the favorite tactic of the left as dictated by their horrible actions towards Conservatives. Democrats/Socialists have been effectively brainwashed by the liberal media, have no understanding of reality, or want free stuff so badly they will act out like tantrum throwing children to get it. If you don’t understand that, I do understand your failure to do so. It’s not the Conservatives who call names, destroy public personal time by bullying and harassing Conservatives in public airports, restaurants, events etc. (think Antifa), and it’s not Conservatives who would even think of making up allegations and planting evidence, to destroy the will of the voters in 2016 (I think that’s the definition of Treason). I would hate to be a mouthpiece for the nearly half of our citizens who never grew up ie. Democrats.
The president did not officially declare war on Iran therefore he was not obligated in anyway to run it by congress. This General had been setting up the killing of Americans for Many years. He never did honor any peace agreement. He like the other leaders of Iran always has had one objective- to wipe Americans off the face of the earth. This General was planning to attack Americans Once again. The only way to stop these attacks was to eliminate him. He was attacked and killed where civilians were spared because to do nothing would be a price America might not ever recover from. No one can negotiate with such evil. Yes, the Iranians might still try to retaliate! But for Trump to attack Their General first sends a strong message. Do not try! I know many people from Iran who escaped tyranny by coming here. We are not weak victims. Under the right leadership we can stop a war through a show of Strength. Not weakness.
Trump doesn’t need to distract people from impeachment
Because The Congress did not prove this president was guilty!. And it must be handed over to the Senate. To ignore Iran’s leaders’ statements and acts of evil toward Americans would be similar to how America ignored Hitler’s murderous actions for too long. Ask yourselves, “How many Jewish and others lives would have been saved if America had not dragged its feet in fighting against That Evil dictator and His Nazis. Now the Ball is in Iran’s court. We did not loose to Hitler. We would not loose a war with Iran if they attack Americans again. If a bully hits you on the school yard he will continue to fight you and hurt others also. You can not pay off an evil bully with bribes or negotiate with them. American’s have forgotten what we stand for. We have forgotten that we stand for freedom. We have forgotten that Hitler, Japan years ago hated us for our stance for freedom. Now Iran, and other countries under the hand of evil hate us because we stand for freedom. We fought Japan under the power of an emperor after we won the war, Japan became a democratic country. We fought Germany under the control of bondage to Hitler. Now they are a free country! To stand by and knowingly allow Evil to reign over people, to attack us without strategic action is feeding the Devil.