Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s (MI-12) latest attempt to tie Congress in knots over Israel ran into an awkward problem Thursday: Most House Democrats would not go along with it.
Advertisement
Tlaib’s Lebanon War Powers Resolution failed 92-324, with 117 Democrats joining 205 Republicans to vote it down. Only 91 Democrats and Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04) backed the measure, while Reps. Derek Tran (CA-45) and Betty McCollum (MN-04) voted present.
The resolution would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from Lebanon within seven days. Tlaib framed it as an emergency check on the administration, accusing Israel of carrying out an “ethnic cleansing” campaign in Lebanon and arguing that Congress had to act immediately.
Tlaib said before the vote:
“Every day that we do nothing, 11 more Lebanese children are killed or injured by the Israeli military in this U.S.-supported invasion. Congress must pass today’s Lebanon War Powers Resolution.”
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (CA-33) opposed the measure, pointing to a basic problem with Tlaib’s resolution: U.S. troops are not currently fighting in Lebanon.
Their statement said:
“There are currently no U.S. servicemembers involved in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon.”
Many Democrats were not willing to cast a vote that could weaken U.S. operations against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group fighting Israel in southern Lebanon.
Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) warned that the resolution could “put U.S. embassy personnel at risk and interfere with our efforts to fight terrorism across the globe.”
Stevens said:
Advertisement
“The small number of U.S. forces stationed in Lebanon are there to protect our embassy in Beirut, assist with Lebanon’s military training and readiness, and help Lebanon prevent Hezbollah, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda-linked violence so that innocent civilians may have the opportunity to live in peace.”
Tlaib’s resolution did not mention Hezbollah by name. Not once. Republicans made that the centerpiece of their case against it, and House Democratic leaders did not give her cover. Jeffries, Clark, and Aguilar described Hezbollah as a “violent terrorist organization” and a “sworn enemy of the United States” in their own statement opposing the resolution. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (FL-21) said the resolution left major questions unanswered about U.S. personnel and training missions in Lebanon.
It doesn’t say anything about whether you can keep the Marines stationed at the embassy. That’s a pretty big oversight. It doesn’t say anything about whether we can keep United States armed forces that are training missions with the LAF. Again, pretty big oversight.
Democrats who voted no made similar points. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) said:
“The United States is not at war with Lebanon, nor is there any indication that we’re going to war with Lebanon, so it’s an unnecessary war powers vote.”
Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01) was shorter about it: “We don’t have troops there.”
During floor debate on Wednesday, Republican Rep. Max Miller (OH-07) accused Tlaib directly of “advocating for terrorists” and said Hezbollah members are “butchers that you like to hang out with.” Tlaib shouted back from across the chamber, demanding the remarks be stricken. After an hours-long standoff, the presiding chair complied. Miller was unapologetic. “Yes, I said it. I own it, and I stand by it,” Rep. Brian Mast said on his behalf from the floor.
Advertisement
Read More: Scathing Report Exposes Rashida Tlaib’s Alleged Connections to Terrorist Groups: ‘Serious Concerns’
Not a Joke: Squad Members, Dozens of Other Dems Refuse to Vote Aye on Basic Iran Terror Resolution
The timing made it worse for Tlaib. The day before, House Democrats had successfully passed a war powers resolution on Iran with help from four Republicans. Democratic leaders were willing to use that vote against Trump. They were not willing to follow Tlaib the next day into a resolution on Lebanon that never named Hezbollah, that their own members said could endanger embassy personnel, and that invoked war powers in a country where, by their own admission, the United States is not at war.
Jeffries, Clark, and Aguilar called Hezbollah a sworn enemy of the United States. Tlaib’s resolution did not call them anything at all. That contrast is what 117 Democrats were voting on when they sided with Republicans to kill it.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
Help us continue to report on the administration’s peace through strength foreign policy and its successes. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.