Whiteman Air Force Base B-2 stealth bomber pilots have now been involved in two epic U.S. missions against Iran – “Operation Midnight Hammer” last June and “Operation Epic Fury” over the weekend.
President Donald Trump said negotiations broke down with Iran, sparking his decision to strike the country again. According to Trump, the U.S.-led operation aims to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, destroy the country’s navy, and change its leadership.
Trump said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed after U.S. bombs dropped on the leader’s compound over the weekend – killing Khamenei and much of Iran’s senior leadership.
Since the U.S. unloaded deadly force on Iran, the Middle East has been a hot bed of fire power. Israel unleashed missiles on Iran – striking a school. At least 115 people, likely most of them being children, were killed in that attack. The most casualties have occurred in Iran, with at least 201 killed and 747 injured.
Iran has fired back – striking several airports and U.S. bases in the region. It launched missiles, killing at least four members of the U.S. Armed Forces and seriously wounding several others. Other servicemembers have minor shrapnel injuries and concussions. Iran has also launched missiles at a synagogue in Israel, killing at least nine people and injuring 121 others.
In a video response, Trump commented on the deaths of the first three U.S. service members.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more. But we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case,” he said.
Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have been butting heads over the commander-in-chief’s decision to launch the strikes against Iran without Congressional approval. West-central Missouri Congressman Mark Alford defends the president’s move.
“President Trump did not take this action lightly or recklessly,” said Alford. “He has given the Iranian government every opportunity to resolve this diplomatically. The Trump administration has engaged with the regime in good faith while making clear that there are red lines that must not be crossed.”
Alford, a fellow Republican, said people who have criticized Trump’s decision are “just dead wrong.”
“The War Powers Act clearly provides the president with this authority while requiring the proper notification of Congress, which I do believe we will receive in the coming days,” said Alford. “The United States did not start this fight, but we will finish it. With overwhelming strength, we will do that.”
Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat, said the president went too far.
“Iran is a bad actor, repressive to their people, and a threat to US personnel and allies in the region. However, President Trump has not made the case to Congress or the American people that there is an urgent threat to America and that they have a coherent strategy to achieve their goals. Our founding fathers in Article 1 of the Constitution gave Congress the sole authority to go to war,” said Cleaver.
Trump said the strikes will continue, possibly for about four weeks.
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