Democrats (and ‘Republican’ Thomas Massie) have been whining and racing to get on CNN at every turn about Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israel initiative that significantly dismantled Iran’s command structure, including the killing of (former) Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They argue that the operation is illegal and are calling for it to be halted until Congress can vote on authorization.
Groan.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) reminded everyone that such military actions are not a new phenomenon. He pointed out that even the Democrats’ favored former President Barack Obama who ousted Muammar Gaddafi from his strongman perch in Libya, while Thomas Jefferson dispatched the U.S. Navy and Marines to the Mediterranean to confront the Barbary pirates back in 1801.
According to Cotton, the Constitution empowers Trump to take the actions he has taken:
.@SenTomCotton: President Trump has the inherent power under our Constitution and as Commander-in-Chief to use military force to keep our nation safe…Obama toppled Gaddafi in Libya 15 years ago without a vote of Congress…the difference is that @POTUS is attacking a 47-year,… pic.twitter.com/wUi8KLspho
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 2, 2026
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Cotton:
President Trump has the inherent power under our Constitution, and as a commander in chief, to use military force to keep our nation safe. In this case, from the vast missile arsenal that Iran has and was expanding much bigger than our missile defenses.
Then came the history lesson:
We’ve had presidents conduct this kind of operations, going back to the beginning of our republic. For that matter, conduct them in the Middle East — Thomas Jefferson struck the Barbary Pirates just off the coast of Libya more than 200 years ago, without a vote in Congress.
And speaking of Libya, Barack Obama toppled Muammar Gaddafi in Libya 15 years ago without a vote of Congress, even though he was a de facto American ally by that point.
The difference is that President Trump is attacking a 47-year implacable enemy.
The U.S., under Jefferson’s command, sent its fledgling Navy and Marines into action—the first overseas military deployment in American history.
In 1805, a daring plan emerged to strike the heart of the Barbary States. pic.twitter.com/3RFH6DRNZT
— History Nerd (@_HistoryNerd) December 30, 2024
The ongoing debate about when presidents must seek congressional approval is set to continue, as there are times when quick action is essential, and tying their hands during an emergency could jeopardize our security.
Just ask Obama.
