Politics
Politics Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) launched a profane attack on President Donald Trump’s diplomacy on Monday evening, denouncing the idea of safeguarding Saudi Arabia: “We are not your prostitutes. You are not our pimp.”
Gabbard was responding to President Trump’s statements about a potential U.S. response to a current attack by Houthi rebels on oilfields in Saudi Arabia that threatened global oil products and the security of a key American ally.
In a video launched on Twitter, Gabbard stated:
The other day President Trump used to position our military, my siblings and sis in uniform, under the command [sic] of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the dictator of the Islamist Kingdom of Saudi Arabia[sic] Trump stated, “[We] are locked and loaded, however are waiting to hear from the Kingdom regarding who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would continue!” Mr. President, as you understand, I have actually never ever participated in despiteful rhetoric against you [sic], or your household, and I never ever will, however your offering our military properties to the dictator of Saudi Arabia to use as he pleases, is a betrayal of my bros and sisters in uniform who are all set to provide our lives for our country, not for the Islamist totalitarian of Saudi Arabia. For you to think that you can pimp out our proud servicemen and ladies to the Prince of Saudi Arabia is disgraceful, and it when again shows that you are unsuited to serve as our commander in chief. As a member of Congress, and as a soldier, I and all of my siblings and siblings in uniform have actually taken an oath to safeguard and protect the American people and the Constitution of the United States of America. There is nothing in our Constitution that offers you the power to go to war without the express authorization of Congress [sic], however to speak of offering you the power to offer our military to a foreign power like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to use as they want– President Trump, your words and actions are a betrayal of my brothers and sisters in uniform, the American individuals, and our Constitution. My fellow servicemembers and I– we are not your prostitutes. You are not our pimp.
@realDonaldTrump Despicable. Offering to place our military possessions under the command of a foreign nation– Saudi Arabia– is a disgrace and betrayal of my patriotic siblings and sis in uniform and to our Constitution. We are not your prostitutes. You are not our pimp. pic.twitter.com/Cu1OewEMOC
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) September 16, 2019
There are several errors and issues in Gabbard’s assertions. First, it is not clear that President Trump provided command of the U.S. military to Saudi Arabia, and it is tough to envision him doing so. A more affordable interpretation of Trump’s tweet was simply that he would be seeking advice from an important American ally about an attack that is presumed to be the work of an American enemy– or, at least, the work of among its proxies.
Second, while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (its main name, not the “Islamist Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”) is formally an Islamic state, it is a stretch to call it an “Islamist” state. The term “Islamist” recommends association with horror organizations. Though the Saudi federal government, in years previous, spread out extremist concepts and supported fear, in current years it has actually helped the U.S. in fighting horror– partly due to the fact that the routine is a target of Islamist horror.
3rd, Gabbard’s claim never to have actually utilized “hateful rhetoric” against Trump is not precise. In November 2018, she accused him of being “Saudi Arabia’s bitch.” In April, she also called him “al-Qaeda’s big brother and protector in Syria,” in a Tweet that was highlighted by Iranian state television. And previously Tuesday, Gabbard tweeted: Trump waits for directions from his Saudi masters. Having our nation function as Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not “‘ America First.'”
Fourth, while Gabbard is appropriate that the Constitution provides the Home of Representatives the power to declare war, it does not preclude the president from acting in his capability as commander-in-chief of the military to protect the country. The War Powers Act of 1973 allows the president to initiate military operations that last approximately 90 days prior to she or he need to look for official authorization from Congress. The law is controversial, but it stays the law.
Finally, as Gabbard enjoys mentioning, she is an officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. Short Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) forbids commissioned officers from utilizing “contemptuous words” about the president– whether in uniform or out of uniform. Gabbard may take pleasure in some freedom from a military court due to the political nature of her job, but to state Trump has betrayed the military, and to call him a “pimp” and a “bitch,” is likely an infraction of the UCMJ.
Gabbard might earn herself some attention, however she might also make a court-martial.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He made an A.B. in Social Researches and Environmental Science and Public Law from Harvard College, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. He is likewise the co-author of How Trump Won: The Scoop of a Transformation, which is readily available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak
