There’s a clear political divide in the 2nd Congressional District race on U.S. actions and aspirations in Iran.
With Don Bacon, an outspoken voice on military operations, soon to be out of office, a crowded field of candidates hoping to fill his place are weighing in on war in Iran. Brinker Harding, the lone Republican in the race, shared a statement in support of the U.S.-Israeli operation that killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
“For the past 47 years, we let a radical theocratic state play us and the world like a yo-yo,” Harding said. “The Iranian regime funded terror around the world and subjected their people to horrendous conditions. I hope the Iranian people can experience the freedom they deserve, and peace will finally come to the Middle East.”
The Omaha City Council vice president also criticized his Democrat competitors, writing in a Facebook post that, “Only the radical left would think killing America’s number one enemy is a bad thing.”
The Democrats were more questioning of the military action, with a majority saying Congress should have been informed before the strikes and urging transparency from the Trump Administration.
In a brief social media statement, Democrat John Cavanaugh said Trump should have consulted Congress before striking Iran, but he stopped short of criticizing the military action. He said the leaders of Iran are “bad people,” but Congress should “have a voice” before a war begins.
Crystal Rhoades wrote that, “Iran is an oppressive regime hostile to American interests and the world’s largest supporter of state-sponsored terrorism. The Iranian government has long worked to undermine stability in the Middle East and threaten our allies. But, whether that justifies military action by the United States is a serious question and remains to be seen.”
She called for a clearer explanation of objectives, strategy and exit plan from the administration.
Fellow Democrat Kishla Askins, a former Marine, said the “immediate priority must be protecting American service members and all U.S. personnel abroad.”
In a statement, James Lueschen said the decision to go to war with Iran is unconstitutional because Trump did not get congressional approval. He criticized the Iranian regime as “the chief sponsor of global terrorism” that can “never develop nuclear capabilities.”
“That said, the Trump administration must produce its strategic objectives for this fight and its plan for ending it, as well as for the succession of power in Iran after Khamenei’s fanatical and dangerous regime,” Lueschen said.
Candidate Denise Powell was more outwardly critical of the war than most of her counterparts, saying “our sons and daughters should not die in another Middle East war.”
The Defense Department said in a statement Tuesday that six U.S. troops died Sunday in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. Among them was a U.S. Army Reserve soldier from Bellevue named Noah Tietjens.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 900 Iranians were reported killed by American and Israeli strikes, and 11 have died in Israel as Iran fired back.