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Old 11-02-2017, 11:21 AM
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Arrow US Sens. Ed Markey, Chris Murphy reassert Congress' power to approve military strikes

US Sens. Ed Markey, Chris Murphy reassert Congress' power to approve military strikes ahead of President Donald Trump's Asia trip
Posted on November 2, 2017 at 12:50 PM - By Shannon Young
http://www.masslive.com/politics/ind...is_murphy.html

Raising concerns about President Donald Trump's recent rhetoric on North Korea, U.S. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, and Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, pushed back Thursday against the idea of the Republican launching military action against Pyongyang, stressing that it's up to Congress -- not the White House -- to approve a first strike.

Markey, Murphy and other Democrats joined together outside the U.S Capitol to reassert Congress' constitutional power to authorize acts of war -- a reinforcement which they argued is "now more important than ever" given the president's suggestion that he may pursue a military solution in North Korea.

The lawmakers further urged support for legislation Markey has offered to prevent the president from launching a first nuclear strike -- one not in response to a nuclear attack -- without Congress first making a declaration of war.

The Democrats' news conference came shortly before Trump is set to embark on his first official trip to Asia, which will take him to Seoul, South Korea among other places.

Contending that "the prospect of catastrophic war is more real than ever" under Trump, Markey urged the president against seeking a military response to growing tensions with North Korea -- something which he argued would be dangerous and is not supported by the American people.

"There is no military solution to the North Korean nuclear threat," he said. "The only way to address the danger posed by North Korea's advancing nuclear program is through vigorous and sustained diplomacy. I hope President Trump heeds these words as he embarks on his first trip to Asia this weekend. Talking is not weakness."

The Massachusetts Democrat added that Capitol Hill's constitutional power "is not just about requiring the president to come to Congress before choosing to go down the path of catastrophic war, it puts Congress on record" about it.

President Donald Trump tells United Nations, US may have to 'totally destroy' North Korea

Murphy, meanwhile, said Congress' power to declare war does not change based on new threats or whomever hold the Oval Office.

The Connecticut senator further urged Americans to "start taking Trump seriously when he talks about attacking North Korea."

"Time and time again, we see this president is advised to do one thing and he does another. Trump has made clear what he wants to do on the Korean peninsula. There can be no preemptive strike against North Korea without a vote by the U.S. Congress," he said. "Sen. Markey is right, the only path here is a diplomatic path ... we need to make it clear that if he wants a military path with North Korea he cannot do it without congressional authorization."

Trump will travel to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Hawaii in the coming weeks to "underscore his commitment to longstanding United States alliances and partnerships and reaffirm United States leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region," according to the White House.

The president is scheduled to participate in a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and visit American and South Korean service members during the trip.

He will further speak at the National Assembly about the alliance and friendship between the two countries, as well as call on the international community to help maximize pressure on North Korea, the White House announced.
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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  #2  
Old 11-02-2017, 11:24 AM
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Arrow Sen. Ed Markey seeks to limit president's ability to launch nuclear strike

Sen. Ed Markey seeks to limit president's ability to launch nuclear strike
By Shira Schoenberg
http://www.masslive.com/politics/ind...imit_pres.html

BOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., on Monday promoted a bill that would limit the U.S. president's ability to use nuclear weapons.

Markey and U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., have introduced legislation that would prevent the president from launching a first nuclear strike -- one not in response to a nuclear attack -- without a declaration of war by Congress.

"No president should have the power to launch a nuclear first strike without congressional approval," Markey said at a Boston press conference. "Such a strike would be immoral, disproportionate and would expose the U.S. to the threat of devastating nuclear retaliation that could endanger the survival of the American people and human civilization."

Markey introduced the bill amid growing tension between the White House and North Korea. North Korea has been testing missiles it says are capable of hitting the U.S., and has threatened to fire missiles near the U.S. territory of Guam. There is evidence that North Korea has been developing a nuclear missile.

U.S. President Donald Trump said if North Korea threatens the U.S., it will "face fire and fury like the world has never seen." Trump tweeted that the U.S. nuclear arsenal "is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before."

Markey's bill would not limit the president's authority to launch a nuclear strike in response to a nuclear attack. But it would require congressional approval before a president launches a nuclear strike pre-emptively.

Because the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, Markey argued, allowing the president to initiate nuclear war unilaterally "is unconstitutional, undemocratic and simply unbelievable." Markey said if enemies of the U.S. believe the U.S. may use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack, those countries will feel pressure to build up their nuclear arsenals.

A strong critic of Trump, Markey said the Republican president's inflammatory rhetoric heightens the risk of war. "No human being should have the sole authority to initiate an unprovoked nuclear war, not the American president and certainly not Donald Trump," Markey said.

Markey said he plans to lead a congressional delegation to South Korea, China and Japan in the near future.

Markey held the press conference at the JFK Federal Building in Boston alongside Kathy Robinson, interim director of the Washington office of Women's Action for New Directions, a pro-peace advocacy group that works toward nuclear disarmament and reducing the use of the military.

"It's outrageous any president would have sole authority even when Congress has the constitutional role of declaring war," Robinson said. "It's terrifying when thinking of this president having the authority, who lacks boundaries of appropriate behavior."
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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Old 11-02-2017, 11:29 AM
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I looked this up to what authority the President has without Congress approval: RE:
http://www.answers.com/Q/Can_the_Pre...ional_approval

While technically the President cannot declare war without Congress, under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the President can send troops into combat as long as he informs Congress within 48 hours of doing so . Then he has 60 days and then another 30 days for withdrawal before he has to get Congressional approval or a formal declaration of war. Congress has to approve any additional funds that an undeclared war requires.
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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