Ga. Congressional members issue statements on Iran attacks Archives

U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, whose 11th Congressional District includes East Cobb, said Saturday that “America and the rest of the world are much safer” after U.S. military strikes over the weekend against nuclear facilities in Iran.

Loudermilk, a Republican from Cassville, typified the mostly partisan responses that came from members of Congress after President Donald Trump ordered U.S. Air Force B-2 “stealth” bombers to attack enrichment sites in Fordow and Natanz, where the Iranian regime has been enriching uranium for use in developing nuclear weapons.

Tomahawk missiles were fired at a third site in Isfahan, where a uranium conversion facility is located, from U.S. military vessels in the Persian Gulf.

“Putting America first means prioritizing the safety and security of the United States; and Iran has been a serious threat to the U.S. and our ally, Israel, for decades,” said Loudermilk, a long-time Trump ally, in a statement on social media Saturday night.

“President Trump exercised incredible restraint while seeking diplomatic solutions with Iran these past few months; unfortunately, Iran was unwilling to cooperate.”

According to Trump during brief remarks at the White House Saturday night, he said operations completely “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, but the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Trump responded after a conflict between Israel and Iran broke out, and after threatening to strike if the Iranians didn’t agree to negotiate.

Trump launched the strikes in coordination with the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Forces, which struck Iranian military targets before the U.S. assault.

More than 100 planes from both nations took part in the attacks, which took place early in the morning Sunday Iranian time.

All seven U.S. B-2 bombers returned safely to their home base at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Trump has long argued that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, but many Democrats in Congress decried the attacks.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia was one of them. He said Trump “has now entered another Middle East conflict” and said the president should have first sought Congressional approval.

“This is war,” Warnock said in his statement. “And this is not the first time the American people have not been told that it will end quickly.”

On Sunday. U.S. Jon Ossoff, also a Democrat and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued more measured comments.

He issued a brief statement saying only that “I pray for the safety of U.S. military service members deployed around the world and express my admiration for their courage and professionalism.

“Congress must be promptly and fully briefed on tonight’s operation and consulted on the Administration’s strategy.”

Ossoff, who is Georgia’s first Jewish senator, said on Friday that he was mindful of Iranian missile attacks on civilian targets in Israel and that he had been briefed on the developments.

“The Iranian government’s support for terrorist proxies and enrichment of uranium have destabilized the region. The United States has repeatedly made clear in recent months—and the President stated again this week—that diplomatic solutions remain available.”

The only Republican member of the Georgia delegation critical of the strikes was U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of the 14th District in Northwest Georgia.

She said in a social media statement that “there would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first.

“This is not our fight.”

Israel has contended that its attacks in Iran in recent weeks were only against military targets.

Israel and the U.S. were bracing for retaliatory measures promised by the Iranian regime. The Iranian Parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil exports pass through.

Greene, whose district includes some of North Cobb, amplified her opposition on Monday, as the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar closed its airspace following Iranian strikes at a U.S. military installation there.

At the same time, Israeli forces struck government targets in Iran.

“It feels like a complete bait and switch to please the neocons, warmongers, military industrial complex contracts, and neocon TV personalities that MAGA hates and who were NEVER TRUMPERS!” Greene said of Trump’s decision.

Conservative Fox News commentator Mark Levin, an Israel supporter, called her a “shameless nitwit” in response.

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