Gabbard, intel officials face more sharp questions on Iran war at House hearing

Democratic ranking member Jim Himes of Connecticut said “not one” of the intelligence agencies represented at the hearing has issued a single report finding that Iran “posed an imminent threat” to the United States. 

Himes expressed a “deep admiration and appreciation” for the diligence, commitment and sacrifice of members of the intelligence community. But he expressed concerns about the intelligence community’s focus, saying Congress isn’t receiving the warnings they need about foreign interference in U.S. elections, and criticized the pivot to immigration issues. 

On Iran, Himes said “the Constitution, to which every single one of us swears an oath, reserves decisions of war to the representatives of the people.” He asked why the U.S. is risking blood and treasure “on a deeply risky venture, one that the president of the United States and the director of national intelligence have spent years telling us is a terrible idea.”

Himes said the president’s comment that Iran was preparing an imminent attack against the U.S. is “not true.” 

“As awful as the regime is and always has been, not one of your agencies has produced a single report saying that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States,” he said.

On Wednesday, Gabbard repeatedly said it is the president’s decision to decide what constitutes an imminent threat, not the intelligence community. 

Himes also doubted the president’s comments about Iran possessing a nuclear weapon in short order. Himes said that claim isn’t supported. “And it is certainly belied by the repeated claim that Iran’s nuclear capability was obliterated mere months ago,” he said. 

“Let’s consider the consequences, as the Congress should have done,” he said. “The Congress, not one man, should consider whether our constituents in uniform will live or die. The Congress, not one man, should decide if Americans will spend an additional $30 a week to fill their gas tanks. The Congress, not one man, should consider if it is wise to allow the Russians to sell their oil to India so that they have millions of dollars with which to kill the Ukrainians that we are now begging for help to defend ourselves against Iranian drones.”