Trump's Actions Necessary, not Unconstitutional

Trump’s Actions Necessary, not Unconstitutional
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
June 22, 2025

In basketball parlance, President Donald Trump offered Israel an “assist,” over the weekend, in helping to avoid a greater conflagration versus the Islamic Republic of Iran, or spreading beyond the Middle East. The assist appears to be successful in that Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites have been, according to Trump, “completely and totally obliterated,” and the operation a “spectacular military success,” he said.

In retaining the element of surprise, the precision targeted strikes by the United States on Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz - all just northwest of central Iran, met with no resistance. These are key sites where Iran had been in the advanced stages of uranium enrichment and had the ballistic missiles with which to strike. Even the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) reported Iran’s “engaging in clandestine nuclear activity.” 

“Iran must not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump has repeated for more than 20 years. “Now is the time for peace,” he said following the success of Operation Midnight Hammer, which included the participation of 125 US aircraft in what should be a one and done. These American fighter pilots are to be applauded the world over. On this night, Israel and the United States together saved humanity, and that is not hyperbole. Anyone not seeing the importance and urgency in the actions of Israel and the United States over the last two weeks has absolutely no moral compass. 

However, the issue here is the constitutionality of Operation Midnight Hammer. Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution says that “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States….” Due to the foresight of the Founding Fathers, who installed a series of checks and balances amongst the three branches of the federal government, Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 grants to Congress the power “To declare War.…” 

Just to complicate matters, on November 7, 1973, overriding the veto of President Richard M. Nixon, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution, a.k.a. The War Powers Act. The purpose of the WPR is to limit the authority of the president to send US military overseas or into foreign wars without Congressional approval. The War Powers Resolution is actually not Constitutional - the Legislative Branch is curtailing the Executive Branch from exercising its Constitutional duties as Commander in Chief. There is but one Commander in Chief, not 435, and as such, that individual has the responsibility to make decisions about troop movements, et al, at a moment’s notice. He doesn’t have time to consult with 435 people who may or may not even have the appropriate clearance. And let’s not forget the possibility of a House member opposing the Commander in Chief’s decisions and leaks them to the media in an effort to thwart such plans, which could be considered treason.

The quagmire in Vietnam, still having just under two more years of active combat, was not a declared war. Of course tell that to the more than 58,220 Americans who lost their lives fighting in that non-war. During the Korean Conflict, also an undeclared war, 36,574 Americans lost their lives. The fact of the matter is, that the United States has not declared war since June 4, 1942 when it did so against Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, who sided with the Axis Powers during World War II.

Every president since 1942, beginning with Harry Truman, when he sent the first “advisors” to Vietnam in 1950, has made unilateral decisions to send troops into harm’s way. Every president from Dwight D. Eisenhower through Gerald Ford continued digging the United States deeper and deeper in Vietnam, where if not for the French and NATO, the US might not have ever set foot.

President Jimmy Carter had the dubious distinction of overseeing the arming and training of Islamist insurgents in Afghanistan fighting against the Soviet Union. This led to the rise of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, who would ultimately be the villains in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Islamonaziterrorists brought down the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, crashed a plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and crashed another plane into a field in Shanksville, PA. Were it not for the brave passengers on that flight, that charged the cockpit, that plane had a target of hitting either the White House or the Capitol building. All told, on that horrific day 2,977 innocent men, women, and children lost their lives on American soil, the gravest assault on American territory since the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Under President Ronald Reagan the invasion of Grenada in 1983 was justified for protecting American citizens overseas. President George Herbert Walker Bush’s reasoning for the 1989 Panama invasion concerned drug trafficking. During President Bill Clinton’s terms he cited international obligations to justify sending American troops to Bosnia and Somalia.

President George W. Bush received special dispensation regarding the sending of troops overseas because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The nation came together, as did the Congress, which worked in a bipartisan manner to give Bush a wide berth with Operation Enduring Freedom. Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) giving Bush that latitude. Perhaps too wide, as American involvement in Afghanistan ran from 2001-21 when Joe Biden bungled the evacuation of Americans from that country that saw 13 American servicemen murdered on his watch.

Airstrikes on Libya in 2011 under Barack Obama were necessary to protect civilians - Libyan civilians. During Trump’s first term, heavy counterterrorism operations against ISIS, al-Qaeda, in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan took place, again largely under the auspices of AUMF. While Biden occupied the White House, and also mostly under AUMF, military operations occurred in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.

Hardly any effort has been made to reel in the presidents via the War Powers Resolution. Now, with the US assisting Israel in their efforts to rid Iran of any possibility of achieving nuclear weaponry, all of the sudden Trump violated the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Why? Because it’s Trump and because it’s Israel.

Trump has not violated the Constitution as he is working to protect Americans at home and abroad - there’s no telling how many sleeper cells are in the United States thanks to the open borders policy under Biden. And there are tens of thousands of American nationals in the Middle East at any given time - both military and civilians. Trump has not called for regime change in Iran (although they sure could use it - its own citizens seem to want that). Iran is responsible for the deaths of well over 1,000 Americans in recent years - that gives Trump cause to be vigilant and cautious against Iran. 

Most importantly, Trump has not declared war against Iran - not that he could, legally. Iran has made war against the United States, certainly since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that witnessed the capture of 66 Americans on November 4, 1979, 52 of whom remained hostages in Iran for 444 days, released, not uncoincidentally, on January 20, 1981 - the very day President Reagan took the oath of office.

Opposition coming from the right like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon who don’t seem to comprehend America First does not mean America Only. Trump’s decision to assist Israel, from the air, not with boots on the ground, is beneficial to Israel, the United States, and all civilized peoples.

“Today it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First.’ I don’t understand ‘America Dead.’ That’s what these people want,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, about Trump’s MAGA critics.

US Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who never met a decision he supports favoring Israel, simply said, “this isn’t Constitutional.” He’s wrong and he’s an antisemite.

In her traditional ignorance and grandstanding, US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said, “the President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers.” As a member of Congress she ought to know that under the parameters of the WPR, Trump is required to notify Congress within 48 hours of initial military action, and deployment can only be up to 90 days, sans a Congressional declaration of war. AOC, vapid, Marxist, antisemite that she is, would rather see Iran with nukes that could destroy Israel, than recognize that Trump, along with Netanyahu and their respective militaries and intelligence have saved the world.

“They were notified after the planes were safely out. But we complied with the notification requirements of the War Powers Act,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

US Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) naively said “the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back ‘at least two or three years.’ So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today? Horrible judgment.” What proof does Kaine have? Even if true, is it acceptable that Iran can continue their goals of building nuclear bombs? Does Kaine not understand what “death to America” and “death to Israel” actually mean? Very shortsighted.

No Senator, it is not acceptable if Iran has nuclear capabilities in two years, three years, or 200 years. President Trump took bold, decisive, measured actions. None of his predecessors had the intestinal fortitude to do so. How do we know Trump’s actions were measured? Because Trump posted on his Truth Social “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there. We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers.”

Operation Midnight Hammer seems to be a tremendous success. Success for the people of Israel, the people of the Middle East, the people of the United States, and the people of the civilized world - including the citizenry of Iran who hope and pray for their genuine freedom from the Tyrant of Tehran.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

...And Tiny Israel Shall Save the World

…And Tiny Israel Shall Save the World
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
Overnight June 12-13, 2025

It is approaching midnight (EDT) - soon to be Friday, June 13, nearly 7 AM in Jerusalem. Operation Rising Lion underway for several hours, has Israel preemptively striking the nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Israel’s strikes are designed to prevent a nuclear war, and not start a war.

Israel had no choice but to unleash the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) against the number one state sponsor of terror, who for decades have called for “death to Israel, death to America,” referring to the United States as the Great Satan, and Israel as the Little Satan. When someone tells you they want to kill you, take them at their word.

While Iran’s political leadership sits at the negotiating table, its scientists continue enriching uranium in the laboratories. It’s reminiscent of pre-World War II Germany, building and stockpiling military weaponry underground in remote places while allowing inspectors to visit Germany in a sleight of hand parlor game. Iranian leadership is not an honorable entity; they are terribly disingenuous. Its citizenry, for the most part, desperately wants to see regime change. Every day Iranians have been virtual prisoners in their own country since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. (This revolution saw the capturing of 66 Americans on November 4, 1979, 52 of whom remained hostages in Iran for 444 days, released on January 20, 1981 - the very day President Ronald Reagan took the oath of office.)

The Islamic Republic of Iran is no longer inching toward nuclear weaponry. In recent months and weeks it has made nuclear armament a potential reality by leaps and bounds, thus making Israel’s preemptive strikes necessary - necessary for the actual survival of the nation of Israel. But Iran is not just a threat to the Jewish people, Israel, or even the United States. It is not hyperbole to say Israel is fighting to save the world.

President Donald Trump dearly wanted negotiations to succeed, and still does, letting it be known he played no role in this preemptive strike by Israel, all the time knowing and understanding how vital this operation is. Trump reiterated the importance of Iran never achieving nuclear capability. And the longer Iran’s political leadership sits at a negotiating table, they maintain their jobs and power. But don’t count on continued negotiations - even as there are some scheduled in Oman this weekend.

Quite frankly leaders in the Middle East, in Europe, and the citizenry of Iran also appreciate what Israel must do. They won’t say so, at least not publicly, but behind closed doors, the Iranian citizenry, and even many other leaders are quietly thanking Israel. Iran has long been the bully, a menace, in the Middle East. The success of the Abraham Accords during the first Trump administration gives credence to thinking Israel’s neighbors, save for Qatar, actually appreciate the bold, necessary operations by Israel.

Israel made pinpointed, targeted strikes, and assassinations overnight. The targets included nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites, and specific leaders in an attempt to end Iran’s quest to become a nuclear nation with the capability of following through on the decade’s long threats to eviscerate Israel, slaughter the Jewish people, and do similarly to the United States. Israel struck Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, with goals of doing likewise at the atomic energy research center in Bonad, the heavy water nuclear reactor in Arak, the nuclear fuel, research, and production center in Isfahan, the nuclear fuel unit in Ardakan, and the nuclear facility in Bushehr.

The pinpointed assassinations included three top level Iranian military figures and six nuclear scientists. The military leaders assassinated were Mohammad Hossein Bagheri - Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Gholam Ali Rashid - Armed Forces Deputy Commander, and Major General Hossein Salami Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Civilians did not suffer during this operation.

Israel’s actions became necessary because under both former presidents Barack Hussein Obama and Joseph R. Biden, Iran could flex its muscles, and did. The United States under both America Last presidents and their policies of appeasement,  slathered Iran with pallets of cash to the tune of billions of dollars. Billions of dollars used to fund the proxies of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Hezbollah to Israel’s north, the Houthis to the southeast, and Hamas to the south and west. Hezbollah and Hamas have it written in their charters the call to wipe Israel off the face of the globe, and slaughter the Jewish people. This is the same Hamas that, unprovoked, slaughtered more than 1,200 Israeli children, women, and men, and kidnapped hundreds more on October 7, 2023, violating the cease fire that existed on October 6. More than 50 hostages remain in captivity.

As of 8 AM, Jerusalem time, 100 drones had been launched by Iran, heading toward Israel. Israel naturally anticipated retaliatory actions and advised its citizenry to stay as close to the bomb shelters as possible. Schools are closed, businesses are closed, outdoor activities have been cancelled, yet Shabbat approaches. While Israel’s attacks on Iran were carried out with pinpointed precision and accuracy, Iran’s  retaliation will undoubtedly include civilians of all ages - just as their proxies carried out their heinous actions 20 months ago, and continue in the war lasting more than 600 days. As of 9:30 AM, Jerusalem time, Israel had already begun to intercept the Iranian drones, yet the nation remains in a state of emergency and on full alert. Israel enjoyed a very successful overnight and put Iran on its heels. By noon, Jerusalem time, Israel continues to successfully thwart Iran’s drones, none having struck any targets in Israel.

It matters not what international criticism befalls Israel, it is used to global condemnation for all the ills of the planet. There can be no compromise with nations wishing to erase you from the planet. How many tens and tens of thousands of missiles and rockets have to be fired into Israel before Israel is granted permission to retaliate? Is Israel not supposed to defend itself? Sadly, there are far too many people in far too many nations who would be satisfied if Israel did not defend itself and just disappeared. More and more of those people are making themselves known, especially in the United States with skyrocketing rates of antisemitism since October 7, 2023. Is Israel expected to wait until Iran is fully nuclear capable and an atomic bomb is headed toward Tel Aviv before it defends itself?

Eighty years ago the Holocaust of European Jewry, the slaughter of six million innocent children, women, and men officially came to an end. This only happened to be another chapter in the history of the Jewish people - a history including expulsions, inquisitions, pogroms, invasions, deadly attacks and bombings, when all the Jewish people want is to be left alone to live in peace amongst their neighbors, within a world that does not seek its eradication. Israel is no threat to a nuclear free Iran. The world is a safer, more peaceful place with a nuclear free Iran. Ever since the Holocaust the rallying cry has been “never again,” and especially since October 7, 2023. Israel will no longer roll over and be led like lambs to the slaughter. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said overnight, “we have risen like lions to defend ourselves.”

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Bibi Brings Down the House - and the Senate

Bibi Brings Down the House – and the Senate

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

March 3, 2015

In a powerful and passionate speech before a joint meeting of Congress Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday clearly outlined why the Islamic Nation of Iran must never possess nuclear capabilities or weaponry at the risk of not just the future of Israel, but that of the United States and possibly civilization as a whole.

Netanyahu’s appearance before the joint meeting of Congress marked his third, tying him with the great British Prime  Minister Sir Winston Churchill, for the most by a foreign leader. Netanyahu was also presented with a bust of Churchill  by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).

Iran “plays a pretty good game of hide and cheat,” said Netanyahu, referring to the operation of secret nuclear facilities while keeping teams of international inspectors at arm’s length from discovering anything suspect.

Netanyahu bluntly and appropriately stated that the deal currently under consideration between the United States and Iran to scale down the degree to which the Islamic nation could create nuclear energy is a bad deal. Any deal allowing Iran nuclear capabilities at any time is dangerous and must be rejected. However, in spite of this notion of common sense, Barack Obama is so desperate for a legacy-saving deal on which to hang his hat, he does not have Israel’s best interests at heart; and quite frankly is not doing what is best for his own country either.

“This is a bad deal – a very bad deal. We’re better off without it. Now we’re being told that the only alternative to this bad deal is war. That’s just not true. The alternative to this bad deal is a much better deal,” Netanyahu said, noting that no deal is better than a bad deal.

Iran’s desires are very well known. Their quest for nuclear capability is for the purpose of destroying the Jewish people and their homeland. “Israel must be annihilated. Israel must be destroyed,” are being tweeted in English by Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei, said Netanyahu. This current crop of educated and upwardly mobile terrorist belies the notion put forth by Obama that if they had more noble pursuits there would be less terror activity.

Netanyahu noted that Iran was once a great civilization that was hijacked in 1979 by “religious zealots” lead by Ayatollah Khomeini pushing to “export the revolution throughout the world,” whose founding document calls for “death, tyranny, and the pursuit of jihad,” while America’s founding document calls for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

“If all the Jews gather in Israel it will save us the trouble of chasing them down around the world,” said Netanyahu, crediting that quote to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Iran, of course, supports Hezbollah and is part of the continuing battle of Iran or ISIS “competing for the crown of militant Islam,” said the Prime Minister.

“Don’t be fooled. The battle between Iran and ISIS doesn’t turn Iran into a friend. In this deadly game of thrones, there is no place for America or for Israel; no peace for Christians, Jews, or Muslims who don’t share the Islamist medieval creed, no rights for women, no freedom for anyone. So when it comes to Iran and ISIS, the enemy of your enemy is your enemy,” stated Netanyahu so eloquently.

Radical Islamists are patient people – see also the first assault on the World Trade Center, February 26, 1993, followed eight years later by the horrific attacks that ultimately brought those buildings down on September 11, 2001. There is no reason to believe that Iran won’t temporarily change its behavior, let the clock run out on the ban in 10 years before attacking Israel and eventually the United States. During this time Iran could follow Hitler’s lead in illegally stockpiling munitions and rebuilding the army Germany was prohibited from having as per the punishment following WWI.

Such a deal “doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb; it paves Iran’s path to the bomb,” said Netanyahu. Iran with sanctions already controls four capitals – Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, and Sanna. Without sanctions, they will only continue to “devour” more countries. Iran will not become a better nation; Iran will be a more aggressive sponsor of terror. “This deal will not be a farewell to arms, but a farewell to arms control,” continued Netanyahu.

Knowing the desires of Iran and ISIS, as have been on display for the entire world to see, it is not hyperbole coming from Netanyahu. He is speaking of the utter survival of the lone Jewish state on the planet and doing so with urgency – an urgency that does not appear to engulf the Obama administration. Obama, behaving like a petulant three year old, announced weeks ago he would not attend Netanyahu's address before the Congress. He did so because of a perceived slight as the invitation to Netanyahu came from Speaker of House Boehner and was not cleared through the White House. Seems that if Netanyahu was invited to speak before Congress, the invitation should have come from Boehner and Obama should not have been offended. Yet, the thin skinned Obama takes offense at most everything when it does not put him on the pedestal he thinks upon which he belongs.

Then Obama attempted to turn Netanyahu’s visit into a politically motivated trip as Israel is holding elections for which Netanyahu is up for reelection in two weeks. Obama and the Democratic critics of Netanyahu’s visit needed only consult a calendar of events. The fact of the matter is, Netanyahu’s visit coincided with his speech before AIPAC just the day before, also in Washington, DC. AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is the largest pro-Israel lobby organization in the United States, is dedicated to the security of both nations, and is non-partisan.

There was no slight, to which Netanyahu attested during both his AIPAC and Capitol Hill speeches. In fact, Netanyahu praised Obama for his support of Israel on several occasions during both presentations. Yet not only did Obama shun the Congressional speech, as did Vice President Joe Biden, Obama sent nary a single representative from his administration to The Hill, and that includes the American ambassador to Israel, Daniel Shapiro. Such an embarrassment.

Further, it was the Senate Democrats who offered to meet privately with Netanyahu after his speech that turned his visit into a political venture. Netanyahu did the smart thing and rejected the invitation. If the Democrats wanted to hear from him, they could walk over to the House Chamber. Additionally, those Democratic lawmakers who boycotted Netanyahu’s appearance on Capitol Hill then took to microphones following the speech to deride it and disrespect Netanyahu. Their collective attitude was visceral.

At least eight Democrats chided Netanyahu for his timing, suggesting he would be more than welcome to speak after Israel’s election. Again, for those without a calendar of events, the Capitol Hill speech coincided with speech presented to AIPAC the day before. No more should be made of the timing.

Rep. David Price (D-NC) said this was a “one party invitation.” John Boehner is Speaker of the whole House, not just the GOP side.

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) accused Netanyahu of being “arrogant, hostile, disrespectful,” and of fear mongering, adding, “He can go home!” If anyone was disrespectful, it was Yarmuth comparing Netanyahu’s desire to extract a better deal to a child wanting nothing more than to go to Disney, eat junk food, and drink soda every day. If anyone was disrespectful, it was Yarmuth and his Democrat cohorts who opted to boycott the leader of a foreign nation, and an ally at that, in an effort to curry favor with Obama.

As for arrogant and hostile, from one who listened to the entire speech – twice – Netanyahu was neither. He did not make demands, he was complimentary to Obama – even when it was less than necessary, he was personable, and presented his speech in an even-keeled tenor.

“Indeed it was political theater worthy of an Oscar®,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN). “The president has Israel’s best interests at heart… negotiations are the only way to go – sanctions will not work,” Cohen added.

Cohen couldn’t be more wrong and needs to be reminded of how Obama demanded Israel’s borders revert to their pre-1967 War state, which would have endangered them with an eight mile width at its most narrow. Obama’s sense of history is clouded at best. As for negotiations, how does one negotiate with an entity calling for the destruction, the eradication, the elimination, the evisceration of their enemies? There is no gray area there.

Sanctions must be employed to the most stringent extreme possible – economic, materials, freezing accounts, denying student visas, whatever it takes to send the message. If necessary, Israel must do to Iran what it did to Iraq in the 1980s.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did himself and the people of Israel proud on this day speaking before a packed House chamber. He reminded the global audience that before any restrictions against Iran are removed, “the world should demand that Iran do three things.”

“First, stop its aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East.” Notice the plural of neighbor; Netanyahu is looking out for all of the Middle East.

“Second, stop supporting terrorism around the world.” Again, the concern for the global community.

“And third, stop threatening to annihilate my country, Israel, the one and only Jewish state.”

“…I can guarantee you this – the days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies… are over,” said Netanyahu to one of more than 40 rounds of applause.

“For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves.”

“…as a prime minister of Israel, I can promise you one more thing: even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand. But I know Israel does not stand alone. I know that America stands with Israel. I know that you stand with Israel. You stand with Israel because you know that the story of Israel is not only the story of the Jewish people but of the human spirit that refuses again and again to succumb to history’s horrors,” said Netanyahu, to a roar of approval. Those in attendance were witness to a dynamic speech and fervent display of true leadership – a lesson Obama could learn.

Never again is the perpetual battle cry that there never again is another Holocaust – that includes Iran – no matter what.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.