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Troubling Trump Missteps on Foreign Affairs

CONGRESSMAN LIEU REQUESTS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BRIEFING ON YEMEN COUNTERTERRORISM RAID

February 2, 2017 | Washington – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after a report that President Trump, without proper intelligence, approved a counterterrorism operation against Al-Qaeda Arabian Peninsula in Yemen over the weekend. Navy Seal William "Ryan" Owens was killed in the raid.

"Navy SEAL William ‘Ryan' Owens is an American hero. My heart goes out to Ryan's family and friends for their loss. We can never repay their sacrifice."

"Having previously served on active duty, I am highly disturbed by reports that the American President sent our troops into harm's way without adequate intelligence or adequate ground support. Congress needs to learn more about the counterterrorism operation in Yemen that cost Ryan his life as well as the lives of at least 30 others, including 10 women and children."

"U.S. military officials have told the Reuters news organization that President Trump approved the mission in Yemen without adequate intelligence, backup preparations or ground support. This report would be disturbing, even without the context of our new President's on-the-record hostility toward and distrust of our intelligence services, not to mention his documented reticence to receive intelligence briefings at all."

"Given this context, the lingering questions surrounding the Yemen mission are deeply troubling and they demand answers. I have requested a briefing on this counterterrorism operation from the Department of Defense."

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CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON TRUMP'S ANTI-MUSLIM EXECUTIVE ORDER

January 27, 2017 | Washington – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after a report that President Trump, without proper intelligence, approved a counterterrorism operation against Al-Qaeda Arabian Peninsula in Yemen over the weekend. Navy Seal William "Ryan" Owens was killed in the raid.

"Navy SEAL William ‘Ryan' Owens is an American hero. My heart goes out to Ryan's family and friends for their loss. We can never repay their sacrifice."

"Having previously served on active duty, I am highly disturbed by reports that the American President sent our troops into harm's way without adequate intelligence or adequate ground support. Congress needs to learn more about the counterterrorism operation in Yemen that cost Ryan his life as well as the lives of at least 30 others, including 10 women and children."

"U.S. military officials have told the Reuters news organization that President Trump approved the mission in Yemen without adequate intelligence, backup preparations or ground support. This report would be disturbing, even without the context of our new President's on-the-record hostility toward and distrust of our intelligence services, not to mention his documented reticence to receive intelligence briefings at all."

"Given this context, the lingering questions surrounding the Yemen mission are deeply troubling and they demand answers. I have requested a briefing on this counterterrorism operation from the Department of Defense."

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CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EFFORT TO "MAKE AMERICA WEAKER"

January 26, 2017 | Washington - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement regarding President Trump's actions on national security policy during his first week in office.

"If there was still any doubt as to whether President Donald Trump*** had the temperament and positions to lead America as our Commander-in-Chief, let his first week in office be our answer. As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee--and as an American--I am horrified at the behavior of the American President."

"Trump has done silly, bizarre things that don't really matter, such as repeatedly lying to the American people about the crowd size at his relatively small inauguration. But he has also taken actions that deeply matter and harmed American interests, particularly in the area of foreign affairs. His go-it-alone approach is making America more isolated and increasing risks to our deployed personnel."

  • "Trump's alternative-reality-based belief that Mexico will pay for his Wall of Hate has deeply antagonized our close ally and neighbor Mexico and caused the Mexican President to cancel his meeting with the American President."
  • "Trump's wild and destabilizing statement that NATO is obsolete will further incentive Russian aggression and push our close European allies to start pulling away from the United States."
  • "Trump's statement advocating for war crimes by stating we should steal Iraq's oil not only offends a critical partner, but it puts American service members at risk by fostering the perception abroad that our forces are deployed to pillage local resources."
  • "Trump's statement in his first TV interview as president supporting a return to torture policies is a dangerous recruiting tool for terrorists and again endangers our men and women in uniform."
  • "And now, in protest of Trump's actions to undermine U.S. national security, the entire senior management team of the United States State Department has resigned en masse."

"We tried a Shoot-First-Ask-Questions-Later foreign policy under George W. Bush. How did that work out? In less than one week in office, Trump has already made America Weaker. I pray his behavior will change or, alternatively, that rational and good people in his own party and his Administration start standing up to his crazy behavior and statements."

***In addition to losing the popular vote, Trump - as of January 20, 2017 - is in violation of the Emoluments Clause set forth in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution due to massive conflicts of interests and his refusal to put his global business holdings in blind trusts. Trump also benefitted from Vladimir Putin ordering a multifaceted and brazen Russian influence and cyber hacking campaign with the goals of undermining faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrating Secretary Clinton's electability, and helping Trump's election chances.Trump and his press secretary also routinely make stuff up.

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