Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo believes President Trump has the authority to launch missile strikes in Syria, if he chooses to do so.
During a Senate confirmation hearing today, Pompeo said Trump and prior presidents have taken such actions without specific congressional authorization. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul cited the Constitution and argued that the President needs authorization before launching missiles. The President is deliberating a U.S. response to last weekend's suspected chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Paul also argued that it is long past time for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan. Pompeo is director of the CIA and Trump has nominated him to replace fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
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