Last week Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi left a meeting with President Trump rather unexpectedly. Ostensibly the meeting was to discuss Syria and the pullback announced by Trump of US Troops. I expect this was a pretext. Democrats and Republicans were making a big to-do about the announced pullback and how the US was abandoning a critical ally. The media was reporting Congress and the Senate had not been informed and claimed even the Pentagon was taken by surprise.
The meeting was a pretext for Nancy and Chuck to put on a show. They knew going in to the meeting they would be walking out, just as they had done in the previous two meetings with the President. Just as they knew Nancy had already scheduled a trip for the following day to visit Jordan and discuss the pullback with the Jordanian government. Nancy looked for the first opportunity in her meeting with the President to stand up over him like a schoolmarm shaking her finger and chastising a miscreant child.
Trump’s failure to advise Congress of the pullback makes no difference in the big picture. One, President Trump is the Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces. He does not report to anyone or require a higher approval to move troops where and when he deems appropriate. The only exception is in the case of a declaration of war. He must seek approval of Congress for a declaration of war.
Two, the President establishes and carries out foreign policy. There may be those in Congress and the Senate who disagree with his policy but it is his responsibility and not theirs. Federal Bureaucrats may disagree but they do not have the authority to act contrary to the policy he establishes. The military may disagree, but as long as the orders he gives to them are lawful orders, they have no recourse but to follow those orders. Any of the above can voice their personal opinion, that is their constitutional right. To act contrary to the policy and orders issued by the President is not a right. Unless such policy or orders are contrary to established law.
