New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said and done some amazingly ridiculous and ignorant things during her time in the spotlight but this one might take the cake.
On Monday, Democrat Rep. Juan Vargas (CA) criticized the antisemitism of Rep. Ilhan Omar and her continued attacks on Israel.
“It is disturbing that Rep. Omar continues to perpetuate hurtful anti-Semitic stereotypes that misrepresent our Jewish community. Additionally, questioning support for the U.S.-Israel relationship is unacceptable,” tweeted Vargas.
It is disturbing that Rep. Omar continues to perpetuate hurtful anti-Semitic stereotypes that misrepresent our Jewish community. Additionally, questioning support for the U.S.-Israel relationship is unacceptable. (1/2)
— Rep. Juan Vargas (@RepJuanVargas) March 4, 2019
This caused AOC to jump Omar’s defense, throwing up the idea that Vargas was actually questioning the fact that Omar should have a foreign policy opinion. That obviously was not his point, but that’s not the narrative AOC wants to have this confrontation through.
“I‘m curious if Rep. Vargas will further explain his stance here that it’s unacceptable to even *question* US foreign policy,” tweeted AOC.
“Plenty of Dem members have asserted that discussion + debate on this issue is fair and merited. Is this stance a departure from that?” she asked.
I‘m curious if Rep. Vargas will further explain his stance here that it’s unacceptable to even *question* US foreign policy.
Plenty of Dem members have asserted that discussion + debate on this issue is fair and merited. Is this stance a departure from that? https://t.co/2tcelsxFCU
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 5, 2019
It was then that she suggested that there was a time when the Iraq War was unquestionable and that it was a mistake. The only person who she says opposed the Iraq war was Barbara Lee, however, this is inaccurate. She was opposed to the Afghanistan war.
“I remember a time when it was ‘unacceptable’ to question the Iraq War. All of Congress was wrong, including both GOP & Dem Party, and led my generation into a disastrous + wrong war that virtually all would come to regret, except for the one member who stood up: Barbara Lee,” she continued.
She corrected to say that she was talking about Afghanistan after some blowback but asserted that neither should have been entered into.
(But honestly we shouldn’t have been in either, and we should end the AUMF now while we’re at it)
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 5, 2019
The Afghanistan war was, of course, triggered after we were attacked by terrorists on 9/11, which resulted in 3,000 dead after various planes were highjacked by Al-Queda terrorists and crashed into various buildings like The World Trade Center.
If you’re wondering what she would have done instead, Jake Tapper was curious and asked her what should have happened.
“Congresswoman, could you please explain more about what you think the US should have done post-9/11 regarding Afghanistan? Should there not have been any NATO/US action versus AQ/Taliban in your view? A limited one? What would you have supported?” asked Tapper.
Congresswoman, could you please explain more about what you think the US should have done post-9/11 regarding Afghanistan? Should there not have been any NATO/US action versus AQ/Taliban in your view? A limited one? What would you have supported?
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 5, 2019
Her answer? Non-intervention and limited engagement.
I think that our decision to enter unlimited engagement in Afghanistan, particularly through the AUMF + Congress’ abdication of power + decision-making w/ passage of the AUMF, was a mistake.
Other options: targeting the network itself, limited engagement, non-intervention.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 5, 2019
I’m no military expert, but I have to think that non-intervention in a country that was harboring enemy combatants that just took the lives of thousands wouldn’t get us very far, and limited engagement surely would not have done a thing to help.
Ocasio-Cortez seems to believe that we should have taken a very light-handed approach to eliminate the enemies of America who actively worked to kill us off by the thousands, and did so in the very city she represents.
I’m curious to see how much longer America will tolerate this.
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