Pakistani demonstrate over the U.S. airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. Iran has vowed “harsh retaliation” for the U.S. airstrike near Baghdad’s airport that killed Tehran’s top general and the architect of its interventions across the Middle East, as tensions soared in the wake of the targeted killing. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)

In the words of Doc Holliday in the movie Tombstone, it appears the hypocrisy of those criticizing the Trump administration for killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani “knows no bounds.” After the news broke regarding the U.S. airstrike that removed another brutal terrorist from the face of the earth, the progressive punditry class joined together in a chorus of hand-wringing complaints against President Donald Trump.  

Some lambasted President Donald Trump, claiming that he was starting another world war. But others took issue with the fact that he did not attempt to gain the approval of Congress before signing off on the strike. The legality of military actions such as these has long been debated. But under previous administrations, Congress has not sought to limit the power of the president to conduct similar strikes, nor did the progressive pundit posse decide to take issue with these actions. 

Enter the Obama administration. 

In 2015, The Washington Times reported that under the former president, the U.S. carried out over 2,800 strikes against targets located in Iraq and Syria as part of the overall war against the Islamic State (ISIS). In fact, it was only after Obama came “under intense pressure from Capitol Hill” when he submitted a draft authorization for the use of military force against the terrorist organization. Oh, and don’t forget, that Iran Nuclear Deal that is so loved by the left would have protected the general.

But where was the widespread outrage against President Obama when he was approving airstrikes against terrorists in Syria and Iraq? Where was the collective pearl-clutching that we are seeing today? Did CNN, MSNBC, NBC, and the rest of the left-leaning media establishment take him to task for not asking Congress for permission to fight America’s enemies? In a word, no. But why not? 

Because they didn’t care then, and many of them don’t care now. 

The president justified the airstrike by pointing out that Soleimani was planning more attacks against American forces in the region. He was already responsible for the deaths of over 600 U.S. soldiers. In fact, he recently masterminded an attack that killed an American defense contractor. He was also involved in the assault on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, which is one of the most egregious examples of the ineptitude of the Obama administration’s foreign policy. 

There are certainly valid reasons to be concerned by the White House’s decision to target Soleimani. Those who are worried about the ramifications are not irrational — except those who think we’re entering into another world war. But the over-the-top reaction from progressives who claim Trump should have consulted with Congress first reeks of politically-motivated hypocrisy. 

These individuals are simply using this story as yet another political attack against the president, not standing on principle. You can rest assured that if a Democratic president makes a similar decision in the future, their outrage will transform into fervent support. Don’t you love politics?

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Follow me on Twitter: @JeffOnTheRight