Adam Kinzinger introduced a resolution authorizing the US military to engage Russia if Putin uses WMDs



On Sunday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said that he introduced a resolution to authorize the U.S. military to engage in combat with Russia should the Russian military use chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Kinzinger said while on CBS’ "Face the Nation" that any such attack in Ukraine would be a “clear red line.” He said that if his proposed resolution was passed by Congress, it would give President Joe Biden the authorization to allow the U.S. to provide military assistance to Ukraine.

The New York Post reported that Kinzinger said, “I don’t think we need to be using force in Ukraine right now. I just introduced an AUMF, an authorization for the use of military force, giving the president basically congressional leverage for permission to use it if [weapons of mass destruction] — nuclear, biological, or chemical — are used in Ukraine.”

Kinzinger said the authorization would provide Biden leverage while also serving as a deterrent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kinzinger said that his resolution wouldn’t "compel the president to [use military force]. It just says if [WMDs are] used, he has the leverage. It gives him better flexibility, but also it is a deterrent to Vladimir Putin."

Shortly after his appearance on CBS, Kinzinger released a statement on his official Congressional Twitter account that said, “Words matter, but so do our actions. I’m introducing this AUMF as a clear redline so @POTUS can take appropriate action if Russia uses chemical, biological, and/or nuclear weapons. We must stand up for humanity and we must stand with our allies.”


Words matter, but so do our actions. I\u2019m introducing this AUMF as a clear redline so @POTUS can take appropriate action if Russia uses chemical, biological, and/or nuclear weapons. We must stand up for humanity and we must stand with our allies.https://bit.ly/3Ks1QE4
— Adam Kinzinger (@Adam Kinzinger) 1651418362

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Congress passed an AUMF. In doing so, the national legislature authorized former President George W. Bush to use the U.S. military to launch military campaigns in the pursuit of punishing the terror groups that launched the attacks.

Congress approved a similar AUMF for the 2002 invasion of Iraq.

Kinzinger said that the U.S. must similarly be ready to engage in military conflict on behalf of Ukraine.

Kinzinger said, “Prior to World War II, there were moments nobody ever wanted to get involved and eventually came to realize they had to. I hope we don’t get to that point here, but we should be ready if we do.”

Republican congressman claims Trump's base is turning against him, calls fundraising from election a scam



A Republican member of Congress excoriated President Donald Trump's fundraising in hopes of overturning the results of the election, and claimed that he's heard from many in the Republican base that they're turning against the president.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois spoke to Dana Bash on CNN on Tuesday and said that some Republican politicians are privately distancing themselves from the president.

"I think they're starting to, I'll tell you the base is starting to turn," Kinzinger claimed.

"I get texts every day, granted people that are mad at me that are my friends probably aren't going to text me," he explained, "but, a lot of people that I thought would be upset with me calling this out, that are texting saying, 'you know what you're right, it's time, and nobody else is saying it,' you know if the president says the election is stolen and nobody rebuts him, you're generally gonna believe him."

"I do think it's starting to turn," Kinzinger concluded.

Kinzinger went on to say that the president would be a "player" in the Republican party after he leaves office, but that he wouldn't be as influential for as long as many believe.

He also said in the interview that the president's efforts to overturn the results of the election were undermining Democracy, and called his fundraising efforts to that end a scam.

"People that work hard for their money, hardworking taxpayers are giving their money to this because they're convinced because the president's telling them this, that they can win, and they can't," said Kinzinger.

"And the scam in congress with January 6th, all these members of Congress that are posting crazy things so they can get a ton of followers and retweets and raise money," he added.

"I think we have to call it out finally because if we don't people are just gonna believe it," Kinzinger concluded.

Allies and supporters of the president who believe a massive voter fraud scheme stole the 2020 election from him plan a rally on January 6, the day of the Electoral College Certification Process in Congress.

Kinzinger is a U.S. Air Force veteran and lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard.

Here's the video of Kinzinger's comments:

GOP lawmaker: Trump's fundraising is 'a scam, it's a big grift'www.youtube.com