Connecticut’s lawmakers joined their Democratic colleagues Friday in questioning President Donald Trump’s reasons for killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
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Murphy scores win in campaign against U.S. involvement in Yemen
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy scored a decisive win Wednesday in his campaign to end U.S. military involvement in Yemen, aided by his colleague’s anger at how the Trump administration is responding to the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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CT lawmakers differ on airstrikes on Syria, agree Trump needs approval from Congress
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy on Saturday had some of Capitol Hill’s the harshest criticism of U.S. airstrikes on Syria, calling them “illegal,” and counterproductive, leading to more attacks by Bashar al-Assad on the Syrian people and “a bloodier, more brutal war.” Other Connecticut lawmakers were more supportive of the strikes, but called on the White House to seek authorization from Congress for further military action and devise a “comprehensive” strategy on Syria.
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CT lawmakers wary of Trump’s new plan for Afghanistan
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s Democratic members of Congress are wary as President Donald Trump assumes the mantle of commander-in-chief Monday night, asking the American people to trust him with a new strategy in Afghanistan. At 9 p.m., the president is expected to announce the deployment of about 4,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, where about 8,000 U.S. troops are already stationed.
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Murphy tweets: Trump’s foreign policy pivots are ‘how wars start’
Updated Saturday at 11:45 a.m.
WASHINGTON — Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, attacked Sen. Chris Murphy for tweeting that Trump’s recent calls with foreign leaders, especially the president of Taiwan, are “how wars start.” Murphy lit up the twitterverse late Friday by attacking Trump for his overtures to foreign leaders.
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DeLauro visits Afghanistan after a stay in Italy
WASHINGTON – Pivoting from a taxpayer-funded trip to Italy this week with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Rosa DeLauro visited Afghanistan this week to talk to soldiers and the nation’s officials.
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Esty travels to Afghanistan to get a closer look at war
WASHINGTON — Rep. Elizabeth Esty, in her second term representing the 5th congressional district, just returned from her first congressional delegation trip – to Afghanistan and Kuwait.
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State Dept. official with West Hartford ties tasked to develop, sell Syria plan
WASHINGTON — Former West Hartford resident Brett McGurk is considered a leading expert at the State Department on the threats posed by the Islamic State and what the Obama administration is trying to do about them. But fighting international terrorism isn’t his only challenge. Now he’s been tasked to persuade skeptical lawmakers, including members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, to back President Obama’s campaign against ISIS in Syria.
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Himes: Ukraine wants U.S. to provide ‘defensive’ weapons
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, said Ukrainian officials told him and other members of a visiting congressional delegation that the country could use more help from the United States — in the form of “defensive” weapons — to help defeat Russian-backed rebels.
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Larson sponsors measure authorizing use of force if Iran breaks nuclear deal
WASHINGTON – Rep John Larson, D-1st District, said he supports a deal with Iran aimed at curbing the nation’s nuclear ambitions – but he also introduced legislation that would give the Obama administration authority to use military force against Tehran.
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Murphy pushes Senate vote to bar ground troops from ISIS battle
Washington — Sen. Chris Murphy Monday pushed his campaign to bar American ground troops from the U.S. fight against ISIS by pressing for a Senate amendment that would prohibit the Pentagon from putting boots on the ground.
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Murphy sponsors bill that would restrict White House’s war powers
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy has escalated his criticisms of President Obama’s campaign against the Islamic State by introducing legislation that would curb the White House’s war-making powers.
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In CT delegation, Courtney casts sole vote to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District was the only member of Connecticut’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for an amendment Wednesday that will allow the Pentagon to spend money arming and training Syrian rebels.
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Blumenthal unsatisfied after questioning Hagel on ISIS mission
WASHINGTON– Sen. Richard Blumenthal was one of several lawmakers who tried to pin down top Pentagon officials Tuesday on the administration’s new campaign to target Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, and were not satisfied with the answers.
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Connecticut lawmakers react warmly, warily to Obama speech
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers reacted with both wariness and praise to President Obama’s plan to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL” and to commence U.S. airstrikes on Syria.