Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., became emotional on the Senate floor Thursday while opposing a resolution that would have limited President Trump's war powers regarding Iran. The combat veteran recounted the death of a friend killed by an Iranian explosive device and detailed a long history of attacks he attributes to Tehran and its proxies.
Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, invoked the memory of William Buckley, an American military officer abducted and tortured in the 1980s, stating he was "skinned alive on camera by the Iranians." He also pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend, saying the individual was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb.
"We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it," Sheehy declared. He argued that while the conflict might be a "war of choice" as some Democrats contend, the choice was made by Iran's regime nearly five decades ago, not by the current administration.
Sheehy listed several incidents he tied to Iran and its proxies, including the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the USS Cole attack, the Achille Lauro hijacking, and the actions of groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. He asserted that the Iranian regime's intent is to harm Americans regardless of political affiliation.
The Senate ultimately rejected an effort to advance the Iran War Powers Resolution in a 47-49 vote. Sheehy concluded his remarks by encouraging his colleagues to consider the service members currently deployed, describing their mission as a "just war" and emphasizing the need to address the adversary.