CNN Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings ripped into former independent presidential candidate Cornel West Tuesday night, grilling him over whether preventing Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons was “immoral.”
The U.S. struck facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan related to Iran’s effort to develop nuclear weapons early Sunday morning local time, using as many as 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators in the operation, which involved a 37-hour flight by seven B-2A Spirit bombers. During the panel on “CNN NewsNight,” West questioned the “morality” of the strike.
“It’s illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of international law. You can‘t violate national sovereignty of a country,” West said, before former George W. Bush administration official Pete Seat interrupted with, “It is not illegal in any way, shape or form.”
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Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called for President Donald Trump to be impeached over the strike, while other Democrats are seeking to force a vote on a resolution to prevent further strikes on Iran without Congressional authorization.
“We do it all the time,” Jennings said after a brief back-and-forth with West, who responded, “I know, because America violates international law all the time.”
“Who’s going to stop us? Who’s going to stop us?” Jennings asked, with West responding, “You would think morality ought to play some role.”
“You think it’s immoral to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon?” an apparently shocked Jennings asked, adding “Who’s the moral actor here, Iran or the United States?”
West elaborated that Israel had no moral authority due to their actions in Gaza, while also saying the U.S. does not have authority as well.
Israel launched a military operation targeting the Iranian nuclear program June 12, striking nuclear facilities and targeting the theocratic regime’s top nuclear scientists and military commanders. Iran has responded with repeated missile attacks on Israeli cities and a refusal to resume negotiations over its efforts to pursue nuclear weapons.
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