United States Senators emerge with sharply different assessments of the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, with Republicans calling the mission a clear success and Democrats expressing deep skepticism.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came to Capitol Hill to give the classified briefings, originally scheduled for Tuesday.
Many Republicans leave satisfied, though their assessments of how much Iran’s nuclear program was set back by the bombing vary. Senator Tom Cotton says a “major blow” and “catastrophic damage” had been dealt.
“Their operational capability was obliterated. There is nobody working there tonight. It was highly effective. There’s no reason to hit those sites anytime soon,” Senator Lindsey Graham says.
Democrats remain doubtful and criticize Trump for not giving Congress more information. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says the briefing “raised more questions than it answered.”
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