On Friday, CNN's Jim Sciutto outlined a significant challenge that is immediately apparent in the wake of the strike that eliminated Iranian military leader Qassim Suleimani: the traditional national security apparatus that could help America make life or death decisions around escalating tension with Iran has been gutted.
"Why is it important to go through traditional processes like informing the Gang of Eight?" asked anchor John Berman. "Why is it significant that President Trump chose to brief or tell his friend Lindsey Graham about this before telling others?"
"I've spoken to senior members who say he's upended, bypassed, even dismantled the national security infrastructure, through multiple administrations," said Sciutto. "Not a Democratic/Republican thing. Hundreds of people whose job it is to help develop policy and inform the president of the consequences, potential consequences of his decision. This president has chosen to bypass that repeatedly."
"Look at the Syria withdrawal," continued Sciutto. "That surprised everybody, including commanders on the ground and oftentimes the policymaking follows that decision. That has consequences, because you want your president to be informed when he makes decisions, especially when lives are on the line. This president has chosen not to. If you look at him talking to his pal, the Judiciary Committee chairman as opposed to the Gang of Eight."
"There are reporting responsibilities, too, between the president and Congress," added Sciutto. "Congress has the ability to wage war to declare war. But we have seen this template before, right? For instance, when his personal attorney is running Ukraine policy, right? Over those folks in government whose job it is assigned to do. So Americans at home have to decide if that is a policymaking infrastructure and process that they're comfortable with."
Watch below: