1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:
"We do not need another Iraq weapons of mass destruction moment where we were falsely led into a military engagement in Iraq, which is one of the biggest mistakes we have had in foreign policy. So we cannot make intelligent foreign policy and national security decisions in the absence of having the information and the intelligence that tells us what are the risks, what are the assessments of those risks, how strong are those assessments and so this is like making foreign policy and national security decisions in the blind and so I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death. (Reporter Question: Do you think there should be receiving more briefings by the administration?) More? There need to be briefings. Forget about more briefings. There need to be briefings. There haven't been any briefings and we saw today, even when we get an administration witness up here there are total nonanswers. This is totally unacceptable. In 27 years of doing foreign policy, I've never seen anything like it."
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2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Chris Murphy, (D) Connecticut: (Responding to question on whether we are heading to war with Iran)
"I hope we aren't. I think that the administration is engaged in a series of blind escalations without any endgame. This isn't well thought out and it's entirely predictable that we have threats against US troops. Our military leaders told the president that if he took the steps that he took that it would end up compromising our troops' security in Iraq and that's exactly what may be happening today and it was entirely avoidable."
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3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:
"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible. I happen to know the Foreign Minister of Iran, know him quite well. He's a very reasonable man and would not be encouraging this kind of activity on the part of his country. I deeply believe that."
4. Feinstein walks away
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Mitt Romney, (R) Utah:
"The administration is showing that we have the capacity to deter that through our strength. It's also out of an abundance of caution, appropriate to remove individuals who might be in harm's way. I received a personal briefing, which I requested about that intelligence. I know the chairman has received that briefing, but that's not going to be publicly provided. But it is appropriate I think for our committee to have that kind of info."
The White House's sudden moves in the Mideast sparked alarm from Congress on Wednesday as key Democrats warned President Donald Trump off war with Iran and lawmakers in both parties demanded more information on the administration's strategy.
The top leaders in Congress -- the so-called Gang of Eight -- are expected to receive a classified briefing from the administration on Thursday.
Some Republicans, including Sen. Mitt Romney, sought out their own briefings as the Trump administration sends resources to the region amid claims of unspecified threats linked to Iran.
Romney added that he agrees that Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should be briefed on the White House strategy toward Iran.
The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also warned the administration against any action without approval from lawmakers.
"I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.
Menendez also noted at a hearing on Wednesday that Congress has not authorized war with Iran.
"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA.
