Congress Has One Way to Stop Trump From Going to War With Iran
- As tensions with Iran escalate,some members of Congress are seeking to check presidential power and prevent potential unauthorized military action.
- The resolution would prohibit the use of U.S.Armed Forces in hostilities against iran without explicit congressional authorization.
- involvement in a potential war between israel and Iran is a red line.
Congress Debates Iran War Powers Resolution Amid Tensions
As tensions with Iran escalate,some members of Congress are seeking to check presidential power and prevent potential unauthorized military action. A bipartisan effort has emerged in the House, with Representatives Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introducing a War Powers Resolution aimed at preventing unilateral action.
The resolution would prohibit the use of U.S.Armed Forces in hostilities against iran without explicit congressional authorization. Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., has introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
Khanna told The Intercept that U.S. involvement in a potential war between israel and Iran is a red line. He stressed the importance of Congress asserting its authority to prevent further escalation and advocating for diplomatic solutions.
However, not all members of Congress agree on this approach. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has voiced support for military action against iran, a notable shift from his previous criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of negotiations with Iran.
Fetterman told Fox news he would vote against Kaine’s resolution, adding that he hopes the president will “bomb and destroy the Iranians.”
Samer Araabi, a member of the Center for Political Education’s advisory committee, said Fetterman’s hawkish stance was not surprising, given what he described as the senator’s indifference to the plight of Palestinians.
Araabi cautioned that direct U.S. involvement could be even more destabilizing than the invasion of Iraq, citing Iran’s larger population and strategic importance.
“It makes literally every single human being on Earth less safe.”
Araabi argued that U.S. military intervention on Israel’s side would heighten risks for all parties. He said the drive toward war makes everyone less safe, including Iranians, Israelis, and people in the United States.
Clare Bayard, also with the Center for Political Education, echoed concerns about repeating the mistakes of the Iraq War if the U.S. intervenes in iran.
Bayard said the U.S. must remember the lessons of Bush’s war on Iraq. She added that the invasion and installation of a puppet regime, based on excuses that sound a lot like Israel’s rationale for bombing Iran, resulted not only in mass death and displacement but in enduring new levels of violence for millions of people.