The United States Congress has no greater duty than to decide whether or not our Nation should go to War.
Current major combat operations in the Middle East manifestly lack the Article III Constitutional requirement of a Congresssional authorization.
This administration’s precipitous actions break with 250 years of US Presidential decision making.
In 1787, General George Washington and the Founding Fathers adopted the fundamental Constitutional principle that only Congress can commit our Nation’s Armed Services to War.
It has withstood the test of time from Presidents Jefferson (Barbary States), Polk (Mexico), Lincoln (Civil War) McKinley (Spanish-American War), Wilson (World War I), Roosevelt (World War II), Truman (Korean War) Johnson (Vietnam War), Reagan (Grenada/Lebanon), George Bush (Gulf War), Geo. HW Bush (Iraq/Afghanistan), Obama (Libya) until now.
Today, after the sad news of multiple US casualties, during a Pentagon briefing, Pete Hegseth cited grievances going back 47 years as a justification for initiating a regime change War of Choice in Middle East.
This Administration must be held accountable for waiting until after service member casualties, to begin making their case for military action.
At this time in our Nation’s history, Americans need U.S. Representatives with experience holding senior political and military leaders accountable — especially during the crucible of armed conflict.
This administration has thus far failed to articulate:
- A credible imminent threat to America, or our overseas interests,
- Any credible intelligence of nuclear weapons development by an adversary, a “coalition of the willing” among regional stakeholders,
- Worst of all, there was no mention of War in the Middle East to the American People, during a 2 hour State of the Union.
The administration is engaging in a reckless War of Choice, with no plans to terminate the conflict, or to manage post-conflict civil affairs or reconstruction.
As. Sen. Angus King said today, “The administration’s precipitous acts are putting thousands of US service members and civilians lives at risk.”
I’ve witnessed the terrible human cost of warfare initiated without proper authorization and lack of planning.
In 2004 in my role as an Army Task Force Headquarters Commander, in Bagram, Afghanistan I had the solemn duty of writing to casualty notification letters to next of kin, and presiding over “fallen comrades.”
And performing the same duty while serving as a senior leader in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2020
Make no mistake, our adversaries are wont to engage in reckless, heinous, malevolent Acts, utterly disregarding International Agreements, and the Rule of Law.
Sen. John McCain was right when he said it is precisely the evil nature of our adversaries, that is what most compels us to follow the Rule of Law.
Help send a rock solid leader to Congress who will stand up to this administration, a battle tested Veteran, with integrity, and credibility that others will follow.