Reps. Ilhan Omar and Barbara Lee announced on Sunday a resolution to direct the removal of American forces from hostilities against Iran that have not been authorized by Congress, according to a press release issued by the legislators.
“The assassination of Qasem Soleimani was an act of war undertaken without Congressional authorization, in violation of the Constitution of the United States of America,” according to the congresswomen, who added that “The resolution underscores that Congress has the sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution.”
They stressed that “The resolution requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force, but does not prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.”
The legislators placed the blame for bringing the country to the brink of war with Iran on “Trump’s reckless military actions, without Congressional approval”, warning that “We have been down this dangerous path before in Iraq, and we cannot afford another ill-advised, destructive, and costly war in the Middle East.”
Omar and Lee emphasized that “It’s past time for Congress to reassert our Constitutional authority and return to diplomacy with Iran and our allies.”
They said the purpose of the resolution is to “force a public debate and vote in Congress as intended by the framers of the Constitution to determine whether United States forces should be engaged in these hostilities” with Iran.
“We in Congress must … do everything in our power to stop another disastrous war,” Omar said, pointing out that, following the killing of Soleimani, “thousands of additional troops were sent to the Middle East in one of the largest rapid deployments seen in decades.”
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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