For the second time in the Trump presidency, Americans awoke to discover the U.S. had conducted military action on foreign soil with President Donald Trump calling for regime change. The U.S. together with Israel conducted “major combat operations” Saturday morning in Iran, just days after diplomatic talks with the country’s leadership over nuclear weapons and during the holy month of Ramadan.
Connecticut leaders were quick to condemn the attacks which, like the overnight capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, came without approval from Congress, to whom the Constitution grants powers of war.
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member U.S. Rep. Jim Himes called it “a war of choice” in a statement.
“Everything I have heard from the Administration before and after these strikes on Iran confirms this is a war of choice with no strategic endgame. As I expressed to Secretary Rubio when he briefed the Gang of Eight, military action in this region almost never ends well for the United States, and conflict with Iran can easily spiral and escalate in ways we cannot anticipate,” Himes said.
“The President’s own statement acknowledges this is war, and the Constitution requires the Administration to come to Congress for authorization, something it has not done. Next week, the House will vote on a war powers resolution, and I will support that resolution. In the meantime, I will be praying for the safety of our servicemembers and all civilians who are in harm’s way.”
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro agreed military action in Iran would escalate badly.
“President Trump’s decision, along with Israel, to launch direct military action against Iran to achieve regime change is a disaster in the making,” DeLauro said in a statement. “He is risking the lives of American personnel and the stability of the entire region, without Congressional approval and without any articulated plan. This is yet another unilateral decision from President Trump, which risks a wider war in the Middle East that the American people do not support. Americans are demanding help with the cost-of-living crisis, but President Trump would rather start another war, potentially driving up energy prices, than listen to them.”
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, also condemned Trump’s attack without Congressional approval.
“President Trump’s decision to attack Iran to achieve ‘regime change’ without a clear mandate from the American people, Congressional authority, or UN support, is a dangerous go it alone strike that continues the policy of ‘endless war’ he promised the American people to end,” Courtney said. “After claiming in June that Operation Midnight Hammer ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program, it is confounding to square his new claims of imminent threat to the U.S. homeland laid out in his 8-minute video from West Palm Beach last night. I am a cosponsor of the pending Iran War Powers Resolution in the U.S. House, which will be brought to the floor this week that will scrutinize, debate, and vote on the West Palm Beach assertions. In addition, I will be monitoring developments with the House Armed Services Committee professional staff.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also condemned what he called Trump’s “war of choice.”
“War must always be a last resort and never a first choice. The Trump Administration seems to be engaging in a war of choice that rejects opportunities for diplomacy,” he said. “A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable and Iran’s malign activities throughout the region pose a severe danger, but President Trump has failed to explain to the American people his objectives, end game, or exit strategy – risking another forever war. This attack fits a pattern of unilateral action without accountability to the American people. I believe that Congress should come back into session, demand answers on behalf of Americans, and act on the Iran War Powers Resolution. My foremost concern is the safety and wellbeing of the men and women in our armed forces and their families who are in harm’s way.”
U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, who is cosponsor of a House resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, said on Thursday that he would vote to block the Trump Administration from unilaterally involving the U.S. in war with Iran.
“This declaration of war by President Trump is yet another abomination of the rule of law, in direct violation of Article I of the Constitution, and the authority of Congress to declare war,” said Larson. “Congress needs to take this up before we send our young men and women into harm’s way. I am calling on Speaker Johnson to immediately reconvene the House, instead of canceling workdays at Trump’s behest. We will vote on a resolution next week to remove our Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran and call upon the President to come before Congress to make his case. This president has broken yet another campaign promise to stop endless wars all over the world. This is what an authoritarian ruler does, because he believes he is above the law and the Constitution.”