Iran War Powers Vote Will be Key Litmus Test in Future Elections for Years to Come
Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, House Democratic leadership announced that they will force a vote next week on Reps. Ro Khanna’s (D-CA) and Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) bipartisan resolution to block President Donald Trump from launching a war in Iran. Senior White House officials have claimed that Iran is “one week away” from developing nuclear bombmaking materials, while Trump himself previously claimed that the U.S. “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program last summer. Meanwhile, senior White House advisors reportedly believe that Trump would prefer that Israel attack Iran first in order to make a U.S. strike on Iran more politically palatable. Demand Progress is leading a campaign urging Americans to ask their representatives to support the resolution.
The following is a statement from Demand Progress Senior Policy Advisor Cavan Kharrazian:
“A war with Iran is an obvious war of choice. Is Iran on the cusp of obtaining a nuclear weapon like the White House says or did we obliterate Iran’s nuclear program like the White House also says? If attacking Iran is so immediately necessary, then why are White House advisors discussing ways to manufacture a politically viable reason to do so? Congress needs to look through this smokescreen and recognize that a war with Iran could kill U.S. servicemembers and bog us down in a quagmire that dwarfs Iraq. And like with Iraq, whether or not someone supports this invasion will become a key litmus test for politicians on the left and right in every election for years to come. All members of Congress who hope to have a political future need to say no to this obviously unnecessary, dangerous war by supporting the bipartisan war powers resolution.”