#unauthorized

Excerpt:

“A simpler explanation is that the administration did not plan well before attacking another country and igniting a regional conflagration in the Middle East, nor has it planned for what comes next. The potential consequences are devastating, including both the cost in individual human lives and the long-term implications for the region and its people. The economic aftereffects, given Iran’s oil production and its control over the Strait of Hormuz, could be also substantial. The American government had no plan for evacuating its citizens from the region, let alone for who would take over Iran once its leadership had been deposed or killed. No one has any idea what the fallout here will be, nor does anyone in a position of authority seem to be particularly concerned.”

Excerpt:

“The procedural objection to Trump’s war in Iran is not a minor, or superficial, issue, despite how it may appear. The objection is central to the Constitution’s design for heeding the consent of the governed: Presidents are not allowed to take the country to war, to commit its power to the inevitable mass destruction of human lives, without the people’s permission.

Excerpt:

“MARTÍNEZ: Do you think if the president had taken it to Congress that it would've happened?

“COONS: Well, there's several ways why Iran is not Iraq. And one of the more important ways is that President Bush took months and months, made the case to the American people, made the case to Congress. Ultimately, Congress did authorize the invasion of Iraq. It was based on false pretenses and flawed intelligence.

“So I don't know. But there is near unanimity in Congress that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. But this launch of a war against Iran is not clearly designed to achieve that goal. And when President Trump can't decide what's the purpose of the war, or the scope or duration of the war, I don't think he should get an authorization for a war.”

. . . . . . . . . .”I do think we're using the War Powers Act appropriately to say to the president, you have to wind down these operations. You should return to diplomacy. We don't see a credible path towards achieving the many different goals that you and your cabinet have sort of thrown against the wall in recent interviews. I was particularly struck that Secretary Hegseth yesterday would not rule out sending troops or set any timeline for this particular war. That, to me, was gravely concerning.

“MARTÍNEZ: Does Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have that much sway over President Trump that an American president would actually launch a war with Israel just because Israel says it plans to attack Iran and that could lead to Iran hitting U.S. assets?