End endless wars
Article 1 of the US Constitution states that Congress shall have the power to declare war.
Three past presidents have sent military troops into foreign countries as Congress sat by, allowing its authority to be ill-used by the Executive Branch.
But things are changing.
For that I thank Congressman Kilmer, who co-sponsored the following bills that passed in the House in January: War Powers Resolution to restrict the president from additional offensive military action against Iran unless authorized by Congress; No War Against Iran Act, that would prohibit funding for a military action against Iran not authorized by Congress, reinforcing Congress’ constitutional responsibility to decide when military force should be used, while preserving the president’s ability to respond to a direct attack on our country or allies; the repeal of the 2002 Iraq Authorization of Military Force which is 18 years old, was specific to the regime of Saddam Hussein, and is a dangerous precedent to justify wars years later.
The situation in Iran and Iraq is a powder keg, with Iranians and Iraqis going from protesting the Iranian government to protesting the U.S. following the assassination of General Soleimani on orders of the U.S. President.
Congressman Kilmer has elicited bipartisan support to stand up to the president and assert the peoples’ power to decide whether military action is warranted.
I encourage him to continue his work with his bipartisan colleagues to bring sanity to managing conflict beyond our borders and finally end the endless wars.
Barbara Kurland
Port Townsend