Congressman Neil Abercrombie

May 2006

US Attack on Iran? Not so fast

Amid published reports that the Administration is preparing to launch a nuclear attack against Iran, I joined 61 other Members of Congress in writing to the President and sponsored a resolution (House Concurrent Resolution 391) cautioning him that the Constitution requires Congressional approval before leading the country into another war.

The prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is a matter for deep concern, but a preemptive war is not the right answer. Working with other countries for a diplomatic solution is a better option for several reasons. First, it’s highly uncertain how effective air strikes would be against Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which is widely dispersed in hardened sites. Second, Iran could use its sway with Shiite militias to retaliate against U.S. troops in Iraq. Third, a U.S. attack would unite the Iranian population in support of the current regime and the domestic opposition would evaporate politically.

We need to absorb the lessons of the U.S. experience with Iraq. A ‘quick, clean war’ in the Middle East isn’t in the cards. If an air campaign escalated into a ground war in Iran, the casualties, the strategic difficulties and the strain on our already stretched Armed Forces would be a nightmare. A war with Iran would be a repeat of the Iraq experience, only many times worse and much more dangerous.

The framers of the Constitution gave Congress the power to declare war for good reasons. No one person- not even the President of the United States- has the judgment, wisdom or the right to make that life and death decision alone. Congress gave the President a blank check in 2002 to start a war with Iraq. The tragedy will be compounded if we make the same mistake again.

Text of April 27, 2006, letter to President on Congressional War Powers and Iran

Dear President Bush:

We are concerned by the growing number of stories that your Administration is planning for military action against Iran. We are writing to remind you that you are constitutionally bound to seek congressional authorization before launching any preventive military strikes against Iran.

The prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is a matter for deep concern, but a preemptive war is not the right answer. Working with other countries for a diplomatic solution is a better option for several reasons. First, it’s highly uncertain how effective air strikes would be against Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which is widely dispersed in hardened sites. Second, Iran could use its sway with Shiite militias to retaliate against U.S. troops in Iraq.

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Text of House Con. Res. 391

Expressing the Sense of Congress that the President cannot initiate military action against Iran over its nuclear program without first obtaining authorization from Congress.

Whereas Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power "to declare war," to lay and collect taxes to "provide for the common defense" and general welfare of the United States, to "raise and support armies," to "provide and maintain a navy," to "make rules for the regulation for the land and naval forces," to "provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions," to "provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia," and to "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution...all...powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States";

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