Veterans group applauds vote to require Congressional approval before offensive action against Iran
ARLINGTON, Va.—Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) Executive Director Nate Anderson on Wednesday responded after the House voted to pass a measure to prohibit war with Iran without congressional authorization. The bill, S.J.Res. 68, was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine and passed in the Senate in February.
“Congress has the solemn responsibility of debating and authorizing when we send American servicemembers into harm’s way, and for too long it has abdicated that responsibility,” Anderson said.“We are very encouraged to see Congress reassert itself in matters of war and peace, and we applaud the courageous leadership of those who put their constitutional duty to the country and the American public above partisanship.”
CVA issued a letter of support for the resolution, which stated, “[t]hose that support further military action against Iran owe it to our troops and to the American people to first secure proper authorization to do so, rather than committing the United States to that course absent a robust public debate.”
“The United States should always retain the capability to protect itself from threats, and it is important to note this measure does not prohibit the president from defending our country and our fellow Americans should they be threatened,” Anderson added. “Rather, this is a positive step toward a better foreign policy that will better position America to prioritize American safety, engage productively in the world, and prevent endless wars with no clear mission or end goal.”
BACKGROUND
CVA/VoteVets polling shows solid majorities of voters in battleground states oppose the U.S. conducting an attack on Iran.
Further CVA polling has shown that veterans and military families, in particular, are largely opposed to more military engagement around the world, and a plurality thinks the US should be less engaged.
In July 2019, CVA launched a digital ad campaign thanking lawmakers for standing against endless war, praising lawmakers for voting to ensure proper Congressional input before any offensive military force against Iran.
Additionally, CVA has called for the repeal of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, measures it says would be “a critical step toward ensuring that Congress reasserts itself in shaping American foreign policy.”
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