Another Undeclared Unconstitutional War?
Iran in the Crosshairs
From the New York Times this morning:
In Israel, the two defense officials said that significant preparations were underway for the possibility of a joint strike with the United States, even though no decision has been made about whether to carry out such an attack. They said the planning envisions delivering a severe blow over a number of days with the goal of forcing Iran into concessions at the negotiating table that it has so far been unwilling to make.
The U.S. buildup suggests an array of possible Iranian targets, including short and medium range missiles, missile storage depots, nuclear sites and other military targets, such as headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The ultimate decision on scope of targets is largely up to Mr. Trump, U.S. officials said.
Strangely, nowhere in this article is it mentioned that U.S. military attacks on Iran legally require a Congressional declaration of war. Apparently, it’s all up to Mr. Trump and Israel whether Iran gets hammered soon.
We the people have absolutely no say. The U.S. Constitution simply doesn’t matter.
Iran poses no direct threat to U.S. national security. There is no clear and present danger; no defensible reason to launch yet another attack on Iran. Yet it seems those attacks will soon be coming, as long as Israel has something to say about this (and that country most certainly does).
Why war with Iran? Apparently for “regime change,” apparently for the oil, and apparently for Israel.
A diplomatic settlement appears to be a long shot here. Perhaps more like a “Hail Mary” pass.
No matter how unconstitutional, no matter how unnecessary to national defense, war always seems to find a way. I sure hope I’m wrong here.
Bill, I hope you're wrong too. If the attacks begin, I fear we are opening the Gates of Hell.
I don't believe Russia, or particularly China, will stand by and allow Iran to be destroyed - drawing the major nuclear-armed states into potential conflict.
And there's always the wild card - maybe even used by Israel to push Trump into attacking - of Israel using its nuclear weapons.
But hope can't be used to offset what's occurring. The US has committed significant portions of its air and naval forces to the region. Those bring the increasing pressure and momentum for the "Go" command. It feels like July 1914.
Agreed. Let's just hope Iran has the weaponry to inflict enough pain to sober up America/Isreal. But American arrogance never saw 9/11
as backlash but as a terrorist attack by evil people ignoring the evil America inflicted on the Middle East...
So, there are no lessons to learn for America incorporated. Caitlin Johnson wrote the most insightful Substack written in the last few years. Trump (merely) Puts an Ugly Face on an Ugly Empire.
Sent from my