STATEMENT: Rep. Dave Min on U.S. Strikes on Iran

Washington, D.C. — Representative Dave Min (CA-47) released the following statement regarding U.S. strikes on Iran:

“Donald Trump’s unilateral action in launching attacks against Iran, without any consultation with Congress, is the latest example of his thorough contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law. Article I of the Constitution states very clearly that Congress and only Congress has the power to declare war. By attacking Iran—a clear act of war—Trump is violating the Constitution.

While I want to be clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a government that is hostile to the United States, that has supported terrorism against our country and our allies, and which can never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons or the technology to create these, President Trump has failed to make a serious case to Congress or the American people that Iran poses a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the United States of America, or that it is on the precipice of acquiring nuclear weapons. In other words, he has failed to make the case for war over meaningful diplomacy.

Aside from my concerns about Trump once again attempting to assert the powers of a dictator, I am deeply concerned he is repeating the same mistakes that George W. Bush made in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Like Bush, Trump appears to be rushing us into war based on highly disputed claims of weapons of mass destruction, with no clear or realistic plan for what constitutes victory, or what our long-term objectives are. The Iraq War lasted nearly nine years, cost us trillions of dollars and thousands of lives, and left behind a hotbed of terrorism that continues to threaten our national security.

Donald Trump and his advisors owe an obligation to the Constitution and the American people to disclose to Congress what specific intelligence it has showing Iran is on the verge of obtaining nuclear weapons, and to explain clearly and in detail what our military objectives are, what specific goals will define victory in this war, and how we will respond when Iran retaliates.

My thoughts today are with our armed forces and their families as we head into these uncertain times.”

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