Washington, D.C. — March 11, 2020 — In response to the House passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement:

“Both chambers and both parties agree: President Trump must get Congressional approval before taking military action against Iran. Voters concur that Trump’s reckless policies against Iran could lead the U.S. into another forever war in the Middle East — one significantly costlier in American lives and taxpayer money than the failed Iraq War.

“President Trump promised to get us out of forever wars yet he vetoed legislation to end U.S. military involvement in Yemen and threatened to veto this bill to thwart a war with Iran.

“The bill passed in the Senate last month with the leadership of Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rand Paul (R-KY). Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and others made sure the House sent the bill as soon as possible to the president’s desk

“The Trump administration brought America to the brink of war by assassinating Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and nearly used airstrikes. The maximally bad policy of maximum provocation towards Iran keeps the U.S. on the precipice of another horrific war of choice in the Middle East.

“President Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the successful Iran nuclear agreement, which blocked all the pathways to a nuclear weapon, and his imposition of crippling sanctions on Iran, continues to create high tensions and destroys diplomatic solutions.”

###

Notes to editors:

1. S.J.Res.68 used the War Powers Act to force a vote in the Senate that would have been blocked by Majority Leader McConnell.

2. The House passed on a bipartisan basis Representative Ro Khanna’s (D-CA) bill to stop funding for an Iran war and Representative Barbara Lee’s bill to repeal the 2002 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) on Iraq.

3. President Trump has vetoed six bills. Four would have stopped arms sales to Saudi Arabia and one would have ended U.S. hostilities in Yemen.

4. Peace Action’s Iran policy briefing.

Start typing and press Enter to search