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John,
With tensions simmering in the Middle East, MAGA Republican senators are urging actions that would further expand and exacerbate the war and suffering throughout the region.
The same party that is currently withholding aid to Ukraine to satisfy their de facto leader and allow Putin to pursue his invasion of Eastern Europe with impunity, is now urging President Biden to engage the U.S. directly in war with Iran.
Israel’s war in Gaza keeps expanding, with at least 30,000 Palestinian deaths reported to date, mostly civilian casualties including women, children, and infants. As Israel pursues a policy that the U.N. has characterized as genocidal, Houthi rebels from Yemen backed by Iran began attacking ships in the Red Sea in protest.
American air attacks, carried out with the support of allies, targeted the Houthi rebels, and the violence escalated when Iranian proxies launched an unmanned drone attack that killed three American soldiers and injured dozens more.
In this complex and sensitive situation, hawks from the GOP are urging President Biden to escalate the war by attacking Iran directly. In a two-word tweet, Senator John Cornyn urges Biden simply to “Bomb Tehran,” calling for a direct attack on the Iraqi capital. Such an action would surely lead directly to war with Iran.
Tell Congress: Seek diplomatic solutions. Do not start a MAGA war with Iran.
Bombing the capital of a nation would certainly be seen as a declaration of war, whether or not war is formally declared. A war with Iran would be a long and torturous ordeal. Iran has the largest army in the Middle East, with approximately 587,000 troops on active duty and another 200,000 in reserve.
As we know well, it is much easier to get into a war than to find an exit strategy to successfully get out.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton minces no words in calling for extreme escalation, saying,
“The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East." - Republican Sen. Tom Cotton
Senator Lindsey Graham is also calling for America to lead military strikes on Iran, tweeting,
“The Biden Administration can take out all the Iranian proxies they like, but it will not deter Iranian aggression. I am calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression.” - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham
Such an approach is likely not to deter further aggression, but to provoke it. Direct attacks inside Iran will make a violent situation worse. For the United States to promote peace in the region, we must not adopt policies that will result in escalation, but rather to work with each of our allies in the region to urge more proportional responses and access for humanitarian aid.
The United States must never condone or enable the genocide of any people or ethnicity. This is counter to the principles of proportional response and “just war.” The irresponsible rhetoric of indiscriminate bombing puts everyone at risk, and entering into a long term war with Iran carries real risks for our nation as well as the world.
Tell Congress: No escalation of war in the Middle East!
Thank you for joining with us in urging a measured response to the widening conflict.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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