Dear John,
This past Friday, the Senate voted 47-53 against Senator Kaine's War Powers Resolution on Iran - a disappointing outcome, but one that doesn't diminish the critical importance of this fight or the progress we've made together. All but one Senate Democrat voted in favor of the resolution, and all but one Senate Republican voted against it.
"The outcome of this vote says more about the make-up of the Senate than it does the merits of the resolution. Regardless, we saw a near majority do the right thing and stand up against war and for democracy, despite a cavalcade of misinformation from war hawks ,” said NIAC President Jamal Abdi. Read our full statement on the vote outcome here [[link removed]] .
The past few weeks have seen a troubling resurgence of the same rhetoric and ‘red lines’ that characterized the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Senate vote at that time authorizing that invasion saw a much wider vote margin – 77 to 23 in favor, a stark reminder of the heavy influence wielded by war hawks during that era.
Today, while many of those same voices continue to push for confrontation with Iran, the near-majority vote in favor of Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution reflects a meaningful, growing shift. It underscores the strength of the anti-war movement, which is precisely why our work continues despite the outcome of this vote.
Even as the vote fell short, these core dangerous realities are unchanged:
* Trump’s illegal strikes violated the Constitution and we need Congress to prohibit them
* His actions risked a full-blown war, Iranian and American lives, and the end of diplomacy
* The American people don't want this war
What's Next?
While a ceasefire is still holding, the risk of war breaking out again looms.
Just this past Friday, the same day as the vote, President Trump stated that he “absolutely” would consider bombing Iran again should Iran resume enriching uranium. We cannot afford another tragic series of escalations with innocent lives brutally caught in the middle.
We need Congress to stand up, say NO to endless wars, and assert its constitutional war powers.
On the House side, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) have introduced a War Powers Resolution that stands ready for a vote in this fragile situation. If you have not already, please message your House Representatives [[link removed]] urging them to take a stand against war and support the Massie-Khanna War Powers Resolution.
In the meantime, our Senators need to know where you stand after this vote. Please take a moment [[link removed]] to thank the Senators who stood with us, and urge the Senators who voted no to change course.
Thank and Spank your Senators [[link removed]] American and Iranian lives depend on it.
Thank you for staying in this fight with us,
Myriam Sabbaghi
NIAC Action Organizing Director
[[link removed]]
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