Friends — over the weekend, Donald Trump took illegal military action in Iran, and I want to share an important update with you about what we’re seeing, what I’m focused on, and what I believe we need to prioritize moving forward.
First, I am devastated by the news that four United States service members have been killed in action. My heart is with their families and loved ones.
We’ve also seen reports of more than a hundred civilian deaths in just the past three days, many of whom were children.
I am incredibly concerned that this is only the beginning of an ongoing, needless loss of life.
Second, let’s be clear that this operation is illegal and unauthorized by Congress.
The Constitution is unequivocal: No president can unilaterally start a war. The founders required not only congressional authorization through a vote, but a public debate on the merits of war in front of the American people.
This week, the House will vote on a war powers resolution declaring that Trump cannot continue military action in Iran without congressional approval. The point of this legislation is to make sure there is a strategy and a plan in place before starting a war that will demand the ultimate sacrifice from American service members and take more innocent lives.
I will vote yes, and I hope every single one of my colleagues joins me, no matter their political party. Our service members deserve a debate and a vote before they’re sent into harm’s way.
Third, even if this operation had been authorized, I believe this is a massive strategic mistake that will have long-reaching national security implications that do not make Americans any safer. This is a foolish war of choice, not of necessity.
Our history is clear — the United States has a terrible track record of military misadventures and regime change attempts in the Middle East (including in Iran itself). And I’m very concerned that we’ve seen no clear plan from Trump and his administration for what comes next now that Ayatollah Khamenei has been killed.
No one should mourn Ayatollah Khamenei’s death. He was a brutal dictator who terrorized his own people and the entire region. But killing him doesn’t guarantee a better outcome for the safety and security of the Iranian or the American people. Regime changes often lead to a power vacuum — that can result in civil war, an even worse regime than the one before, or a failed state, which would be catastrophic for regional stability and security.
I know many of my colleagues, and the President himself, are saying that this is about preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapon. I believe strongly that Iran must never be allowed to get a nuclear weapon — and the most sustainable way to achieve that is through diplomacy and verifiable agreements. I supported the diplomatic deal that, while imperfect, was working towards getting us there before Trump ripped it up. And we’d heard reports of progress on negotiations as recently as Friday. But instead of giving diplomacy time to work, Trump decided to bomb instead.
There are still a lot of open questions — what is the strategy? What is the end game? Will more American troops be committed on the ground? What do Trump and his administration hope will happen? From what I have heard, there are no answers to these questions.
I’m incredibly proud to represent the largest military community in the country. These are the people who are literally paying the price when we go to war. So in the coming days and weeks, I will be working every way I can to get answers to these critical questions and ensure Congress reasserts its authority in matters of war and peace.
Fourth, one of the reasons why I came to Congress in the first place was to ensure our leaders think about the long-term consequences of massive foreign policy decisions on the next generation.
Millennials like me came of age in the wake of September 11th and bore the brunt of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those ill-advised and ill-fated wars led to a deep mistrust of our institutions and leaders. Right now, Trump is saddling today’s young people not only with the physical, emotional, and monetary costs of war, but with that same mistrust. This too will have decades-long consequences, and I believe leaders of both parties must focus on restoring that trust if we want to protect the future of our country.
One last thought we should all consider: Donald Trump campaigned on peace, and right now, many of his voters rightfully feel betrayed. This is a moment for us to open the Democratic coalition and welcome in the people who do not support this President’s actions.
Thank you for reading. If you have thoughts to share, I hope you’ll reply to this email and let me know.
I will update you as often as I can throughout this rapidly developing situation.
—Sara
