Five years ago, I made an urgent plea for restraint and wisdom by casting a vote against authorizing the president to launch a pre-emptive invasion against Iraq. Now, with an unstable situation in Iraq and our Army stretched to the breaking point, there are reports the Bush Administration has a new target -- this time Iran. According to one recently retired C.I.A. official, "They're moving everybody to the Iran desk [and] ramping up everything. It's just like the fall of 2002." Already President Bush has acknowledged, "I have authorized our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran's murderous activities."
Bush and Cheney are "ramping up" the Administration's rhetoric and raising concerns about another pre-emptive war. There can be little doubt that Iran's current regime aims to threaten Israel and has links to terrorism that must be confronted. But giving the Bush Administration a free hand to wage war is no way to proceed.
Please contact your Senators and Representative to support my legislation to prevent the Bush Administration from launching war in Iran without prior Congressional authorization!
http://www.markudall.com/...
In 2002, the Bush Administration and the Rubberstamp Congress were leading a drumbeat to war, dismissing the questionable intelligence and instilling fear into the public with rhetoric like "we cannot wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun -- that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud". Instead of focusing on capturing Osama bin Laden, the Administration distracted us from fighting those who attacked us on September 11 by invading Iraq -- a country with no connections to 9/11.
Now, with escalating rhetoric and tensions regarding the right approach to a militant Iran, we must act in a tough but responsible way. We cannot allow the Bush-Cheney Presidency to sideline Congress and ignore the Constitution.
I introduced H.R. 3119 as companion legislation to Senator Jim Webb's S. 759 bill because I believe that Congress must play a more significant role in directing policy toward Iran. I introduced this legislation to reassert Congress's constitutional responsibility and to remind the Bush Administration of the important role that Congress must play when it comes to matters of war and peace.
The legislation would limit the president's ability to launch a full-scale military action against Iran without explicit Congressional authorization for war.
Please email your Senators and Representative to support my legislation to prevent the Bush Administration from launching war in Iran without prior Congressional authorization!
http://www.markudall.com/...
This bill takes an important step in responding to various reports that the House is shifting its mood towards taking military action against Iran by reasserting the basic principle that Congress must consent before the president can do so.
The balance between the executive and legislative branches with regard to authorizing large-scale military activities must be restored, and with your help I know the Congress will agree.
Thank you for your help on this pressing matter.
Sincerely,
Mark Udall
P.S. Help Senator Webb and me restore the Congress's constitutional duty to declare war by urging your Senators and Representative to support my legislation to require Congressional authorization before launching a preemptive strike on Iran.
http://www.markudall.com/...