Preventing War With Iran: A Moderate Argument
Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 06:15:15 PM PDT
Going to war with Iran is stupid and counterproductive. It is unlikely to accomplish American policy objectives (reducing Iranian influence in the Middle East, eliminating Iraninan hostility to the United States and Israel, or preventing Iran from making nuclear weapons).
In some cases, it is likely to reduce the chance of achieving American policy objectives. For example, attempts to persuade Iran through a mixture of diplomacy and economic sanctions that Iran should not pursue nuclear weapons are likely to be unavailing after Iran has been attacked by the world's greatest military power which has eliminated the two regimes on either side of Iran.
Similarly, a major attack on Iran is likely to increase the hostility of the Iranian government toward the US and the support of the Iranian people for the Iranian regime.
I don't know whether President Bush intends to attack Iran. I do know that President Bush has, in the words of Senator Webb, Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan, "denied that the Congress has the power to affect his decisions when it comes to the use of our military."
Given the lack of competence he has displayed in so many arenas, it is imprudent and unwise to leave the decision of weather to go to war with Iran in the hands of President Bush. In reaching this conclusion, I am joined by the framers of our Constitution, who concluded that whether to engage in a war of choice was the decision of Congress.
If you think that military action against Iran at this time may not be in the interest of the United States or you have any doubts about the competence of the President or you simply believe in the plain meaning of the Constitution, then you should call upon your Senators and Congressperson to enact a law providing that the President does not have authority, without explicit Congressional authorization, to order American forces into Iran (other than for purposes of reconnaisance and hot pursuit) and any orders in contravention of such law are unlawful. Of course if, at a later date, Congress determines that military action is warranted, Congress could grant the President authority to take such action.
If your congressional representatives are unwilling to vote for such a law, then perhaps they should be gently reminded that if they are unwilling to discharge their constitutional responsibilities they may wish to seek employment that does not require such weighty decisions.
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