In response to the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:

“Without consultation with or authorization from Congress, I fear the Administration is setting us up for another needless war in a turbulent region that will only make our nation and our allies less safe. In conjunction with the reckless decision to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) related to Iran’s nuclear program, it is now crystal clear that this Administration has no coherent strategy, no plan for garnering international support for efforts to “pressure Iran,” and no idea about how to prevent a dangerous escalation that will likely only lead to greater chaos and violence. Experts have made clear that even with the death of this one man, “the Quds Force and its proxies, notably Hezbollah, will continue to pose a very capable operational threat.”

While I recognize that this world is violent, the Administration’s airstrikes are unlikely to make us safer. These reckless military actions pose risks for our nation and the entire region. Likewise, the American people are wary of any more U.S. military interventions.

I am calling on the Administration to respect the Constitution and cease military actions that have not been debated, much less authorized, by Congress. Instead, I strongly encourage the Administration to engage in robust diplomacy, bilaterally, and multilaterally to address our concerns with Iran.

There is no doubt that Iran poses a significant threat to the interests of the U.S. and our allies, and that it is active in working to destabilize not only Iraq, but other areas in the region. While I applaud efforts to improve security at our embassies, including the one in Baghdad, the Administration should also empower our men and women in our diplomatic corps to do everything they can to support peace and security in the region. Unfortunately, I have seen no such plan from the Administration.

We must protect our troops, our allies, and the American people. Military action is not the only tool we have. We must return to real diplomacy, to resolve differences, and work through intermediaries if necessary.

Again, the Constitution is clear about Congress’ sole power to declare war. That not only means “boots on the ground,” but also pre-emptive and defensive bombings. Engaging our military in an act of war requires authorization from Congress. The burden of proof for putting the lives of our men and women in uniform in harm’s way is high and must be informed by honest evidence, not the false and overhyped claims that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

I also call on House leaders to bring H.R. 2354, the Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019, as soon as possible so that Congress can protect its prerogative and ensure that before we ensnare our men and women in uniform in another endless conflict. This latest attack also highlights the ill-advised decision to drop the House passed bipartisan provision from the recently enacted NDAA that would have barred funding for military action against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress.

Congress must vigorously defend its authority to prevent any President from dragging our nation into endless war. The United States can’t afford another dreadful war in the Middle East, and the American people have little taste for such a war.”

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