Washington, D.C. – Today, the United States began what President Donald Trump called “major combat operations” against Iran. In response, Damian Murphy, senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Today, President Trump needlessly entered the United States into another conflict in the Middle East. Trump’s war of choice is blatantly unlawful and reckless, placing American servicemembers and civilians, as well as our allies and partners in the region, in serious danger. Any American president should only use military force when absolutely necessary, and only with the consent of Congress and the American people. Trump not only failed to obtain consent but also made barely any effort to explain any supposed justification for U.S. intervention. In failing to do so, President Trump has shown once again he is unfit to serve as Commander in Chief.
The administration has cited no urgent threat to the United States that justifies this action. By calling for regime change, Trump has followed an infamous precedent and raised the cost of this war for the American people. There is no neat transition to democracy in a country as big and complicated as Iran, and the United States will own the potential chaos that results from this attack, much like it did in Iraq in 2003.
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].