SEN RAND PAUL: America is at war, but no one asked the American people

Once war begins and American soldiers are under fire, it becomes nearly impossible to have a rational discussion about the pros and cons of war. This is exactly why our founders wrote A constitution This requires discussion before the war begins.

But it wasn’t there Debate in Congresslet alone vote. On February 28, Americans woke up to discover that their country was once again embroiled in a war in the Middle East.

The Americans were not asked whether they would bear the burdens of war. Instead, the American people were told, through an eight-minute presidential video released at about 2:30 a.m., that the country was at war again.

Because there has been no national discussion about going to war, we do not know whether ground forces will be used. We have no idea how long the war will last. We have no idea who will lead Iran after the death of the Supreme Leader. We have no idea how many casualties the American people are supposed to bear. We cannot know the answer to these questions because no one has bothered to prove it War with Iran It was worth the sacrifice.

The Senate is only now debating whether hostilities should end after they have already begun. Before I discuss the merits of this war, I would like to say that my prayers and those of my family, and those of my family, are with the troops in the area, those fighting, and anyone who may be called to serve.

A Traveler’s Guide to Congress’ Options on Impeding Trump’s War Powers in Iran

I do not take lightly that fighting has begun, that many have been seriously injured, and that lives have been lost.

Discussion and votes in Congress provide the nation with the only opportunity to debate whether the country understands and accepts the inevitable sacrifices of war, especially the loss of life.

Because of these realities of war, the Constitution gives the United States Congress the power to declare war — not to one person sitting in the Oval Office. Giving Congress the power to declare war was intended to prevent one person from committing the nation to war. When a nation goes to war, it must be a collective decision, with a clear justification for the war. Most importantly, debate and votes in Congress provide the nation’s only opportunity to debate whether the country understands and accepts the inevitable sacrifices of war, especially the loss of life.

Trump’s strikes against Iran get legal cover, scholars say Article II rules of the game extend to the Obama era and beyond

The people have been robbed of public debate. Let me inform the public that this evasion is deliberate.

The congressional leadership—resigned from its irrelevance—would gladly hand over to the president the authority to wage war in exchange for plausible deniability. Congressional leaders want to make clear to voters that they should not be held accountable at the ballot box because they played no role in the decision to go to war. This is not statesmanship. This is shameful.

This country is now at war, which has already claimed the lives of six American service members, and many others seriously injured. These soldiers and their families deserved a public debate and a vote in Congress before hostilities began.

Trump sends formal notification to Congress about strikes against Iran

But if Congress had discussed war with Iran, we would be wise to remember the words of John Quincy Adams, who, as Secretary of State, advocated a foreign policy of restraint: “Wherever the standard of liberty and independence has risen or will rise, there will be America’s heart, her blessings, and her prayers. But she travels not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.”

There is wisdom in Adams’ words, but his was not an original argument. It was George Washington himself who warned in his farewell address that America should stay out of the world’s endless conflicts.

Congress has tragically forgotten this advice. The history of the 21st century has been one of endless wars in which America is always looking for the next monster to destroy. From Afghanistan From Iraq to Libya to Syria to Venezuela, warmongers tell us that any country is a threat and that overthrowing a foreign government is a noble endeavor to protect security at home while spreading freedom globally.

Arizona Senator says the United States is no longer a “global power” in dealing with the Iranian conflict

While they recycle their arguments—when they bother to make them—the results are invariably instability, chaos, suffering, and dissatisfaction.

The Iraq War was launched under similar false pretenses, and the consequences of that fateful decision continue to reverberate throughout the Middle East to this day. The overthrow of Iraq’s secular government and the collapse of its civil society has sparked some of the worst sectarian violence in modern history, and directly led to the rise of ISIS.

More than a decade after the US military intervention that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, and a year after the fall of Assad, these divided and unstable countries are struggling to escape the cycle of violence and chaos.

Trump says Schumer ‘losers’ and Democrats would have criticized any decision he made on Iran

Although Nicolas Maduro may have been removed from power by US military forces,… The socialist and oppressive Chavista regime He has not been removed from the Venezuelan government.

What is most tragic is that after two decades of war, the Taliban flag flies over Kabul.

American adventures did not produce the promised utopia – or even the Jeffersonian democracies.

Reporter’s note: Congressional Republicans stand with Trump on Iranian military action despite campaign promise

History is full of examples of wars that quickly escalate beyond the intentions of their initiators. While some may believe we maintain escalation control, the spiral of violence can quickly spiral out of control.

America is at war. But the Americans do not want this war. They did not vote on it. In fact, they voted for exactly the opposite.

Beyond the documents and words of the Founders, their intent to give power solely to Congress is crucial today.

If the president comes to Congress to ask for authorization for war, the people’s representatives can do what they were elected to do: represent them.

Click here for more Fox News opinions

The debate provides information and answers that we do not have now.

The constitutional separation of war powers is not just an idea that belongs in our history books. It is a vital part of the democratic republic. This Congress should be ashamed of how it allowed this unilateral march toward war.

Click here to download the FOX NEWS app

No one else in our history has been as arrogant with our military men and women and their tax dollars as they are at this moment.

I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this war and unilateral actions taken without the authorization of Congress, as the Constitution requires.

Click here to read more from SEN. Rand Paul

Related article