"Let’s be clear: The war that Trump has launched this morning against Iran was completely unprovoked and stands in defiance of the overwhelming majority of Americans, who only want peace."
"Reclaim RI condemns the United States and Israel’s illegal war of aggression against Iran. The U.S. government has consistently chosen lawless militarism with its active support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro, and its blockade of Cuba. Our state’s congressional delegation has laudably criticized this new war but has often failed to speak out clearly against U.S. militarism—including U.S. sponsorship of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Warmongering abroad distracts from —and intensifies—the cost of living crisis and deepening inequality and injustice at home. There seems to be endless money for bombs and drones, but never enough for housing and healthcare. That’s why our struggles for justice at home are bound up with our commitment to peace everywhere. We continue to fight for a Rhode Island where everyone secures their right to a dignified life and home and a world where global cooperation forms the foundations of durable peace."
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on President Trump’s decision to launch ‘major combat operations’ in Iran:
“Against the clear wishes of the American people, President Trump has thrust our nation into a major war with Iran — one he never made a case for, never sought congressional authority for, and for which he has no endgame.
“Iran is weakened, but far from incapable. Iranian strikes on American bases have already begun, and we should expect more to follow on the battlefield, in the cyber domain, and through Iran’s network of proxies across the region. Our forces and our allies must be fully prepared for a sustained and dangerous campaign.
“I salute the bravery of our servicemembers carrying out these operations, and I pray for their safety. But bravery does not constitute a strategy. Wars are unpredictable, and this administration has left the American people in the dark about the true costs, risks, and duration of this conflict.
“President Trump has chosen the path of war while diplomacy was still within reach. That is a decision with consequences that will outlast this presidency. I am calling for an immediate briefing and will use every authority available to conduct rigorous oversight of these operations.”
Trump is a homicidal maniac starting as war so as to have an excuse to stop the elections this fall. A truly dememted human being. Adds to his crimnal life list : Rapist, fraudster, tax cheater, and now war criminal
“For decades now, politicians have sent American service members to fight and die in the Middle East in wars of choice, not necessity.
"The Iranian people deserve freedom from their oppressive regime, but I am deeply skeptical that American troops should be sent to war in the Middle East in the absence of an immediate threat to our country yet again.
"I am monitoring the situation closely and praying for the safety of our troops and of innocent civilians throughout the region.”
House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) released the following statement on Trump’s attack on Iran.
“After months of shifting justifications and misleading statements, Donald Trump has launched a war of choice with more strikes on Iran. There has been neither an explanation to the American people nor a clear and present danger to the United States to justify this escalation.
"The American people have been clear that they do not want another forever war. They’ve seen the cost of regime change in the Middle East, with too many American troops killed and billions of taxpayer dollars wasted. Trump has started another war without clearly defining its scope, timeline, or objectives and without presenting a credible day-after plan. The world is less safe because of this action, and the instability it causes will have long-lasting effects.
"We should never give up on diplomacy. That is the durable path to a lasting peace that keeps our troops safe and ensures regional stability without dragging us into another drawn-out conflict.
"While the Iranian regime is an oppressive, destabilizing force and source of terror that should never be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, seeking a war for regime change is not the answer. The Constitution is clear: Congress decides when we go to war.
"I am calling on Congress to immediately assert its Constitutional authority and vote to stop this unlawful action that risks pulling our service members, their families, and the American people into another costly, chaotic, and deadly open-ended conflict.”
A question to Rep. Amo, just exactly how specifically is Iran a destabilizing force in the Middle East? What would you call Israel and the US, are they not a destabilizing force? What was the last war preemptively started by Iran? Iran does not start wars, it doesn't have nuclear weapons. Please Rep Amo statements like Iran is a destabilizing force back it up with honest specific facts, and add the facts about the US and Israel's role in destabilizing the Middle East, oh yes and the world.
Why are we going after every oil rich country? It seems highly destabilizing and destructive when we know just what burning fossil fuels is doing to our environment.
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement after President Trump directed military strikes on Iran:
“‘Stop Work’ Trump has now become ‘Start War’ Trump. This President is making all Americans less safe.
“My heart is with the men and women in uniform whom Trump has put in harm’s way. I wish our armed forces every battlefield success.
“I pray there is a plan beyond ‘Wagging the Dog’ over the Trump/Epstein files saga and a bungled economy. It’s time to follow the Constitution, which gives the War Power to Congress to declare, precisely because of dangers from an unhinged executive starting a ‘Wag the Dog’ war.”
Thank you to all those who protested, I share your anger about American aggression against Iran. Trump is yet again a disaster even for those who thought his America first view might keep us out of these foreign interventions. I note my 1/2 hour with CBS news noted some protests but the only person they actually interviewed was someone supporting the war and saying protesters were paid agitators.
As that's what Americans hear, I wish I could agree that Americans are so opposed to this, but since we are for now getting away with our aggression I just don't see that. We've always been a warlike people, starting against native Americans. I feel like decent Germans might have felt in 1939, 1940 as Germany attacked Poland, Norway, Denmark, France - even if free to speak there would have been no use telling people this will end badly, those attacks were all successful, nobody would listen.
Iran was no threat to the US though they would have been better off not doing all that death-to-America, death-to-Israel rhetoric, and used their resources for their own people instead of getting involved in Mideast power struggles at great expense. Sad all around
Statement from Reclaim RI:
"Reclaim RI condemns the United States and Israel’s illegal war of aggression against Iran. The U.S. government has consistently chosen lawless militarism with its active support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro, and its blockade of Cuba. Our state’s congressional delegation has laudably criticized this new war but has often failed to speak out clearly against U.S. militarism—including U.S. sponsorship of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Warmongering abroad distracts from —and intensifies—the cost of living crisis and deepening inequality and injustice at home. There seems to be endless money for bombs and drones, but never enough for housing and healthcare. That’s why our struggles for justice at home are bound up with our commitment to peace everywhere. We continue to fight for a Rhode Island where everyone secures their right to a dignified life and home and a world where global cooperation forms the foundations of durable peace."
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on President Trump’s decision to launch ‘major combat operations’ in Iran:
“Against the clear wishes of the American people, President Trump has thrust our nation into a major war with Iran — one he never made a case for, never sought congressional authority for, and for which he has no endgame.
“Iran is weakened, but far from incapable. Iranian strikes on American bases have already begun, and we should expect more to follow on the battlefield, in the cyber domain, and through Iran’s network of proxies across the region. Our forces and our allies must be fully prepared for a sustained and dangerous campaign.
“I salute the bravery of our servicemembers carrying out these operations, and I pray for their safety. But bravery does not constitute a strategy. Wars are unpredictable, and this administration has left the American people in the dark about the true costs, risks, and duration of this conflict.
“President Trump has chosen the path of war while diplomacy was still within reach. That is a decision with consequences that will outlast this presidency. I am calling for an immediate briefing and will use every authority available to conduct rigorous oversight of these operations.”
Trump is a homicidal maniac starting as war so as to have an excuse to stop the elections this fall. A truly dememted human being. Adds to his crimnal life list : Rapist, fraudster, tax cheater, and now war criminal
Magaziner Statement on Military Action in Iran:
“For decades now, politicians have sent American service members to fight and die in the Middle East in wars of choice, not necessity.
"The Iranian people deserve freedom from their oppressive regime, but I am deeply skeptical that American troops should be sent to war in the Middle East in the absence of an immediate threat to our country yet again.
"I am monitoring the situation closely and praying for the safety of our troops and of innocent civilians throughout the region.”
House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) released the following statement on Trump’s attack on Iran.
“After months of shifting justifications and misleading statements, Donald Trump has launched a war of choice with more strikes on Iran. There has been neither an explanation to the American people nor a clear and present danger to the United States to justify this escalation.
"The American people have been clear that they do not want another forever war. They’ve seen the cost of regime change in the Middle East, with too many American troops killed and billions of taxpayer dollars wasted. Trump has started another war without clearly defining its scope, timeline, or objectives and without presenting a credible day-after plan. The world is less safe because of this action, and the instability it causes will have long-lasting effects.
"We should never give up on diplomacy. That is the durable path to a lasting peace that keeps our troops safe and ensures regional stability without dragging us into another drawn-out conflict.
"While the Iranian regime is an oppressive, destabilizing force and source of terror that should never be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, seeking a war for regime change is not the answer. The Constitution is clear: Congress decides when we go to war.
"I am calling on Congress to immediately assert its Constitutional authority and vote to stop this unlawful action that risks pulling our service members, their families, and the American people into another costly, chaotic, and deadly open-ended conflict.”
A question to Rep. Amo, just exactly how specifically is Iran a destabilizing force in the Middle East? What would you call Israel and the US, are they not a destabilizing force? What was the last war preemptively started by Iran? Iran does not start wars, it doesn't have nuclear weapons. Please Rep Amo statements like Iran is a destabilizing force back it up with honest specific facts, and add the facts about the US and Israel's role in destabilizing the Middle East, oh yes and the world.
Why are we going after every oil rich country? It seems highly destabilizing and destructive when we know just what burning fossil fuels is doing to our environment.
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement after President Trump directed military strikes on Iran:
“‘Stop Work’ Trump has now become ‘Start War’ Trump. This President is making all Americans less safe.
“My heart is with the men and women in uniform whom Trump has put in harm’s way. I wish our armed forces every battlefield success.
“I pray there is a plan beyond ‘Wagging the Dog’ over the Trump/Epstein files saga and a bungled economy. It’s time to follow the Constitution, which gives the War Power to Congress to declare, precisely because of dangers from an unhinged executive starting a ‘Wag the Dog’ war.”
This is all about Israel. And for their benefit. And at their active suggestion. And employing their
Military and weaponry, mostly paid for my US taxpayers.
But that’s just me.
Thank you to all those who protested, I share your anger about American aggression against Iran. Trump is yet again a disaster even for those who thought his America first view might keep us out of these foreign interventions. I note my 1/2 hour with CBS news noted some protests but the only person they actually interviewed was someone supporting the war and saying protesters were paid agitators.
As that's what Americans hear, I wish I could agree that Americans are so opposed to this, but since we are for now getting away with our aggression I just don't see that. We've always been a warlike people, starting against native Americans. I feel like decent Germans might have felt in 1939, 1940 as Germany attacked Poland, Norway, Denmark, France - even if free to speak there would have been no use telling people this will end badly, those attacks were all successful, nobody would listen.
Iran was no threat to the US though they would have been better off not doing all that death-to-America, death-to-Israel rhetoric, and used their resources for their own people instead of getting involved in Mideast power struggles at great expense. Sad all around