Today’s Action: Stop Trump from attacking Iran – repeal the AUMF

The United States entered into an endless war on September 14th, 2001. On that day, Congress issued an AUMF, which gave then-President Bush the ability to use force against nations, organizations, or people he determined were in any way involved in the September 11th attacks. For the last 18 years, in practice, that has meant that the president can direct the United States into war with any one at any time without congressional approval.

Now, Trump is threatening start a war with Iran, using flimsy statements that Iran is connected to groups that arose in the aftermath of Sept 11. Iran’s forces were not involved in the September 11 attacks – period – nor are they members of the groups the U.S. has been fighting since that time. There is no link or justification for Trump using the AUMF to skip Congressional declaration of war.

Call or email your Members of Congress and demand they pass H.R. 1274 to repeal the AUMF before Trump singularly forces us into war with Iran. Place the power to declare war back into the hands of Congress, where it constitutionally belongs.

Presidents Bush and Obama used the AUMF at least 37 times in 14 countries to justify military force, often against groups that did not even exist on September 11th. Trump is using AUMF to keep troops in Syria and Iraq indefinitely — also uninvolved in the 9/11 attacks. With Trump carrying on, we can now confirm that the AUMF has been used to invade at least 19 countries since 2001.

19 countries, and Iran would make 20…and yet 80% of our current Congress has never cast a vote to allow the United States to enter war. For the sake of Iran – and future countries we want to keep off this list – it’s clear the AUMF has outlived its original intent and needs go to.

Email or call (202.224.3121) your Members of Congress and tell them to take back their power to declare war by passing H.R.1274, a repeal of the AUMF. Tell them you are completely opposed to Trump’s attempt to push us into war with Iran, and they should be too.