Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has accused President Donald Trump of launching an “illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war” against Iran to fulfill an objective of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statement from Sanders followed a strike on Iran by Israel early Saturday morning. Trump later confirmed that he ordered the attack.
“President Trump, along with his right-wing extremist Israeli ally Benjamin Netanyahu, has begun an illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war,” Sanders said. “Tragically, Trump is gambling with American lives and treasure to fulfill Netanyahu’s decades-long ambition of dragging the United States into armed conflict with Iran.”
Sanders argued that Trump overstepped his authority as president. “The U.S. Constitution is clear. It is the Congress that declares war, not a president acting unilaterally,” he said. He called for the Senate to reconvene immediately and vote on a pending War Powers Resolution, which he said he would “strongly support.”
The senator also said the attack violates international law and could set a dangerous precedent for other nations.
“This attack against Iran is a clear violation of international law and will create increased instability in an already dangerous world,” Sanders said. “If the United States and Israel can launch an attack against a sovereign nation, so can any other country. Might does not make right. It creates international anarchy, death, destruction and human misery.”
Sanders drew comparisons to previous conflicts, stating that the American public is being misled.
“The American people were lied to about Vietnam. The American people were lied to about Iraq. The American people are being lied to again today and once again, it is ordinary people who will pay the price,” he said.
He concluded by contrasting military action with domestic priorities. “The people of our country, no matter what their political persuasion, do not want endless war,” Sanders said. “They want decent paying jobs, and health care and housing that they can afford. They want their kids to have an excellent education. We must not allow Trump to force us into another senseless war. No war with Iran.”
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