Without Congressional authorization, President Obama has sent hundreds of U.S. soldiers to Iraq who could be used to call in airstrikes – airstrikes that would be certain to kill Iraqi children against whom we have no grievance.
Congress has never voted on this. When Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in 1973, it included a provision for just this situation: a provision to allow Members of Congress to force a vote on the deployment of U.S. troops to a combat situation.
Representatives Jim McGovern, Walter Jones, and Barbara Lee are now using this provision of the 1973 War Powers Resolution to force a vote on the deployment of U.S. soldiers for offensive military action in Iraq.
Urge your Representative to co-sponsor and vote for H Con Res 105 by signing our petition at MoveOn:
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/iraq-withdrawal-war-powers
On June 19, President Obama notified Congress that he was sending U.S. troops to Iraq to serve as advisers to the Iraqi military. Press reports have indicated that these troops could be used for offensive military action, including calling in airstrikes. These are different troops than the troops President Obama sent earlier to protect the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Congress has not authorized the U.S. use of military force in Iraq now. Nearly 200 Members of the House are on record saying that the authorization for the use of force in Iraq passed by Congress in 2002 should not be used to justify the use of force in Iraq today.
Under the War Powers Resolution passed by Congress in 1973, Members of Congress have 30 days from the President’s June 19 notification to introduce a “privileged” resolution – a resolution that can’t be buried in committee, but must go to the floor to be voted on – which would require the troops to be withdrawn.
Using this provision of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Walter Jones (R-NC), and Barbara Lee (D-CA) have introduced H Con Res 105 [1] to force a debate and vote on the buildup of U.S. troops in Iraq. H Con Res 105 would bring home the U.S. military advisers and prevent any direct U.S. military intervention in Iraq. The resolution would allow for the U.S. to continue protecting its embassy and diplomatic personnel.
Urge your Representative to co-sponsor and vote for H Con Res 105 by signing and sharing our petition.
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/iraq-withdrawal-war-powers
Thanks for all you do to help save children from the scourge of war,
Robert Naiman and Megan Iorio
Just Foreign Policy
Help us reach our July fundraising goal—make a $10 tax-deductible contribution today!
Your financial support helps us create opportunities for Americans to agitate for a more just foreign policy.
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate
References:
1. “H.Con.Res.105 – Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces, other than Armed Forces required to protect United States diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq,” https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/105