As we approach Memorial Day, I mourn for the 15 American service members who died in our impromptu war in Iran. I also mourn the more than 3,500 Iranian, Lebanese and Israeli people killed, as well as victims of war from neighboring countries. As an Iraq War veteran, I know the casualties on all sides of war leave their mark on generations of innocent people.
The war in Iran began three months ago with no declaration or discussion. President Donald Trump thrust us unilaterally into a global conflict without ever telling the American people why. Nearly 60 percent of Americans disapprove of the war, and yet public resistance is eerily quiet. Democratic opposition is tepid at best, and even antiwar activists are not taking to the streets in droves.
This stands in stark contrast to the Iraq War, which had both more public support and a much larger voice of dissent before the war began. Nearly 70 percent of Americans approved initially of the Iraq War, and yet millions took to the streets nationally and globally to protest the war.
Our tepid response to the Iran War is reflected in our elected leaders, who are floundering over their basic war power responsibilities. Several attempts to merely vote on Congress’ war powers have been thwarted by Democrats, and a recent attempt to simply vote on whether Congress should have any role in this war was pulled by Republican leadership. Our elected leaders, Democrats and Republicans alike, are abdicating their Constitutional responsibilities.
This is unfortunately nothing new. It’s been more than 80 years since the United States formally declared war during World War II. Since then, we have lived in a state of perpetual war, putting our service members in harm’s way all over the globe. Hundreds of conflicts and millions of lives have been lost without our elected officials publicly declaring that war is just and necessary. War decisions should not be made unilaterally by the president. Congress must reclaim its war powers now, before escalation with Iran goes further.
Our founders made the decision to go to war difficult, because it should be difficult. If military action against Iran is truly necessary, Congress should have to debate it openly and vote on it. Let every elected official go on the record. Let the American people hear the case. Let the nation see whether this war is just, necessary and backed by a real plan. If our elected leaders were doing their jobs and did the bare minimum of fulfilling their Constitutional responsibility, this war and many others likely would never have happened.
Congress must reclaim its war powers now. Before more young Americans are sent into harm’s way. Before another generation of veterans is asked to carry the cost of a war they did not choose. Before those children who already understand the human weight of war are forced to live it themselves.
If American service members are going to fight and die in our name, we should at least make our elected officials vote on it.
Matt McLaughlin is an Iraq War veteran, Somerville city councilor and candidate for state Senate in the 2nd Middlesex District.
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