No War with Iran Amendment passes in Congress

The other day I posted a story that Congress was meeting in secret to discuss war against Iran.

If this report is true the result was quite different than war preparation. Either way, the mass media is silent.

US House strips Trump of war powers on Iran – Story buried

No War with Iran Amendment passes!

…from the National Iranian American Council, Washington, DC

Veterans Today,

23 May, 2018

[ Editor’s Note: You just can’t make this stuff up. Congress stepped up to the plate with a surprise unanimous vote attaching an amendment to a Defense authorization bill stating that “no law exists which gives the president power to launch a military strike against the Islamic Republic.”

The National Iranian American Council was the first to publish this yesterday but I waited until today to get more details. And here they are:

“The unanimous passage of this bipartisan amendment is a strong and timely counter to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran deal and its increasingly hostile rhetoric,” Congressman Keith Ellison said.

“This amendment sends a powerful message that the American people and Members of Congress do not want a war with Iran. Today, Congress acted to reclaim its authority over the use of military force,” he added.

I don’t have words to describe how shocked I am at the unanimous vote. I would have bet a bundle that such a thing in the current Congress would be impossible. Mind blower number two, sort of, it seems there is a total media blackout on this story.

Gosh, who would have the motivation and muscle to do that? Let me know what you think in the comments… Jim W. Dean ]

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U.S. House Makes Clear That There is No Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iran

May 24, 2018

Press Release

 A bipartisan amendment introduced by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and cosponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) passed the U.S. House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019

WASHINGTON —On Tuesday night, the House unanimously passed an amendment making clear Congress’s position that no law exists which gives the President power to launch a military strike against Iran. Today, that amendment passed the U.S. House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019.

“The unanimous passage of this bipartisan amendment is a strong and timely counter to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran deal and its increasingly hostile rhetoric,” Rep. Ellison said. “This amendment sends a powerful message that the American people and Members of Congress do not want a war with Iran. Today, Congress acted to reclaim its authority over the use of military force.”

“I am pleased with the inclusion of this amendment, which clarifies that the President does not have the authority to go to war with Iran,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Just weeks after President Trump shamefully pulled out of the Iran Deal, it is more important than ever to ensure diplomacy with Iran and in the region. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important amendment and will do everything in my power to ensure we do not go to war with Iran.”

“The War Powers Act and Constitution is clear that our country’s military action must first always be authorized by Congress. A war with Iran would be unconstitutional and costly. The unanimous passage of Rep. Ellison’s amendment sends a strong message to Secretary Pompeo, National Security Advisor Bolton, and the Trump administration that Congress has the power to decide issues of war and peace,” said Rep. Khanna.

“This amendment’s historic passage affirms the fact that the American people do not want to go to war with Iran. Following the President’s misguided withdrawal from the JCPOA, the House of Representatives sent a clear message by passing this amendment unanimously: unauthorized war with Iran is not an option. The President must listen to the American people and return to diplomacy as the primary solution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” said Rep. Schakowsky.

“Congress is sending a clear message that President Trump does not have the authority to go to war with Iran,” Rep. McGovern said. “With President Trump’s reckless violation of the Iran Deal and failure to get Congressional approval for military strikes on Syria, there’s never been a more important time for Congress to reassert its authority. It’s long past time to end the White House’s blank check on war and the passage of this amendment is a strong start.”

Read the amendment text here [PDF]