What have we done? Hear and read reactions from Jen Rubin & Ilan Goldenberg, Norm Eisen, Brian O'Neill, plus statements from members of Congress and other public servants. Keep watching this space
If Trump gets away with waging an undeclared war, if Congress doesn't push back hard and immediately (not holding my breath), then he'll know for sure he's going to have a free hand when he declares some kind of "national emergency" and voids, or cancels, the fall elections.
Uh, 'we' haven't done anything, and by the poll, 85% say that we ought not to be there. This is all on Trump, a cruel and dangerous distraction from the Epstein files. He thinks it will give him traction, that we will forget the files. We won't, and this illegal war is a significant miscalculation on his part. May it backfire on him.
We need not be experts on the law of war to see that Trump is violating our Constitution and the principles of the American Revolution. Restraining the power to waste Americans' lives and tax dollars in foreign wars was one of the primary reasons for the American Revolution. Thomas Paine in Common Sense appealed to that very sentiment to explain to Americans why they must be willing to risk their lives fighting for their own liberty in a war at home. If they failed to fight for their own liberty, their lives would be wasted by a tyrant sending them to fight foreign wars:
America should "never suffer itself to be drained of inhabitants, to support [wars] in either Asia, Africa, or Europe."
"Our plan is commerce, and that, well attended to, will secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe; because, it is the interest of all Europe to have America a free port.
[America's] trade will always be a protection."
The truth is that Trump is dangerously and obviously violating his own oath and duties under Article II as much as he is violating Article I of our Constitution. Article II, Section 3 explains how the President is required to support and interact with Congress regarding war (and tariffs):
The People commanded that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” If the president thinks war or tariffs are necessary and expedient, he must make the case to Congress. If he needs help making his case, “he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices.”
In Article I, the People vested in Congress, alone, the power to "declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water" and to "define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations."
Article II expressly limits all "executive Power" of the President to the following: “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed” and "faithfully execute the Office of President" to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." That's it. Nothing in our Constitution gave any president any power to start wars or other conflicts of his unilateral choosing.
No public servant has the power to sideline our Constitution. That is the very point of Americans (being the first in the world) putting a constitution into writing, having it be ratified by the People, declaring “the supreme Law of the Land” and requiring public servants to expressly acknowledge that they are “bound” to “support this Constitution.”
Public servants violating our Constitution don’t sideline or override it anymore that people who commit crimes manage to sideline or override criminal law.
Sinking boats and killing their crews without evidence, seizing the leader of Venezuela and supporting an agency that murdered our own citizens didn't work, so start an illegal war on top of everything else. The nuclear threat in Iran is much like the WMDs in Iraq. We were lied to then, and we've been lied to now.
Trump announced on Saturday that the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran had killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s supreme leader for almost 37 years and an implacable enemy of Israel and the United States, in a potentially seismic political shift in Tehran and the broader region.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. There was no immediate confirmation from the Iranian government.
The Ayatollah may have been an enemy of Israel, and possibly of the U.S., though any action that was taken against us was due to our bombing them in the past.
As for Trump declaring his death, I'd not touch the statement with a 10 foot quant pole. Like Bush's "Mission Accomplilshed" banner, there is a lot that's missing, including any good and viable reason why we are there.
Updated comment - both CNN and Iran confirmed the killing, so it's not just Trump's bragging. This isn't going to help the stability of either the country or the region.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Israel clashed with Iran at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday where the U.N. chief and many countries urged a halt to their attacks and a return to negotiations to prevent the conflict from spreading further into the region and beyond.
Secretary-General António Guterres told the council that everything must be done to prevent an escalation. “The alternative,” he warned, “is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”
Guterres said the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes violated international law, including the U.N. Charter. He also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates …
True re: ‘teeth’ perhaps, but it’s a demarcation point, for starters.
And they all (world) have reps there, arguing their points, so not to be entirely ignored.
What can the U.N. do regarding wars?
— “ The U.N. can work to prevent wars through diplomacy, mediation, and peacekeeping operations. If conflicts arise, the U.N. Security Council can take actions such as imposing sanctions or authorizing military force to restore peace and security.”
check the internet … but Trump esp is thumbing his nose at all & any these days,
— has gone rogue. Early days yet … the U.S. is also way behind in their dues to U.N.
The megalomaniac wants to become his own version of UN — fat chance! 🙄
Whereas Iran was a problem that need to be reckoned with - Trump's first attack was serious, and Hezballah's and Hamas's losses were significant. The US did not need to throw a bunch more of tax payer money at this problem - it was coming around. Trump and Kegseth are playing war games at our cost and the lives of many -and destruction to Iran and life interruption to our troops for no significant immediate benefit. There however is diversion from Epstein and Kushner talks for Gaza property. Many others have peaceful ideas. John Lennon's most famous quote is often considered to be from his song "Imagine": “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.”. Trump and Kegseth dream much differently - greed and power. And with the corrupt administration, 140 Insurrectionists in Congress, corrupt SCOTUS and Federalist Society of unethical lawyers - things look to be on a bad course.
Better then that the folks at the UN come to a decision soon on what is to be done before the whole region blows up. There's a similarity to an avalanche. Once started, very difficult to stop.
On another tack, Congress should pay up the dues to the UN and refuse to fund Trump's so called Board of Peace. They're looking for $10 billion and that would cover the almost $4 billion that we owe the UN, with interest.
Operation Epstein Fury.
Operation Limp Dick.
Operation Limp and Tiny Dick.
Good one, KKG. War is another way men make up for being afflicted with that condition.
This is just a drill.
If Trump gets away with waging an undeclared war, if Congress doesn't push back hard and immediately (not holding my breath), then he'll know for sure he's going to have a free hand when he declares some kind of "national emergency" and voids, or cancels, the fall elections.
Uh, 'we' haven't done anything, and by the poll, 85% say that we ought not to be there. This is all on Trump, a cruel and dangerous distraction from the Epstein files. He thinks it will give him traction, that we will forget the files. We won't, and this illegal war is a significant miscalculation on his part. May it backfire on him.
We need not be experts on the law of war to see that Trump is violating our Constitution and the principles of the American Revolution. Restraining the power to waste Americans' lives and tax dollars in foreign wars was one of the primary reasons for the American Revolution. Thomas Paine in Common Sense appealed to that very sentiment to explain to Americans why they must be willing to risk their lives fighting for their own liberty in a war at home. If they failed to fight for their own liberty, their lives would be wasted by a tyrant sending them to fight foreign wars:
America should "never suffer itself to be drained of inhabitants, to support [wars] in either Asia, Africa, or Europe."
"Our plan is commerce, and that, well attended to, will secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe; because, it is the interest of all Europe to have America a free port.
[America's] trade will always be a protection."
The truth is that Trump is dangerously and obviously violating his own oath and duties under Article II as much as he is violating Article I of our Constitution. Article II, Section 3 explains how the President is required to support and interact with Congress regarding war (and tariffs):
The People commanded that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” If the president thinks war or tariffs are necessary and expedient, he must make the case to Congress. If he needs help making his case, “he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices.”
In Article I, the People vested in Congress, alone, the power to "declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water" and to "define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations."
Article II expressly limits all "executive Power" of the President to the following: “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed” and "faithfully execute the Office of President" to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." That's it. Nothing in our Constitution gave any president any power to start wars or other conflicts of his unilateral choosing.
"America should "never suffer itself to be drained of inhabitants, to support [wars] in either Asia, Africa, or Europe.""
This we have done many times since that was written, and yes, Trump has sidelined the Constitution and congress.
No public servant has the power to sideline our Constitution. That is the very point of Americans (being the first in the world) putting a constitution into writing, having it be ratified by the People, declaring “the supreme Law of the Land” and requiring public servants to expressly acknowledge that they are “bound” to “support this Constitution.”
Public servants violating our Constitution don’t sideline or override it anymore that people who commit crimes manage to sideline or override criminal law.
You are being picky. In sidelining (ignoring or disobeying) the tenets of both the law and the Constitution is committing a violation of law.
Why didn't the Generals and flag officers refuse the illegal orders (and unconstitutional) orders to attack? It's in the UCMJ and it isn't ambiguous!
Why? 2 words: You're fired. They're all conditioned to think short term, never mind the tribunals when the Mad King falls.
Mortgages.
That had been my main question since the beginning of this illegal "war"....
They’re keeping their powder dry … saving it for the worst possible thing:
— Nov. elections? More over the top ‘quelling of domestic unrest’?
Just a guess & giving them the benefit of the doubt … for now.
— some are MAGA, others afraid … some biding their time …
Operation Desperation Fury.
DJ Card
Epstein files won’t die down
POTUS needs a distraction
Let’s start a war!
Sinking boats and killing their crews without evidence, seizing the leader of Venezuela and supporting an agency that murdered our own citizens didn't work, so start an illegal war on top of everything else. The nuclear threat in Iran is much like the WMDs in Iraq. We were lied to then, and we've been lied to now.
Trump announced on Saturday that the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran had killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s supreme leader for almost 37 years and an implacable enemy of Israel and the United States, in a potentially seismic political shift in Tehran and the broader region.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. There was no immediate confirmation from the Iranian government.
The Ayatollah may have been an enemy of Israel, and possibly of the U.S., though any action that was taken against us was due to our bombing them in the past.
As for Trump declaring his death, I'd not touch the statement with a 10 foot quant pole. Like Bush's "Mission Accomplilshed" banner, there is a lot that's missing, including any good and viable reason why we are there.
Updated comment - both CNN and Iran confirmed the killing, so it's not just Trump's bragging. This isn't going to help the stability of either the country or the region.
Trump says Khomeini was killed. Now Trump is wearing a huge target on his back. ☠️
Let us hope someone hits that target!
More thoughts and prayers.
Yeah, maybe his paid sharpshooter will nick the other ear.
This is not about distraction.
It's about power and greed.
A broader view might be that it's all about collective insanity.
Can be both & more.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Israel clashed with Iran at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday where the U.N. chief and many countries urged a halt to their attacks and a return to negotiations to prevent the conflict from spreading further into the region and beyond.
Secretary-General António Guterres told the council that everything must be done to prevent an escalation. “The alternative,” he warned, “is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”
Guterres said the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes violated international law, including the U.N. Charter. He also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates …
https://cheknews.ca/us-and-israel-clash-with-iran-at-emergency-security-council-meeting-un-chief-condemns-attacks-1308649/
That's all very well and fine, but does the UN have the teeth to enforce a de-escalation? At this time, it looks as if the fat is already in the fire.
True re: ‘teeth’ perhaps, but it’s a demarcation point, for starters.
And they all (world) have reps there, arguing their points, so not to be entirely ignored.
What can the U.N. do regarding wars?
— “ The U.N. can work to prevent wars through diplomacy, mediation, and peacekeeping operations. If conflicts arise, the U.N. Security Council can take actions such as imposing sanctions or authorizing military force to restore peace and security.”
check the internet … but Trump esp is thumbing his nose at all & any these days,
— has gone rogue. Early days yet … the U.S. is also way behind in their dues to U.N.
The megalomaniac wants to become his own version of UN — fat chance! 🙄
Lies and distractions is what this is about. No way to justify any of this.
tHIS IS THE TIME WE HAVE FEARED, WILL THE GOP CHOOSE AMERICA OR ZIONIST ISRAEL?
It is not a choice between the US and Israel. It's a choice between and illegal war by a nutcase for a regime leader and a legitimate leadership.
Looks like it chose-and it wasn't us the US that won.
The property developers seem to be winning … ?
THE FAT FUCK HAS THROWN US ALL IN THE FIRE NOW.
Whereas Iran was a problem that need to be reckoned with - Trump's first attack was serious, and Hezballah's and Hamas's losses were significant. The US did not need to throw a bunch more of tax payer money at this problem - it was coming around. Trump and Kegseth are playing war games at our cost and the lives of many -and destruction to Iran and life interruption to our troops for no significant immediate benefit. There however is diversion from Epstein and Kushner talks for Gaza property. Many others have peaceful ideas. John Lennon's most famous quote is often considered to be from his song "Imagine": “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.”. Trump and Kegseth dream much differently - greed and power. And with the corrupt administration, 140 Insurrectionists in Congress, corrupt SCOTUS and Federalist Society of unethical lawyers - things look to be on a bad course.
Revoke his bone spurs deferment and drop his fat perverted ass in the middle of Teheran. As we all know, HE's the only one who can fix anything.
Good one. Don't we wish!
What have “we” done?
Speak for yourself.
Then ask yourself what have Trump and his Republican accomplices done?
Better then that the folks at the UN come to a decision soon on what is to be done before the whole region blows up. There's a similarity to an avalanche. Once started, very difficult to stop.
On another tack, Congress should pay up the dues to the UN and refuse to fund Trump's so called Board of Peace. They're looking for $10 billion and that would cover the almost $4 billion that we owe the UN, with interest.