WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement on the United States’ and Israel’s reckless attack on Iran:

“President Trump’s unilateral decision to go to war with Iran is reckless and wrong. I share my concern with all Vermonters about the well-being of our troops, who will now be in harm’s way. Our hopes and prayers are with them and their families for their safety.

“The Iran regime is a threat to its own people, violently killing thousands of its citizens for protesting; a threat to the region, where it supports violent proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas; and a potential global threat as it seeks to acquire nuclear weapons.

“There are many more questions than answers after this attack: First, President Trump has not told the American people why he is abandoning the diplomatic approach he said he preferred and starting military action. Is it to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, which he said was already obliterated after the Operation Midnight Hammer attack? Is it for regime change? If so, can that be accomplished by bombing alone or does the president intend to put American boots on the ground to finish the job? And then what happens? Our past attempts at regime change in the Middle East have been costly failures.

“Donald Trump said he was running for president to end wars, not start them. We have seen how regime change wars—Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya—are easy to start but hard and costly to end. And when they do end there is more, not less, regional instability.

“President Trump has initiated this war. It is a war of choice. The president owes it to the American people to come to Congress and explain his objectives and his justification. He has done neither.

“The United States Senate must immediately reconvene to take up the War Powers Resolution put forward by Senator Kaine and Senator Paul. Congress has a duty under Article I of the Constitution to be the branch that authorizes whether the United States will go to war.”

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