WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran:
“This morning, President Trump again broke his promise to the American people to stop pursuing wars of choice in the Middle East.
“The President ordered “major combat operations” in Iran attacking targets including senior Iranian leadership with the apparent goal of regime change. This war has no legal justification under domestic or international law.
“As an Army veteran who served in Iraq, I’m left asking one question: How does this war end?
“President Trump doesn’t know, and, worse, he doesn’t care. He and his team are incapable of a sound strategy to succeed.
“He said in his speech justifying the strikes, “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost.” He is too eager to make a sacrifice that service members and their families will bear.
“It should never be the case that the United States puts our sons and daughters in harm’s way without a clear purpose, path to victory, and exit strategy.
“I have said before that wars are easy to start and hard to finish, and regime change from the air is very unlikely to succeed. President Trump has exposed our troops, citizens, and allies to great risk from Iran in the form of ballistic missiles and terrorist attacks. Make no mistake, American blood and treasure will be consumed in this war of choice.
“The Iranian regime is evil. They have brutally suppressed their own people — most recently murdering tens of thousands of their own citizens demanding freedom — and long sponsored terrorist attacks across the world. My twin brother, Alex, was wounded by an Iranian IED while serving in Iraq.
“There is no love lost between me and the Iranian regime, and the world would be better off without them.
“But the decision to go to war rests with Congress because the Founders knew such consequential decisions require the assent of the people. President Trump has ignored that obligation again, and I dread it will lead to another war in the Middle East that the American people do not want.
“Trump is not a President of peace. He is a President of chaos and war.
“My thoughts are now firmly with American service members who will bear the brunt of President Trump’s ill-advised adventure.”
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