The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the U.S. Senate to VOTE YES on Senator Tim Kaine’s War Powers Resolution (S.J.Res.59), scheduled for a vote later this evening.
CAIR’s message follows Thursday night’s contentious classified briefing on the Iran strikes, where senators emerged with sharply divided views on the mission’s legality, effectiveness, and the true extent of damage done to Iran’s nuclear program. Democrats and several key Republicans expressed serious doubts. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the briefing “raised more questions than it answered.”
CLICK HERE: READ CAIR’S EMAIL BLAST TO THE U.S. SENATE
TAKE ACTION: URGE CONGRESS TO BLOCK US WAR ON IRAN
SEE: Senators Diverge Sharply On Damage Done By Iran Strikes After Classified Briefing
Earlier today, CAIR’s Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw sent an email to all Senate offices urging lawmakers to support the resolution, which would require the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
In his message to the Senate, McCaw warned that “U.S. military actions against Iran are occurring without Congressional authorization, placing American and civilian lives at grave risk and escalating the potential for a wider regional conflict.” He further noted that during last night’s classified briefing, the Trump administration “failed to demonstrate any credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that could justify last weekend’s strike under U.S. or international law.”
CAIR also raised alarm over reports that the latest U.S. military action was prompted by pressure from Israel’s government, a disturbing parallel to the way Israeli officials helped mislead the United States into the Iraq War through false claims about weapons of mass destruction.
“Congress alone has the constitutional authority to declare war,” said McCaw. “This vote is about constitutional accountability, preventing another unnecessary war, and making clear that foreign governments do not decide when American troops are sent into combat.”
CAIR’s action follows its ongoing national advocacy campaign urging Americans to contact their elected representatives in both the House and Senate. The organization’s emergency Action Alert calls on Congress to block any unauthorized war with Iran and to support the following measures:
- Senate: Senator Tim Kaine’s War Powers Resolution (S.J.Res.59)
- Senate: Senator Bernie Sanders’ No War Against Iran Act
- House: The bipartisan War Powers Resolution led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA)
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com