To: The United States House of Representatives
Demand Congressional debate on escalation against ISIL
President Obama announced that the U.S. escalate its military campaign against ISIS (also known as ISIL, or the so-called Islamic State), to include potential military air strikes in Syria as well as Iraq. The president said he welcomes "congressional support" and "additional authorities and resources," but he did not indicate that he will seek Congressional authorization.
Because of the broad, extended, and open-ended nature of the proposed expansion of U.S. military force in the Middle East, it is critical that before the United States moves forward with any action, Congress must take time to debate the issue.
The concentration of military power in the executive branch of our government has brought about too many wars without active congressional participation. It is time to bring the legislative branch officially into the conversation and give the American people a chance to participate in these decisions.
I call upon my Congressman, Derek Kilmer, to to demand open and vigorous congressional debate on the planned escalation of military action against ISIL.
Because of the broad, extended, and open-ended nature of the proposed expansion of U.S. military force in the Middle East, it is critical that before the United States moves forward with any action, Congress must take time to debate the issue.
The concentration of military power in the executive branch of our government has brought about too many wars without active congressional participation. It is time to bring the legislative branch officially into the conversation and give the American people a chance to participate in these decisions.
I call upon my Congressman, Derek Kilmer, to to demand open and vigorous congressional debate on the planned escalation of military action against ISIL.
Why is this important?
I am concerned about the open-ended nature of this action. We need more than the decision by the executive branch before we again commit resources to a military action in the Middle East. The track record of the US in these types of interventions is disastrous, for both the US and the Middle East. It is time the American people through their elected officials become active participants in these decisions.