Tell our Members of Congress: No war with Iran!

By Ann G. Daniels

Deadline – ASAP to keep us out of war:

The New Year’s fireworks had barely stopped when the Aggressor-in-Chief sent firepower to Iran, ordering the assassination of Major General Qassim Suleimani, that nation’s second-most powerful person. He did this without either Congressional authorization or evidence for the claim of imminent threat, as the Constitution and the War Powers Act require. He also appears to have done it with no follow-up strategy. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani immediately tweeted “The great nation of Iran will take revenge for this heinous crime” and Iran swiftly launched attacks on bases in Iraq housing US and coalition forces and on Baghdad’s Green Zone. 

It’s pretty obvious that Trump isn’t going to back down now that he’s literally fired the first shot. It’s up to Congress to prohibit him from taking further military action. That means it’s up to us to tell our Members of Congress to take action.

Most but not all of our East Bay Members of Congress have already spoken out:

As of this writing, Senator Dianne Feinstein has made no public statements on this specific issue. However, an Indivisible East Bay member visiting Senator Feinstein’s DC office reports that they are getting a lot of pro-war calls. It’s urgent that you call Senator Feinstein’s DC office at (202) 224-3841 to voice your opposition to possible war – see our call script below.

From Senator Kamala Harris:

Soleimani was an enemy of the U.S., but President Trump’s actions put more American lives at risk and could lead to a new war in the Middle East – with no plan for what happens next. The Administration must fully brief and make its case to Congress ASAP.

From Rep. Mark DeSaulnier:

Last night’s deadly military strike against Iran’s top general was alarming and represents a massive escalation against Iran that Congress was not consulted on. I join [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi in demanding that we work to avoid potential retaliation.

From Rep. Barbara Lee:

Congress, not the President, has the power to declare war. Trump’s warmongering isn’t just disgraceful to our rule of law – it’s downright dangerous. #NoWarWithIran [linking Vox.com: “The President capped off a weekend of unhinged tweeting with one that threatened to violate multiple laws.”]

From Rep. Eric Swalwell:

The U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani in Baghdad is a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region, and a departure from our longstanding foreign policy practices, undertaken without any congressional notice or approval. … No American family will mourn Suleimani’s loss, but every family should be concerned this killing brings America closer to a war we must avoid. I was briefed Friday as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, but I still have many questions.

What you can do:

It’s urgent for your Senators and your Representative to get a clear message that their constituents strongly disapprove of Trump’s warmongering. Call and demand that they:

1. Condemn the military strike on Iran (or thank them for condemning it)
2. Demand NO WAR WITH IRAN
3. Support banning use of funds for unauthorized war

You’ll find customized scripts for East Bay Members of Congress below. We also provide a script for you to pass on to friends all over the country, along with the phone number for the Capitol switchboard.

East Bay MoCs:

Senator Dianne Feinstein (email); (415) 393-0707 • DC: (202) 224-3841 priority on calling the DC number!

My name is ___, my zip code is ______, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I do NOT want the US to go to war with Iran. I would like Senator Feinstein to speak out against Trump’s unauthorized military aggression, and I hope she’ll do everything possible to prevent war with Iran and ban the use of funds for unauthorized war. Please support Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution and AUMF amendment, and Senator Sanders’s anti-funding resolution.

Senator Kamala Harris (email); (415) 981-9369 • DC: (202) 224-3553:

My name is ___, my zip code is ________, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I’m grateful to Senator Harris for criticizing Trump’s unauthorized hostilities against Iran, and I hope she’ll do everything possible to prevent war with Iran and ban the use of funds for unauthorized war. Please support Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution and AUMF amendment, and Senator Sanders’s anti-funding resolution.

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (email); (510) 620-1000 • DC: (202) 225-2095:

My name is ___, my zip code is _______, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I’m grateful to Rep. DeSaulnier for criticizing Trump’s unauthorized hostilities against Iran. I hope he will do everything possible to prevent war with Iran and ban the use of funds for unauthorized war. Please support Rep. Slotkin’s War Powers Resolution, Rep. Khanna’s bill prohibiting funding for offensive military force in Iran, and Rep. Barbara Lee’s bill repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF.

Rep. Barbara Lee (email); (510) 763-0370 • DC: (202) 225-2661:

My name is ___, my zip code is _______, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I want to thank Rep. Lee for her bill to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF and all her work to restrict the power of the president to wage war without Congressional approval. I also want to thank Rep. Lee for calling out Trump’s latest acts of warmongering in the Middle East. Please support Rep. Slotkin’s War Powers Resolution and Rep. Khanna’s bill prohibiting funding for offensive military force in Iran.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (email); (510) 370-3322 • DC: (202) 225-5065:

My name is ___, my zip code is _______, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I want to thank Rep. Swalwell for criticizing Trump’s unauthorized hostilities against Iran. I hope Rep. Swalwell will do everything possible to prevent war with Iran and ban the use of funds for unauthorized war. I also hope Rep. Swalwell will use his position on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to demand information and answers to all his questions.

Don’t Live in the East Bay? Use this info!

Call the Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121, and ask to be connected to your Members of Congress. Here’s a simple call script: 

For Senators:

My name is ___, my zip code is ____________, and I’m a member of Indivisible ______ [if you are an Indivisible member].  I do NOT want the US to go to war with Iran. I want Senator ________ to speak out against Trump’s unauthorized military aggression. I hope the Senator will do everything possible to prevent war with Iran and ban the use of funds for unauthorized war. Please support Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution and AUMF amendment, and Senator Sanders’s anti-funding resolution. 

For Representatives:

My name is ___, my zip code is _______, and I’m a member of Indivisible ___________ [if you are an Indivisible member]. I do NOT want war with Iran, and I want Rep. ___ to condemn Trump’s unauthorized hostilities against Iran. I hope Rep. _____ will do everything possible to prevent war with Iran and ban the use of funds for unauthorized war. Please support Rep. Slotkin’s War Powers Resolution, Rep. Khanna’s bill prohibiting funding for offensive military force in Iran, and Rep. Barbara Lee’s bill repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF.

Not sure who your Representative or Senators are? Don’t worry – just use this handy Indivisible National form! Or check here to find out who they are and what they’ve been doing in your name. 

More information:

• This article has information about some Bay Area Members of Congress’s responses to the assassination of General Suleimani.
• This web resource from Indivisible National is useful nationwide.

 

Photograph “No War With Iran protest in San Francisco, January 4, 2020” by Sara Theiss.

Ann G. Daniels’ checkered professional background includes practicing law, reproductive rights advocacy, creating web content for nonprofits and educational organizations, and teaching adult and family literacy. She also designs jewelry, teaches knitting, and sings second soprano.