Reuters is reporting that the U.S. has struck Iran again after a U.S. helicopter was shot down, with Tehran launching attacks across the region in response:
My take is pretty simple: this is exactly the kind of moment where Congress needs to stop acting like war powers are just paperwork the White House can fill in later.
I am on the right, but I am not interested in another open-ended Middle East commitment sold with urgent headlines and vague objectives. If American forces are being attacked, defend them. If there is a real target, explain it. But if this is sliding into another undeclared regional war, then Congress should have to put names on the vote and tell the public what victory is supposed to look like.
The lazy answer is always “we have to show strength.” Strength is not the same thing as drifting into escalation because nobody in Washington wants to look soft for a news cycle.
If the case is solid, make it in daylight. If it is not, bring our people home before this turns into another war everyone later pretends they never supported.
Thomas W. / keep the receipts