Over the weekend, President Trump, who ran on a platform of 'no more wars' declared one on Iran with the launch of a massive air attack on that country of over 90 million in coordination with Prime Minister Netanyhu and the Israeli military.
The punishing first wave killed the nation's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and close to 50 other top leaders. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks against Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Hundreds of civilians were also killed including dozens of students at an elementary school for girls in Minab, a city in southern Iraq, according to Aljazeera. Three US soldiers were also killed as well several others were seriously wounded.
On Sunday night, the conflict intensified with "retaliatory strikes" on Beirut, Lebanon by Israel.
Trump's latest unilateral military operation without any Congressional authorization, came just two months after President Trump launched an air assault on Venezuela and the abduction of its leader President Maduro.
Despite the rising risk of a widening conflict, Politico reported there was no rush by Republicans to reconvene Congress.
"Despite calls from Democrats to quickly reconvene both chambers and debate the war powers measures, Speaker Mike Johnson and Thune have no plans to do so," reported Politico. "The Senate’s vote is expected to be as soon as Tuesday, while the House is looking at Wednesday or Thursday."
Since 9/11, and America's so-called "war on terror" Congress has pretty much sidelined itself when it comes to weighing in on when and where the U.S. military is deployed. Over a generation, overseas US deployments expanded dramatically with little to no Congressional oversight.
In October 2017, during Trump 1.0, when four US servicemen were killed in Niger, the Congress lack of engagement became an issue when members openly admitted they were unaware of what was a 1,000 troop deployment to the African country.
"We are sending our young men and women into hazardous situations without their being completely equipped and capable of defending themselves. That is wrong," the late Sen. McCain said weeks after the news broke. "Four just died in Niger. How many of the 100 Members of this body knew that we even had an operation in Niger? I will not go into the details, in deference to the family, but this is wrong, what we are doing. We saw it in the 1970s, and now we are seeing it again."
For several months, the United States has attacked dozens of small boats in the Caribbean and East Pacific killing over 150 people under the pretext they were smuggling drugs without offering any proof.
The scale of Trump's use of lethal unitary power has grown exponentially, including ICE's summary execution of American citizens, while the GOP controlled Congress, with a handful of exceptions, has fallen into lockstep.
"For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries," Trump argued.
"The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties," Trump said. "That often happens in war. But we're doing this not for now, we're doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission."
Trump invited the Iranian people to rise up to depose the current government but advised them to shelter in place while Israel and the U.S. bombed their country. Trump's clueless entreaty to the Iranian population to rise up came not long after a violent crackdown on protests by Iran's government left 30,000 dead, according to the Guardian
"Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere," Trump said. "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations."
Over the weekend the Guardian reported "anti-war protesters gathered across the United States, including outside the White House and in New York’s Times Square to voice opposition to US military involvement in the region."
New York City Mayor Mamdani, who had just met with Trump, blasted the attack on Iran.
"Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace."
