Vote against another new war

All four Iowa members of the U.S. House of Representatives and both U.S. senators from Iowa voted to train and arm Syrian rebels to fight ISIS. The U.S. has been attacking ISIS by air in Iraq since Aug. 7. Now, likely reassured by the congressional vote, President Barack Obama gave the Pentagon a green light for airstrikes within Syria, which began on Sept. 22.

Anyone who claims U.S. military actions in Iraq and the larger Middle East in the past 23 years have not been instrumental in birthing ISIS is either naive or disingenuous. ISIS leaders have been trained by the U.S., and have been armed, both intentionally and unintentionally, with U.S. weaponry.

Congress has not authorized a war in Syria. The bill to support Syrian rebels explicitly states it is not to be construed as authorizations for U.S. armed forces to be introduced into hostilities. President Barack Obama claims the authority to strike terrorists whenever and wherever. Our Iowa congressional delegation, after its recess and the November elections, needs to reassert its constitutional responsibility and power in any declaration of war.

Sen. Tom Harkin and Rep. Tom Latham can vote against a new war without fear of future elections. That could also be the case for Bruce Braley, Steve King and Dave Loebsack. And Sen. Churck Grassley can recall his courageous vote against the first Gulf War in 1991. Let us hope and urge another unanimous vote from the Iowa delegation, this time against another new war.

Ed Flaherty

Iowa City