The pro-Iran war posturing continues in the House, with yet another Member of Congress throwing their hat in the ring to signal support for Israeli-led preventive war on Iran.
Arizona Republican Paul Gosar has dropped what is now the third resolution in the 112th Congress providing Congressional cover for Israeli strikes—which the Pentagon has warned would drag the U.S. into war.
Signaling unconditional support for Israeli strikes significantly undercuts U.S. efforts to avoid war; it politicizes Israeli security (which is supposedly sacrosanct); and it provides political leverage against the U.S. administration for hawks in Israel (a group which, by the way, apparently doesn’t include Israel’s military chief).
Gosar’s resolution, H.Res.630, has no cosponsors. But between his new measure, a “happy birthday Israel, now go bomb Iran” resolution, and the one that started it all–the Gohmert resolution, there are now 120 House Members who have endorsed Israeli preventive war in the current Congress.
The full list is below–I wonder how many of these Members have repeated the line that we must “listen to our generals”? All the while, they disregard the overwhelming opposition to war with Iran expressed by the U.S. military, and instead follow the AIPAC-Netanyahu line (although AIPAC has been careful to not publicly endorse these measures, yet).
Gosar’s resolution also, tellingly, plays fast and loose with the facts, repeating the dangerous meme that Iran is actively building a nuclear weapon. This misstatement has been repeatedly shot down by top officials, including in testimony before Congress. They have made clear that, while Iran’s nuclear program is a serious concern that must be addressed, Iran’s leadership has not decided to actively pursue a nuke. U.S. intelligence agrees. Israeli intelligence agrees. The IAEA agrees. Congressional hawks, however, have their own set of facts.
The resolution also comes at a time when the U.S is finally gaining diplomatic traction in sensitive negotiations with Iran. Progress on the diplomatic front is critical to resolve the nuclear standoff, prevent war, and finally directly address the neglected issue of human rights in Iran.
Whether political opportunism or policy ignorance, it is unconscionable for elected officials to play games when the lives of U.S. servicemembers–not to mention civilians in Iran and Israel–are on the line. Yes, the question of nuclear weapons-acquisition versus capability is complicated. Yes, diplomacy is tough. But war is not simple nor easy. And we deserve for our representatives in Congress to do their homework instead of paving a path through falsehoods to another war of choice.
Representatives who have signed onto resolutions endorsing Israeli preventive strikes on Iran (113 Republicans in bold, 7 Democrats in italics:
Rep Adams, Sandy |
Rep Austria, Steve |
Rep Bachmann, Michele |
Rep Bachus, Spencer |
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. |
Rep Barton, Joe |
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. |
Rep Blackburn, Marsha |
Rep Boren, Dan |
Rep Brady, Kevin |
Rep Broun, Paul C. |
Rep Bucshon, Larry |
Rep Buerkle, Ann Marie |
Rep Burton, Dan |
Rep Canseco, Francisco “Quico” |
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. |
Rep Carter, John R. |
Rep Chabot, Steve |
Rep Chaffetz, Jason |
Rep Coble, Howard |
Rep Cole, Tom |
Rep Conaway, K. Michael |
Rep Culberson, John Abney |
Rep DesJarlais, Scott |
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario |
Rep Duncan, Jeff |
Rep Ellmers, Renee L. |
Rep Flake, Jeff |
Rep Fleischmann, Charles J. “Chuck” |
Rep Fleming, John |
Rep Flores, Bill |
Rep Forbes, J. Randy |
Rep Franks, Trent |
Rep Gallegly, Elton |
Rep Garrett, Scott |
Rep Gohmert, Louie |
Rep Goodlatte, Bob |
Rep Gosar, Paul A. |
Rep Gowdy, Trey |
Rep Granger, Kay |
Rep Graves, Tom |
Rep Griffin, Tim |
Rep Griffith, H. Morgan |
Rep Grimm, Michael G. |
Rep Guinta, Frank C. |
Rep Hall, Ralph M. |
Rep Hanna, Richard L. |
Rep Harper, Gregg |
Rep Harris, Andy |
Rep Hartzler, Vicky |
Rep Hayworth, Nan A. S. |
Rep Hensarling, Jeb |
Rep Holden, Tim |
Rep Huelskamp, Tim |
Rep Huizenga, Bill |
Rep Hultgren, Randy |
Rep Issa, Darrell E. |
Rep Johnson, Bill |
Rep Johnson, Sam |
Rep Jordan, Jim |
Rep Kelly, Mike |
Rep King, Steve |
Rep Kingston, Jack |
Rep Kline, John |
Rep Lamborn, Doug |
Rep Lance, Leonard |
Rep Landry, Jeffrey M. |
Rep Lankford, James |
Rep Latta, Robert E. |
Rep Long, Billy |
Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine |
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. |
Rep Mack, Connie |
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. |
Rep Marchant, Kenny |
Rep Marino, Tom |
Rep McCaul, Michael T. |
Rep McClintock, Tom |
Rep McHenry, Patrick T. |
Rep McKinley, David B. |
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy |
Rep Michaud, Michael H. |
Rep Miller, Candice S. |
Rep Miller, Jeff |
Rep Mulvaney, Mick |
Rep Murphy, Tim |
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins |
Rep Neal, Richard E. |
Rep Pearce, Stevan |
Rep Pence, Mike |
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. |
Rep Poe, Ted |
Rep Pompeo, Mike |
Rep Posey, Bill |
Rep Price, Tom |
Rep Reed, Tom |
Rep Ribble, Reid J. |
Rep Roe, David P. |
Rep Rogers, Harold |
Rep Rokita, Todd |
Rep Runyan, Jon |
Rep Rush, Bobby L. |
Rep Schmidt, Jean |
Rep Scott, Tim |
Rep Sessions, Pete |
Rep Shimkus, John |
Rep Smith, Adrian |
Rep Smith, Christopher H. |
Rep Southerland, Steve |
Rep Stivers, Steve |
Rep Stutzman, Marlin A. |
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. |
Rep Turner, Robert L. |
Rep Walberg, Tim |
Rep Walsh, Joe |
Rep West, Allen B. |
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. |
Rep Wilson, Joe |
Rep Woodall, Rob |
Rep Yoder, Kevin |