Early Sunday morning, after I learned that the U.S. had bombed Iran, I commented to a friend, “We are at war.” My friend responded, “Are we?” The answer was, in my opinion, yes. But now that a ceasefire appears to be at hand, the answer is “maybe.”
Regardless of how you want to categorize the attack on Iran, President Trump launched the attack without authorization from Congress.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the right to declare war. President Trump decided that following the Constitution was not practicable or didn’t apply.
Congressional Democrats are questioning Trump’s action. Representative Al Green (D-TX) introduced an impeachment resolution, but the House voted to table the resolution (kill it) yesterday by a vote of 344-79. One hundred twenty-eight Democrats joined 216 Republicans on the vote.
Is the issue of whether President Trump violated the Constitution “water under the bridge?” Of course not. If Iran violates the cease-fire, the President will launch more military strikes. And “hostilities” could continue for a long time.
Thus, I was glad to hear that Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY), joined 11 other military veteran Democrats in introducing a War Powers Resolution so the issue can be debated. The Democrats support Trump’s action, but not the absence of Congressional approval.
But enough about whether the President had the authority to launch the attack. What I worry about is what will happen now. I doubt the cease fire announced with great fanfare and self-congratulation by Trump will hold. I hope I am wrong.
Iran has not awakened to the error of its ways. Instead, it may simply be taking a breather from trying to wipe Israel off of the face of the earth and trying to retaliate against the U.S. Israel also is unlikely to stop its attacks on Iran if it concludes doing so is not in its best interests.
And what about the possibility that, despite President Trump’s innumerable claims that the attacks were a complete success, Iran still has weapons-grade enriched uranium? What if Iran’s close ally, Russia, told Iran to stand down for now and promised to assist Iran with retaliation against the U.S. once its war with Ukraine is over, which, unfortunately, could be sooner than most of us appreciate?
Is the Middle East entering a period of peace? No. Iran hates Israel as much as it always has. And it hates the U.S., the “Great Satan,” more than it ever has. And those hatreds will continue for decades.
I am not ready to congratulate Trump for “victory” in Iran, but I won’t criticize him for the attack either. As I have written elsewhere, I hope the attack did some good. I don’t want Iran to have nuclear weapons, but I would have preferred that goal to be reached through diplomacy rather than B-2s and 30,000-pound bombs.
Despite the “cease-fire,” which may be violated by the time you read this, I believe America remains at war. Only time will convince me that the risk of additional retaliatory strikes, including attacks inside the U.S., is over.
This week, I won’t be writing about Trump’s ethical issues, about his crude language, or about his One Big Beautiful Bill, which I still hope fails to pass. For the short term, I will be focused on the horrifying possibility of a long-term war with Iran and pray that doesn’t happen.
J.E. Dean writes on politics, government but, too frequently, on President Trump. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean also writes for Dean’s Issues & Insights on Substack
HR Worthington says
For once, I rather agree with you. I am sure there is plenty of ink from White House Counsel justifying it, but I do not believe President Trump should have acted without Congressional authorization.
The problem is that the Executive Branch has long taken liberties with its role of the President as Commander-in-Chief. Congress will make its usual noises about it, but I suspect they rather like dodging accountability and are happy to acquiesce. Bush did it. Obama did it. Biden did it. Trump has also done it. (They also like money, and defense contractors have a lot of it.)
That’s not justifying his actions, as I don’t think it is in the best interests of America to engage in foreign conflict of any kind without significant public debate first. Personally, I believe that Congress, in large measure, is made up of a collection of vapid morons looking to get rich on stock tips or famous so they can become subsequently rich. I’m not sure they really have a principled view on anything worth a damn, but nonetheless they are our duly elected vapid morons, and though I regard them as such, they should do their job for a change and not embarrass us all.
Well done, Mr. Dean. I give you a solid B+ on this one. -HR
John Dean says
Are you sure?
Just kidding. Thanks for your kind words.
Art Cecil says
Since we apparently are using the “if” word when critiquing Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear infrastructure what if Iran could load a nuclear bomb on the end of the rockets it is able to lob into Israel and maybe eventually the US?
John Dean says
It depends on what you mean by “if.” If “if” means what “if” is usually understood to mean, “if” could mean something other than “if.”
Bob Kopec says
Trump is a loose cannon. 1 thing he wants is revenge against people who prosecuted him in his first term by doing their jobs in going after a criminal – Trump. Another thing this greedy criminal wants is to line his pockets with money that Americans pay thru taxes – he does not pay taxes and as a result was convicted of 34 felonies. More than anyone in history.
Wilson Dean says
Trump’s bombing of Iran was unnecessary, insofar as there was no imminent threat. It was a typical Trump move to prove—which he did once again—that he is the full-fledged dictator of the United States. He ignores his Constitutional responsibility to confer with Congress on bombing Iran, just as he ignores his Constitutional responsibility to not withhold money already allocated by Congress, just as he ignores his Constitutional responsibility to follow the orders of the courts, just as he ignores his Constitutional responsibility to permit those being deported due process, just as he ignores his Constitutional responsibility to not unnecesarily place our US military personnel in a domestic policing role, just as he ignores his Constitutional responsibility to not remove the heads of Congressionally established independent agencies, just as…the list is endless and growing.
Bottom line: we are currently living in a dictatorship. Republicans are no longer Conservatives with ideas of limited government, but rather cult members bowing to the every whim of their master. Democrats are powerless and disorganized. It will take a major effort and a great deal of good fortune to reverse this situation.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Apparently Trump advised Bibi not to bomb Iran. However, seeing the powerful images of the Israeli bombing being celebrated on his network Fox, he just had to be apart of the “glory”. Then in his “victory
Lap” his use of hyperbolic rhetoric was an embarrassment and a gross exaggeration.
If that alone is not enough to scare the you know what out of Americans, I don’t know what will.
Dave Taylor says
Where we all of you hypocrites on the left when Obama dropped 12192 bombs on Syria, 12095 on Iraq, 496 on Iraq, and 35 on Yemen in2016 without a declaration of war? I’m sure you weren’t yapping about Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 then.
Hypocrites.
John Dean says
How can you be sure? And are you sure the attack was successful?
And are you saying that Trump’s actions should not be scrutinized if Obama’s actions weren’t?
In any case, thanks for reading the piece, even if you appear to be calling me a hypocrite after assuming, with no evidence, that I wasn’t yapping when Obama dropped his bombs.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Obama focused more on diplomacy and seeking congressional approval before taking action against the Assad regime in 2013, whereas Trump acted unilaterally.
And: Obama was not acting because, as an example, some sad insecure response to seeing Bebe getting star coverage on Fox.
Trump is a simpleton who needs admiration continuously. No one could seriously consider them
equals. Trump is pathetic and an embarrassment, unless one is lacking in decency, whether rich or poor,
Reed Fawell 3 says
“This week, I won’t be writing about Trump’s ethical issues, about his crude language, or about his One Big Beautiful Bill, which I still hope fails to pass. For the short term, I will be focused on the horrifying possibility of a long-term war with Iran and pray that doesn’t happen.”
These Dean articles are laughable. Can’t the Spy find someone to write who lives in the real world?
John Dean says
I live on the Eastern Shore. It seems real to me . . .
Jess Haberman says
I agree with HR that other Presidents have done the same thing and their ability to do so is no less and no more right than Trump’s. I suppose if they were illegal orders the military wouldn’t carry them out. On the other hand there was never any President before as moronic, narcissistic, unthinking and ill-read as this one (don’t blame me, these are the words of people who have worked closely with him). Did any other of the Presidents mentioned surround themselves solely with sycophants, yes men and ass kissers? God I hope this works out, Iran becomes a peaceful country and the Palestinians and Israelis make peace and live in harmony and prosperity. And, as a result Trump gets to do all the real estate deals he wants in Arab countries. But if it happens it certainly won’t be because Trump surrounded himself by and listened to wise counselors, or carefully considered the risks and results of his actions. Again don’t blame me HR, Trump proudly asserts he makes decisions based on his gut.
Bob Parker says
The U.S. jumping in to bomb Iran exposes trump to be the person he is, namely a coward and bully. He joined Israel in attacking Iran only when it was clear that Israel had Iran “on the ropes”. In contrast to Pres. HW Bush, trump getting the U.S. involved in a middle east war was not to protect an ally who had been directly invaded by an adversary country. Given the circumstances, one could conclude that Netanyahu out-maneuvered trump into taking actions. In addition, trump’s actions would not have been needed if he had not walked away from the agreement negotiated by Pres. Obama. Lastly, in spite of Iran’s rhetoric, how likely is it that even if they possessed a nuclear weapon they would use it risking a massive nuclear retaliation? When was the last time North Korea, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Great Britan or France used their nuclear weapons? I do not think any of these countries have a death wish, and neither does Iran. While I could be wrong regarding Iran, trump’s action did not reflect careful strategic thinking, rather it showcased the impulsivity, narcissism, poor judgement and lack of critical thinking abilities for which he is well known.