Here We Go Again? No More Wars!

by Contributor | March 5, 2026 9:29 am

As a veteran who served as an Army Officer, I believe the recent decision by Donald Trump to order military strikes against Iran demands urgent public scrutiny, because it raises serious questions about whether the administration has violated the very laws that govern the use of American military force. Under the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 8 grants Congress, not the president, the sole authority to declare war. This safeguard was designed to prevent exactly what we are witnessing now: unilateral military action taken without the consent of the American people through their elected representatives.

 

In addition to the Constitution, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 places strict limits on the president’s ability to engage U.S. forces in hostilities without congressional authorization. The law requires that military action be taken only in response to a clear and imminent threat to the United States, and even then, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours and obtain authorization within 60 days to continue. Nothing presented to the public suggests that these legal thresholds were met. Donald Trump acted without satisfying these requirements. It was not only reckless, it was unlawful.

Americans are exhausted by decades of conflict. We have seen too many administrations, both Republican and Democratic, stretch or ignore the legal boundaries meant to prevent endless war. This latest action by Trump is yet another example of overreach that undermines the rule of law and places our nation on a dangerous path. When Trump sidesteps Congress, he sidesteps the American people.

 

At moments like this, the responsibility falls on all of us to speak up. The power of the pen remains one of the most effective tools citizens have. We must write, call, and email our House and Senate representatives and demand that they enforce the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Congress must reassert its authority immediately and hold this administration accountable for any unlawful military action. Silence is not an option when the stakes include the lives of American service members.

Americans are tired of being dragged into conflicts without transparency, justification, or legal authority.

 

Thank You

Jim Cannon

Democratic Candidate for NY Assembly District 120

Fulton, NY

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/here-we-go-again-no-more-wars/

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