WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released a statement after the U.S. launched “major combat operations” against Iran.

“Early this morning, the President announced “major combat operations” against Iran with the stated goal of overthrowing the current regime. While I certainly agree with the President’s statements about Iran’s destructive behavior and the harm it has done in the region (including to Americans, going back to the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon and including IED’s in Iraq), the statement left me with several questions.

“The first is why hasn’t he made the case to the American people (and to their representatives in Congress) for such a major commitment of American forces, which could include troops on the ground? He had that opportunity as recently as Tuesday night, but did not take it.

“Secondly, why now? All reports were that negotiations with regard to Iran’s nuclear program were proceeding positively this week with the possibility of a long sought-after diplomatic solution, and there is no indication that new malign actions by the regime were imminent.

“The third question is what, if any, is the plan for an endgame now that the goal has moved from elimination of Iran’s nuclear capacity to regime change? As we have learned, toppling a despotic regime is only a first step; the hard question is what comes next and what will it take to insure that the next regime is not worse than that which went before.

“And finally, what is the legal and Constitutional authority for this extraordinary action? The Constitution explicitly places the power (and the responsibility) for taking our country into war in the peoples’ representatives in Congress for a reason—the commitment to war is much too important to rest in the hands of one person. That principle is as valid today as it was at the founding of our country.

“I hope for the best, especially for our troops who may be placed in harm’s way, but fear that this precipitous action may have unnecessarily put them at risk without sufficient consideration of the significant possibility of a prolonged and destructive conflict.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has been outspoken about his concerns regarding the President’s use of military force without congressional approval.

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