THE ISSUE
The U.S. stands on the brink of war with Iran following the January 3 surprise assasination by drone attack of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s elite Quds Force and the second-most powerful leader in Iran. Also killed was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units. News developments are coming fast and Congressional leaders are calling for more information. Get caught up and tell your members of Congress to support resolutions to prevent Trump from taking the U.S. into an illegal war. Here’s an update on the weekend’s news.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4
- Trump released a legally mandated war powers report to Congress following Soleimani’s assassination, but took the highly unusual step of classifying his rationale for taking the action, meaning that Congress cannot share the information with the American people.
- Members of Trump’s own administration expressed doubts about Trump’s justification for the assassination, calling the evidence of an imminent attack by Soleimani “thin” and pointing out that the extreme action was not recommended by military advisers.
- In a Tweet, Trump threatened to attack Iranian cultural sites, a war crime under international law.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5
- The Iraqi parliament voted to expel all U.S. troops from the country.
- Iran announced it will no longer honor any of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. On Trump’s orders, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018, the only nation to do so.
- The U.S. suspended its efforts to fight ISIS so it can focus on the pending threat of retaliation from Iran.
- Trump said in a Tweet that he may strike Iran “perhaps in a disproportionate manner.” He claimed the Tweet satisfied requirements under the War Powers Act to notify Congress of any possible military attack on Iran. It likely does not.
- Despite international pushback on his threat to target Iranian cultural landmarks, including resistance from within his own administration, Trump doubled-down on the threat.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6
- Two Democratic senators have called on the White House to declassify the war powers report submitted by Trump on Saturday.
- More than 3,000 U.S. troops are being rapidly deployed to the Middle East.
THE ACTION
- Contact your members of Congress. War powers resolutions have been introduced in the Senate and the House that would block Trump from further escalating hostilities with Iran without Congressional approval. Tell Senators King and Collins to support for the Senate resolution, and tell Representatives Pingree and Golden to back the House measure. Find their contact info below or in our Civic Dashboard.
- Stay informed. Developments on the Iran crisis are coming fast. We’ll update this page as new information is available. You can also follow live updates from the New York Times.
Sen. Susan Collins (R)
Email | Facebook | Twitter
Washington, DC (202) 224-2523
Sen. Angus King (I)
Email | Facebook | Twitter
Washington, DC: (202) 224-5344
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-CD1)
Email | Facebook | Twitter
Washington, DC: (202) 225-6116
Rep. Jared Golden (D-CD2)
Email
Washington, DC: (202) 225-6306
Maine House:
1-800-423-2900
Maine Senate:
1-800-423-6900
TTY: Use Maine Relay 711
Find your
Representative and Senator.
Originally posted on Suit Up Maine. Re-posted with permission.
