To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate

Don’t rush into endless war in Iraq & Syria

President Obama: Before bombing Syria or expanding airstrikes in Iraq, seek Congressional approval and U.N. Security Council authorization. Prioritize diplomatic efforts to address the political issues driving the conflict over expanding the use of force.

Congress: Insist that President Obama seek an authorization of force before further military escalation in Iraq or Syria, as the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution require him to do. Work to limit military escalation by insisting that any authorization of force have a time limit, so that we don't start another endless war. Limit the geographic scope of any authorization, to stop the war from expanding to other countries without Congress voting to approve or reject the expansion.

Why is this important?

We may be on the verge of another costly, open-ended war in the Middle East.

President Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria. The New York Times called the surveillance flights “a significant step toward direct American military action in Syria.”[1] Obama Administration officials have suggested that U.S. airstrikes against “Islamic State” fighters in Iraq could expand to attacks against “Islamic State” fighters in Syria. [2]

But we have a way to try to slow expansion of the US military campaign—and to keep us from getting entangled in another endless war.

In July, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H. Con. Res. 105, stating that Congressional authorization must precede any “sustained combat mission” in Iraq. By insisting now that the President come to them before expanding the use of force - as required by the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution - Congress can slow the rush to war, creating space for diplomatic and political efforts to address the underlying causes of the war. If Congress restricts any authorization of force with a time limit, we will be less likely to find ourselves in another endless war. [4]

Tell President Obama and Congress that there must be no blank check to expand airstrikes in Iraq or expand airstrikes into Syria. Sign our petition to help prevent another rush to endless war.

References:
1. Mark Landleder and Helene Cooper, "Obama Approves Air Surveillance of ISIS in Syria," New York Times, August 25, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/world/middleeast/obama-syria-ISIS.html
2. Tom Cohen, "Is Obama heading toward airstrikes in Syria?" CNN, August 23, 2014, http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/22/politics/us-isis-syria/
3. "Statement by the President on Iraq," August 9, 2014, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/09/statement-president-iraq
4. “Sunset an Authorization for the Use of Force in Iraq,” Robert Naiman, Huffington Post, 8/23/2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/sunset-an-authorization-iraq_b_5701711.html