[Peace] Tell Rodney Davis to assert his Constitutional war powers before Trump strikes Syria

[Robert Naiman]

I understand and accept that people are cynical about calling Rodney Davis.
Me too. Most of the time, when I get a national alert urging me to call
Rodney Davis about something, I ignore it. Rodney Davis is not going to
care about my phone call about that. What's the point? It's a brick wall.

I believe that this is the exceptional case, because:

- This isn't a "Democratic" initiative. It's a *bipartisan* letter, co-led
by Michigan Republican Justin Amash.

- This is a very basic thing. This is the Constitution. This is Article I.
Rodney Davis swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Let's
call him to account for fulfilling that oath.

His direct line is *(202) 225-2371.*

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Just Foreign Policy <info at justforeignpolicy.org>
Date: Wed, Apr 11, 2018 at 8:34 AM
Subject: Tell Your Rep: Assert Your War Powers Before Trump Strikes Syria
To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org


[image: Just Foreign Policy]
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Dear Robert,



*Tell your Rep. to sign the Lofgren-Amash letter to stop an
unconstitutional strike on Syria.  202-225-3121*

The *New York Times* is reporting
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DHapiVCf7bJsQkzGACTC2V3kdAKnsvkX>
that
Trump has warned Russia that U.S. missiles “will be coming” to Syria.


But *Senator Tim Kaine* [D-VA] and *Senator Mike Lee*
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[R-UT] and the *Congressional Progressive Caucus*
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CnnuPCXGq7qE3ubJJtnEyF3kdAKnsvkX>
have
a very different idea. Under the Constitution and the War Powers
Resolution, *Congress, not the President*, decides when to use military
force.


The *NYT* reports
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=H6n1PSPVp2uxgMkjDGdg3F3kdAKnsvkX>:
‘Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said Mr. Trump needed permission
from Congress before action. “He’s a president, not a king, and Congress
needs to quit giving him a blank check to wage war against anyone,
anywhere,” Mr. Kaine said. “*If he strikes Syria without our approval, what
will stop him from bombing North Korea or Iran?*”’


The *NYT*’s Max Fisher *justly mocked*
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Washington’s “cult of ‘limited strikes.’” They accomplish nothing but
unnecessary killing. But Washington loves them anyway, because past
experience doesn’t matter. When it comes to pointless uses of military
force, Washington culture is *denialist*: repeated failure doesn’t cause
learning.


Democrat or Republican, *your Rep. has an easy way to assert their war
powers before Trump strikes Syria*: they can sign the *bipartisan**
Lofgren-Amash letter* to Trump, telling him to come to Congress for
authorization before striking Syria. That’s what stopped unconstitutional
military action in Syria in August 2013 – two hundred Democratic and
Republican House Members signing letters to the President, saying under the
Constitution and the War Powers Resolution you have to come to us for
authorization before striking Syria.


*Call your Rep. now at 202-225-3121.* When you reach a staffer or leave a
message, you can say something like:


“I urge you to defend the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. *Sign
the bipartisan Lofgren-Amash letter insisting that Trump get Congressional
authorization* before striking Syria.”


* And if you haven’t signed and shared our petition to the House in support
of the Lofgren-Amash letter, you can do that here
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rVznpXzzL6vMo%2BDn99ZR5SgPB7To6LqO>.
*

Thanks for taking action, and thanks for all you do to help make U.S.
foreign policy more just,

Robert Naiman, Sarah Burns, and Tyler Bellstrom
Just Foreign Policy

*If you think our work is important, please support us with an $18
donation.*
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate
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