Americans who want to prevent more U.S. wars have a big stake in the enforcement of the War Powers Resolution. The War Powers Resolution was passed to ensure that the President would not be able to use military force, absent an attack on or imminent threat to the United States, without Congressional debate and approval. It’s a key speed bump – perhaps the most crucial speed bump we have in the United States – to prevent a rush to war. [1]

Press reports suggest that the Administration could launch military strikes in Syria within days. Syria has not attacked the United States, and Syria doesn’t represent an imminent threat to the United States. Under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, the Administration is not allowed to use military force in this situation without Congressional approval. But no court will intervene. Only political pressure can enforce the War Powers Resolution.

We set up a petition at MoveOn urging President Obama not to attack Syria without Congressional authorization, and urging Congress to insist on a debate and vote before any U.S. military attack on Syria. More than 14,000 people have signed. If you haven’t signed yet, please sign. Please share it with your networks; if you’ve already shared it, please consider doing so again. We set up this petition yesterday morning. By the end of the day, it had 10,000 signatures. We’d like to reach 20,000 signatures by the end of the day today. (I can tell you from conversations with Congressional staff today that they are aware of our petition.)

President Obama: Don't Strike Syria Without Congressional Approval

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/president-obama-dont-18?source=c.url&r_by=1135580

It’s crucial for both Democrats and Republicans who care about Congressional war powers to speak up. Some are doing so. Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee tweeted, [2] “Congress needs to have a full debate.” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine issued a statement [3] saying, “Absent an imminent threat to United States national security, the U.S. should not be engaged in military action without Congressional approval.” Republican Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-02) is circulating a letter to President Obama urging him to seek Congressional approval before taking military action. [4]

The British Parliament has been recalled for a debate and vote on war with Syria. [5] Wouldn’t it be strange if the British Parliament debated and voted, but not the U.S. Congress?

It’s not too late for Congressional debate. There’s no emergency that requires military action while Congress is out of session, and Congress can be recalled at any time, just like the British Parliament.

Add your voice and recruit others:

President Obama: Don't Strike Syria Without Congressional Approval

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/president-obama-dont-18?source=c.url&r_by=1135580

Thanks for all you do to help make U.S. foreign policy comply with democracy and the rule of law.

Robert Naiman, Just Foreign Policy

P.S. Please help support our work:

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate

References:

1. I wrote about this in more detail here: “President Obama: Don't Strike Syria Without Congressional Approval”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/president-obama-dont-stri_b_3817398.html

2. https://twitter.com/RepBarbaraLee/statuses/372366558665773057

3. “Kaine Statement on Syria,” Office of Sen. Tim Kaine, Monday, August 26, 2013, http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-syria

4. The text of Rigell’s letter is posted at http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1450

5. “Britain recalls Parliament to discuss Syria,” Gregory Katz, AP, August 26, 2013, http://news.yahoo.com/britain-recalls-parliament-discuss-syria-115209373.html