Five members of Nevada’s congressional delegation issued statements this weekend criticizing U.S. military action against Iran, calling for greater transparency from the White House and warning against the risk of a prolonged regional conflict.
Each of the Democratic lawmakers urged the administration to engage Congress before any further escalation. The White House stated it would hold a briefing for lawmakers later this week.
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen called on the White House to provide members of Congress with a detailed, classified briefing on the operation and its long-term strategy. Rosen said Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and described the Iranian regime’s support for ballistic missiles and terrorist proxies as leading national security threats to the United States, Israel, and the region.
She also cited what she described as violent crackdowns on Iranian protesters that have killed tens of thousands of people, adding that the regime “has no hesitation in ruthlessly punishing its own citizens.” Rosen said she stands with the Iranian people and will work in a bipartisan manner to support their access to information and document human rights violations.
At the same time, Rosen warned that the president’s approach to armed conflict, and what she described as a history of withholding information from Congress, could lead to another prolonged Middle East conflict without congressional authorization.
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that while the Iranian regime has sponsored terrorism across the Middle East and brutally oppressed and killed tens of thousands of its citizens, the administration has shown a willingness to use military force without clear objectives or an exit strategy.
Rep. Dina Titus, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the strikes as a potential step toward regime change.
Titus referenced the CIA’s 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, calling it a contributor to long-term resentment toward the United States and a factor in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Titus added that the administration has not made a compelling case for war to Congress or the American people, claiming she looks forward to voting for the Iran War Powers Resolution on the House floor next week.
Rep. Susie Lee said she remains firm in her position that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, but is awaiting an intelligence briefing to understand the justification for the strikes and the strategy for concluding them.
Lee said she wants assurances that the region will not face further instability and that the Iranian people will have a path toward democratic governance and peace. She also noted that the Iranian regime has funded global terrorism and is responsible for the deaths of Americans.
Lee said Iran is currently launching missiles toward U.S. bases in the Middle East and that she is praying for the safety of U.S. servicemembers.
Rep. Steven Horsford said the president has a constitutional obligation to provide Congress and the public with a compelling and urgent justification before placing American troops in harm’s way. Horsford echoed concerns about a prolonged overseas conflict and called for accountability before any further escalation.
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