As House Democrats walked out of a briefing over the US military campaign against Iran, many expressed exasperation with the Trump administration.

Today, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn) shared his reaction with reporters following the briefing: “I’m more convinced now that this is going to be open-ended and forever.”

He added, “This feels like a multitrillion-dollar open-ended conflict with a very confusing and constantly shifting set of goals. They clearly seem fine with hard-line elements being in control of the country, because they plan to permanently run air operations in order to chase [Iran’s] missile-making capability, drone-making capability, and nuclear capabilities.”

  • ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip
    1·
    1 day ago

    It is actually legal for the president to deploy troops without congress declaring war. It is how America has fought every war since WW2. Presumably the supreme court could intervene and say “actually, this one wasn’t a real emergency,” but that’s never happened.

    As it happens, it’s a lot easier for a president to deploy troops than for congress to say “actually don’t deploy those troops,” so it’s functionally an unchecked power that we invented to deploy to Korea.

    • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.worksOP
      1·
      1 day ago

      https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/are-us-attacks-iran-legal-2026-03-04/

      Presidents of both parties have conducted military strikes without congressional approval when it was in the national interest but less intense in ⁠duration and scope than what would be considered a war – a limit that Trump may be testing.

      He’s already admitted and at this point Congress seems fully aware, this is going to last beyond any scope that would be considered a strike vs war.

      Also, why TF did he hit a fucking elementary school? I hate to use the term double tap because it’s fucking stupid and this is not a video game, but that is the term they used to describe it. Just like they did to those fishermen they killed in Venezuela.

      They’re escalating, just like any serial killer.

      WHAT DOES INTERNATIONAL LAW SAY?

      Legal experts said many countries will consider the attacks unjustified under the United Nations Charter, which states that member states must refrain from using force or the threat of force against other states. There are exceptions when force is authorized by the U.N. Security Council or used in self-defense in response to armed attack, neither of which applies. There is also the concept of pre-emptive self-defense, which would arguably allow the United States to attack Iran if it had proof of an imminent, overwhelming attack. The United ⁠States has a veto at the U.N. Security Council, shielding Washington. Legal experts said violating international law still carries a cost and both the United Kingdom and Spain have limited the use of their bases in the attacks, citing the lack of justification for the conflict.

      It seems pretty clear what would happen if they (Trump, Netenyahu, MsB, and all the sycophants below them and handlers above them) ever faced a trial for their crimes. Which is why they’re hoping starting WWIII will keep that from happening.