One year ago the Libertarian Party of Iowa (LPIA) issued a resolution condemning President Trump’s unilateral missile strike on Syrian airfields. The LPIA State Central Committee unanimously issued this condemnation and a call for the United States to return to the rule of law and to cease aggressive warfare.
In the ensuing twelve months, our armed forces have become more embedded in Syria, congress has failed to exercise their constitutional authority to declare war and has failed to restrain the executive branch from foreign adventurism.
One year later we are again launching missile strikes against a sovereign nation that is closely tied with Russia, who has asserted the right to shoot down American planes and attack missile launch sites.
This civil war, with horrendous civilian casualties, threatens not only peace in the region, but world peace with the major powers aligning against each other in a way not seen since the last world war.
A dangerous, unprincipled and aggressive President, combined with a feckless congress, have endangered the lives of our servicemen and our own people at home in the event of Russian retaliation.
These actions are receiving broad bipartisan support from the Democrat and Republican establishments along with a consensus from the mainstream media. It is truly disheartening that the only thing our leaders and media can agree on is more war.
We stand by our resolution of this past April, which is as follows:
Whereas The United States Constitution places the authority to declare war within the delegated duties of congress.
Whereas The War Powers Act specifies the powers of the President to take military action only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.
Whereas the Libertarian Party of Iowa believes in the non-interventionist traditions of our nation at its founding; as the American people have not been presented evidence that the United States or its people were under direct or imminent threat by the nation of Syria.
The Libertarian Party of Iowa hereby condemns the aggressive and unconstitutional acts of war as ordered by President Trump. We call for immediate debate on this issue with the proper congressional authorities and for all of Iowa’s congressional representatives to condemn and oppose these unconstitutional acts. We call for a diplomatic solution so the tragic killing of Syrian civilians will not be repeated.
Libertarian Party of Iowa State Central Committee
April 7, 2017
