NPR’s A Martínez asks Delaware Democrat Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, about the war with Iran.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Let’s go to one of the lawmakers who could soon vote on a resolution that would restrain President Trump’s ability to take further military action against Iran, and that’s U.S. Senator Chris Coons, who is a Democrat from Delaware. He’s on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator, the resolution is authored by your colleague, your Democratic colleague, Tim Kaine. You have said that you will be voting yes. Why do you support it?
CHRIS COONS: I think it’s important that we rein in President Trump. He has failed to make the case to the American people, to explain why this war of choice had to be launched now. And, frankly, it’s a constitutional role for the Senate. To be clear, I do recognize that the Iranian regime is brutal, has supported terrorism, has massacred thousands of their own people and has the blood of Americans over many decades on its hands.
I will not mourn the passing of Ayatollah Khamenei. But that’s no reason that right now we needed to launch a broad-spectrum war that is engulfing the Middle East, that will cost billions and billions of dollars and has so far tragically cost the lives of six brave American service members who’ve already fallen in this conflict.
MARTÍNEZ: Do you think if the president had taken it to Congress that it would’ve happened?
COONS: Well, there’s several ways why Iran is not Iraq. And one of the more important ways is that President Bush took months and months, made the case to the American people, made the case to Congress. Ultimately, Congress did authorize the invasion of Iraq. It was based on false pretenses and flawed intelligence.
So I don’t know. But there is near unanimity in Congress that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. But this launch of a war against Iran is not clearly designed to achieve that goal. And when President Trump can’t decide what’s the purpose of the war, or the scope or duration of the war, I don’t think he should get an authorization for a war.
MARTÍNEZ: Your colleague, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, has said he would not vote for it. He said this was not an illegal war, based on the terms of what the War Powers Act is. Why does, Senator, the War Powers Act seemingly have different interpretations within your own party?
COONS: Well, I’m not sure enough members of my caucus have actually read it or studied its history. We’re trying to balance the president’s power as commander in chief to urgently respond to an imminent threat, which is a right and a power that he does have and needs to have, and how to restrain the president once he launches a war of choice, which is what has happened here.
I do think we’re using the War Powers Act appropriately to say to the president, you have to wind down these operations. You should return to diplomacy. We don’t see a credible path towards achieving the many different goals that you and your cabinet have sort of thrown against the wall in recent interviews. I was particularly struck that Secretary Hegseth yesterday would not rule out sending troops or set any timeline for this particular war. That, to me, was gravely concerning.
MARTÍNEZ: Does Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have that much sway over President Trump that an American president would actually launch a war with Israel just because Israel says it plans to attack Iran and that could lead to Iran hitting U.S. assets?
COONS: Well, that was the explanation Secretary Rubio gave publicly yesterday. And it’s striking that President Trump consulted with Prime Minister Netanyahu more than he did with the American people or the American Congress. This is not how a democracy is supposed to go to war.
MARTÍNEZ: Does he have too much influence over President Trump?
COONS: Well, he clearly has a great deal of influence. And while I support our vital ally, Israel, and its right of self-defense, I don’t think this is a good example of strategic decision-making. We shouldn’t allow the scope and duration of our military involvement against Iran to be launched by another partner or ally, no matter how important.
MARTÍNEZ: Senator, your state of Delaware hosts the Dover Air Force Base. That’s where the remains of the six U.S. service members killed so far are expected to be brought in this week in what’s known as a dignified transfer. What does that moment mean to you?
COONS: We have a sacred obligation to support our troops, to support everyone who serves us around the world, the diplomats, the families, the civilians of those deployed, but especially those who have voluntarily taken on the burden of serving our nation and keeping us safe. I have attended those dignified transfers with President Trump, President Obama, President Biden. It’s important that we honor them, and in particular, that we limit any further losses in this conflict.
MARTÍNEZ: One more thing, quickly. What’s the timeline for the vote in the Senate on this?
COONS: It’ll be this week, probably tomorrow, after we get a classified briefing today.
MARTÍNEZ: That’s Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. Senator, thank you.
COONS: Thank you.
MARTÍNEZ: And a note, we’ve asked multiple Republican lawmakers to join us. Those invitations remain open.
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