Iraq Vet Slams “Foolish War” as Congress Debates Hostilities

Congress Confronts “Foolish War” as Veteran Lawmaker Demands Accountability

Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio, an Iraq War veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, is urging Congress to halt what he describes as a “foolish” and “unnecessary” war, asserting that the decision to engage in hostilities rests solely with the American people through their elected representatives. Deluzio’s impassioned plea comes as a war powers resolution faces a critical vote in the House, following its failure in the Senate, and amid controversy over the White House’s handling of casualties.

Constitutional Duty and the Call for Congressional Action

Speaking on the urgency of the vote, Congressman Deluzio expressed hope for a different outcome in the House, noting potential Republican support and the possibility of some Democratic defections. “Whether it’s Donald Trump or any other president, our Constitution is crystal clear and our Constitution is not a suggestion,” Deluzio stated. “So we should be voting yes on this resolution. We should be putting a stop to this foolish war, this unnecessary war that Americans have already bled and died in, unfortunately.” He emphasized that the power to declare war is a fundamental check on executive authority, intended to ensure that such grave decisions are made with the consent and deliberation of the American populace.

Scathing Rebuke of White House Response to Casualties

Deluzio did not mince words when reacting to comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Press Secretary regarding the deaths of six service members in the ongoing conflict. A clip played during the interview featured Hegseth dismissing critical press coverage as the work of the “fake news” and suggesting that the focus on fallen soldiers was an attempt to make the president look bad, while highlighting perceived military successes. “The press does only want to make the president look bad. That’s it. That’s a fact,” Hegseth claimed.

Congressman Deluzio vehemently disagreed, calling the administration’s framing “outrageous,” “weak,” and indicative of misplaced loyalty. “You know, they made it all about Donald Trump. I think they have Trump derangement syndrome,” Deluzio retorted. “It’s about these service members and their families who are grieving right now in a war that we in this country have not authorized, the American people do not want.” He highlighted the administration’s acknowledgment that more casualties are likely, a prospect he finds deeply concerning given the lack of congressional authorization and public support for the war.

“My generation of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, that generation of veteran is going to pay the cost of those wars for as long as we are alive… And for the secretary of defense and the white house spokesperson to dismiss our country’s grave concern for those fallen Americans, it’s it’s it’s outrageous it’s weak and it’s really just it shows their loyalty to Donald Trump above even thinking about the families of those who have fallen.”
Rep. Chris Deluzio

Personal Experience and Skepticism on Military Objectives

Drawing on his personal experience as a veteran of the Iraq War, Deluzio expressed skepticism about the effectiveness and long-term implications of the current military operation. While acknowledging reports of the U.S. hitting over 2,000 targets and potentially gaining control of Iranian airspace, he questioned the strategic endgame. “I think the question we’re all asking is what comes next?” Deluzio posed. “So you’re shooting down and knocking out Iranian anti-aircraft and Iranian aircraft, you’ve sunk ships including one… You’ve knocked out the leadership of this country, who is in charge, what comes next?”

His concerns are amplified by reports that the administration might consider sending American troops to Iran. Deluzio warned against regime change wars, emphasizing their inherent deadliness and cost, especially when initiated without public or congressional consent. “Regime change wars are deadly and costly and for this administration to start one without even asking the American people their opinion, I think it’s foolish,” he stated.

Echoes of Past Conflicts: The Perils of Unforeseen Consequences

Deluzio drew parallels to past U.S. interventions, particularly those involving arming proxy forces. He cited intelligence reports suggesting the U.S. might arm Kurds to help overthrow the Iranian government as a potentially dangerous strategy. “Every time in our country’s history, especially in this region, the Middle East, where we have engaged in regime change wars and armed others who are belligerents and those who are opposed to the government, there are second- and third-order effects that people in Washington didn’t predict,” Deluzio explained, referencing the historical precedent of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan becoming part of the Taliban.

He lamented the apparent lack of foresight from the current administration and the disinterest of many Republican lawmakers in scrutinizing these potential consequences. “This, to me, highlights exactly why we should be demanding that there’s a debate in the Congress with the American people of whether they want our country in this war, whether they want Americans to fight and bleed in this war that this president has put Americans into,” Deluzio concluded, reinforcing his call for immediate congressional action to halt the hostilities.

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Source: 'We should be putting a stop to this foolish war': Iraq War Vet Rep. Deluzio (YouTube)

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