Trump Should Seek Congressional Permission for Any Strikes on Iran

Will we, or won’t we? Once again, the American public is waiting to find out whether the American president will take action that has significant consequences for both the United States and the world. In estimating the likely outcome, we have nothing to go on beyond rumor, instinct, and the occasional executive-branch leak. The debates are internal, the permission is assumed, the factions are invisible to the layman’s eye. Perhaps he’ll do it. Perhaps he won’t. Your guess is as good as mine.

Last time around, the issue was tariffs; this time, it’s an American bombing run on Iran. People of good faith can disagree as to the wisdom of either, but, under our current habits, they cannot expect their concerns to be publicly batted around in a deliberative, representative forum. Over time, that system has been eroded, and, in its place, we have installed an emperor. This will not do.

Will we, or won’t we? Once again, the American public is waiting to find out whether the American president will take action that has significant consequences for both the United States and the world. In estimating the likely outcome, we have nothing to go on beyond rumor, instinct, and the occasional executive-branch leak. The debates are internal, the permission is assumed, the factions are invisible to the layman’s eye. Perhaps he’ll do it. Perhaps he won’t. Your guess is as good as mine.

Last time around, the issue was tariffs; this time, it’s an American bombing run on Iran. People of good faith can disagree as to the wisdom of either, but, under our current habits, they cannot expect their concerns to be publicly batted around in a deliberative, representative forum. Over time, that system has been eroded, and, in its place, we have installed an emperor. This will not do.