Statement on U.S. Military Action Against Iran

Indianapolis, IN - Veterans for Indiana is deeply concerned by reports that President Donald Trump has ordered large-scale U.S. military operations against Iran without Congressional authorization.

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As veterans, we understand the cost of war. Not in headlines, but in lives. We have carried our friends off battlefields. We have knocked on doors no family ever wants opened. We have lived with the consequences long after the cameras left.

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The Constitution is clear. The authority to declare war rests with Congress. That safeguard exists for a reason, because war is the most serious decision a nation can make. When American service members are placed in harm's way, there must be lawful authorization, defined objectives, and a clear strategy.

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Indiana is home to thousands of active duty service members, National Guard troops, reservists, and veterans. Our families deserve transparency. They deserve leadership that understands that war is not a political tool. It is a last resort.

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We are troubled by the shifting justifications for this action. If the goal is preventing nuclear proliferation, the American people deserve clarity. If the objective is regime change, that must be openly debated and authorized. Wars without defined missions become endless conflicts, and it our troops who pay the price.

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Hoosiers value responsibility, accountability and the rule of law. Those principles do not disappear in moments of crisis. They matter more.

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Veterans for Indiana calls on Indiana's Congressional delegation to fulfill its constitutional duty. Demand a full briefing. Require authorization. Define the mission. Protect our service members.

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We support a strong national defense. We also support constitutional governance.

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The brave men women who serve this country deserve nothing less than lawful leadership, clear objectives, and a plan to bring them home.