Share the decision with Congress

Evidence is mounting that the Assad regime in Syria has murdered civilians, including children, with chemical weapons. President Obama is right to focus his attention on holding the regime accountable, yet his belief that he has the authority to attack Syria without first obtaining authorization from Congress is wrong.

The atrocities in Syria don’t pose an imminent threat to U. S.

That’s why, joined by a third of the House of Representatives, I sent a bipartisan letter to the president urging him to consult and obtain authorization from Congress before engaging U. S. forces in the Syrian civil war.

For the president to engage the U. S. military in Syria, when no direct threat to the United States exists, would violate the Constitution. The atrocities in Syria do not pose an imminent threat to our nation. The flexibility given to the commander in chief in the War Powers Act of 1973 does not apply. And bad precedent, like the use of force in Libya, is not a substitute for constitutionality and the rule of law.

Our first president and commander in chief, George Washington, provided this insight on the use of military force: “The Constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress, therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.”

That view was essentially expressed by then- Sen. Obama in 2007 when he stated: “The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”

Regardless of how one views the constitutionality of the action now being contemplated by the president, I sense that we are becoming callously disconnected from the consequences of military force. The president has characterized the military operation as “limited” and “tailored.” Yet, there is nothing “limited” or “tailored” about a Tomahawk cruise missile — particularly if you’re on the receiving end. The launch of even one missile is a serious escalation of America’s involvement in the most unstable region in the world.

For that reason, my colleagues and I, Republicans and Democrats, are calling upon President Obama to see the wisdom and the constitutional necessity of sharing with Congress the heavy burden of decisions made regarding U. S. involvement in the Syrian civil war.