1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

In his formal notice to Congress, Trump give the following brief sentence as his explanation for the attack on Iran: “Despite my Administration’s repeated efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to Iran’s malign behavior, the threat to the United States and its allies and partners became untenable.” That’s it. No “imminent threat.” No “self-defense.” No statutory authorization. No reliance on an Authorized Use of Military Force declaration. No reference to a mutual defense obligation. Nothing. Just, “the threat became untenable.” The analysis of the war’s illegality can and should stop there. The above is the totality of Trump’s justification to Congress. Saying a threat is “untenable” is no basis for starting a war under the Constitution or the UN Charter. Please continue to push for a vote on your war powers act. If the resolution passes, it will be a political and moral rebuke to Trump.