1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I write again in opposition to the escalating war with Iran — a war launched without congressional authorization and without a clear strategy, end goal, or democratic mandate. It is important to say plainly: opposing this war does not mean supporting the Iranian regime. For decades the government in Iran has oppressed its own people through imprisonment, repression, violence, and systemic denial of basic freedoms. Many Iranians understandably long for change. Some are even desperate enough to hope that foreign military action might bring it. But history teaches us a painful lesson: the early hope that outside force will liberate a country rarely predicts what comes next. We saw it in Afghanistan, where the overthrow of the Taliban was initially welcomed before two decades of war ended with the Taliban back in power. We saw it in Iraq, where the fall of Saddam Hussein unleashed years of violence and instability that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. We saw it again in Libya, where intervention toppled a dictator but left a fractured state behind. Hope for liberation is understandable. But war imposed from outside often produces chaos rather than democracy. Recent reporting suggests the United States and Israel are considering arming ethnic minority militias inside Iran. This strategy risks pushing a country of nearly ninety million people toward civil war. The world has already seen how devastating such conflicts can be in places like Syria. A similar collapse inside Iran could destabilize the entire region and generate massive refugee flows. At the same time, Israel is expanding hostilities in Lebanon, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians. There are growing fears that the current war could be used to justify territorial expansion or prolonged military occupation. The United States must not allow this conflict to become a vehicle for further displacement or annexation. Meanwhile, the goals of the Trump administration continue to shift. The latest demand from President Donald Trump is “unconditional surrender.” No serious observer believes the Iranian regime will accept such a demand — especially under aerial bombardment alone. In practice, such a demand implies something far more dangerous: a ground invasion to force compliance. There are already troubling reports that the administration is considering deploying U.S. troops. That must never happen. This war is already costing lives and billions of dollars while destabilizing energy markets and global shipping. American military resources are being consumed at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, Americans at home are struggling with rising costs and urgent domestic challenges in health care, housing, education, and climate resilience. The American people did not ask for this war. Polling has never shown meaningful support for it, and public opposition will only grow as the consequences become clearer. Decades ago, Senator J. William Fulbright warned about what he called the “arrogance of power” — the dangerous belief that military might can reshape societies and force history to bend to our will. Again and again, that arrogance has led the United States into wars that cost lives, treasure, and stability while failing to achieve their promised goals. Congress must act now to prevent this war from expanding further. 1. Pass binding legislation prohibiting the deployment of U.S. ground forces in Iran without explicit congressional authorization. 2. Block funding for programs that arm or support militia groups operating inside Iran. 3. Demand full transparency from the administration regarding the scope and objectives of current military operations. 4. Reassert congressional war powers and prohibit further unauthorized escalation. 5. Ensure that U.S. support cannot be used to facilitate territorial expansion or mass displacement in Lebanon or elsewhere in the region. This war was not authorized. It was not debated. And it is not supported by the American people. Congress must stop this escalation before it becomes another generational catastrophe.