"It's astonishing that we're building up for a significant military clash, and Congress isn't involved, no real case is being made to the public, and the average American has no clue," wrote one columnist.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/43392244

Feb. 18, 2026

Barak Ravid reported for Axios on Wednesday that, with a deal between the US and Iran appearing increasingly out of sight, “the Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realize” and “It could begin very soon.”

Sources told the outlet that “A US military operation in Iran would likely be a massive, weeks-long campaign that would look more like full-fledged war than last month’s pinpoint operation in Venezuela.”

  • dogslayeggs@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    That is only if this is called a war. It can be called a million other things that Republicans say are not the same thing as war. They’ve done it before, and the Dems know they will do it again. This will be a series of targeted strikes that are not retaliated against by Iran in any way that actually hurts Congress-people. Vietnam War wasn’t even actually a war. Congress approved troop deployments one time, but that’s about it.

    Additionally, Republicans have the majority in both houses. The only reason the shutdowns have occurred is because they needed more than a simple majority to get the budget passed. Declaration of War does not have any documented rules for whether it is simple majority or 2/3 vote or whatever. In the past, a simple majority was assumed since the votes were never close enough for it to matter.