April 21, 2026 – Daily Jefferson County Union
On April 17, a Daily Union article informed us that the House rejected a resolution requiring President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran unless Congress authorizes military action.
As stated by the Republicans, the reason for this rejection is that Congress never voted on a war powers resolution when the the U.S. attacked Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen in 2024 while Democrat Joe Biden was president. Quoting Florida Rep. Brian Mast of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, “When Joe Biden was responding to merchants marine vessels being attacked, it was OK. No war power needed. It went on for about a year. President Trump responds-war power, war power, war power…That’s the hypocrisy.”
I wonder what we call it when one political party demands the right to attack another country based on “Why not? The last guy did it. How come our guy can’t?”
Making war on another country should be a very serious thing to do. The pros and cons must be gone over by all with power and authority. Alternatives need to be discussed. Letting President Trump make war because former President Biden got to do so is not rational. Our government structure was the same under President Biden as it is now under President Trump. Did Congress attempt to dissuade or stop President Biden’s military actions? Did they pass a resolution to do so? If not, why not?
I don’t know much about this stuff, but militarily responding to merchant marine vessels being attacked doesn’t sound as serious as declaring war on and then bombing another country. Anyway, my main point is that one leader should not be allowed to start a war just because his predecessor did.
In the future, I sincerely hope the Republicans can give more thought to war, or at least to their rhetoric about war.
Jean Brooks, Fort Atkinson