War Without Accountability Is Un-American

There is no greater decision a democracy can make than to go to war, but it is one every nation must face eventually. It demands debate, transparency, and the consent of the American people.

The American founders understood this. As students of history, they shared a deep skepticism of centralized authority because they knew that consolidation of power inevitably leads to tyranny. Having just fought a war to win their independence from a despotic king, our forebears were worried that our young nation could end up being ruled by another king, and so they took steps to ensure that no single person could possess the power to commit our country to war.

The Constitution is very clear on this: Congress decides when America goes to war, not the President.

Despite his claims to the contrary, Donald Trump does not have the authority to commit American troops to war without Congressional approval — not in Venezuela, not in Iran, not anywhere. He may be the President of the United States unfortunately, but he is not a king.

In 2022, I became the first Pakistani-American ever elected to the Pennsylvania State House. As one of the few Muslims in our state legislature, I see it as my duty to help foster mutual respect and understanding — not only between my colleagues, but also between the diverse communities throughout our commonwealth.

I believe diversity is America’s greatest strength. Growing up with a Muslim father and a Catholic mother in a Jewish neighborhood in Northeast Philly, this was one of my earliest lessons in life.

While our divergent backgrounds and ways of thinking can be used to divide us, these differences can also serve to make us stronger if we let them. If we had a greater diversity of voices in Washington, perhaps America would not be embroiled in another war in the Middle East for a third consecutive Republican presidency.

But here we are, three weeks into our war with Iran, and despite Trump’s multiple declarations of victory throughout, it appears we are preparing to put American boots on the ground.

How did we get here?

In 2024, Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of “No New Wars.” During his first run in 2016, Trump gained traction in the polls and by setting himself apart from his Republican opponents in his criticism of America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And in the 1960s, Trump successfully avoided the military draft on five separate occasions — however the events of this past year make it clear that he’s no conscientious objector…

Not only has Trump betrayed his campaign promises of no more foreign wars, but his own justification for war in Iran has continued to shift. First we were told Iran posed an urgent nuclear threat. Then the explanation became preventing a broader regional escalation tied to Israel’s conflict with Iran. If the case for war with Iran is strong, it should withstand scrutiny and congressional debate. Instead, the rationale keeps changing while the human cost rises.

Let me be clear: this is a war of choice, and the American people deserve a voice before their country is drawn deeper into it.

None of this should obscure a basic truth that the Iranian regime is brutal and has long been recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism. During this conflict, there have been credible reports of Iranian forces committing their own war crimes, including a missile strike that destroyed a synagogue in Israel and killed nine people, including children. But those atrocities do not excuse the United States from following the law, protecting civilians, and making sure decisions about war are made openly with the consent of the American people.

The timing of this conflict also raises troubling questions. This war began at a moment when the president’s approval ratings were at their lowest following reports that his administration illegally withheld information related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. Our government still has not released all of the files. Americans deserve transparency on both fronts. Decisions about war should never be clouded by political distraction or unanswered questions about accountability.

Concerns about Secretary of Defense War Pete Hegseth’s judgment should alarm every American. Public reports of abuse allegations, including accounts from within his own family, raise serious questions about his character and temperament for one of the most consequential positions in government.

Those concerns are reinforced by Hegseth’s own rhetoric (and tattoo choices). The former television personality has spoken about unleashing overwhelming violence and dispensing with what he called “stupid rules of engagement” which exist to protect civilians and prevent the targeting of the innocent. And frankly, we cannot trust someone who covers their body in White Nationalist hate symbols and Islamophobic tattoos to conduct war humanely and without prejudice.

As of March 15th, thirteen American troops have already been killed and more than 2,200 people have been killed across the region. In some cases civilians appear to have been deliberately targeted, and in one horrifying incident, a missile strike on an Iranian girls’ school killed at least 165 civilians, many of them children.

This is what occurs when our leaders abandon longstanding rules of engagement. Secretary Hegseth’s acts should be investigated and he should be held accountable. His pattern of poor judgment over the past year has huge costs for our country. We should not trust the lives of our troops to his leadership.

As a state legislator, I represent families who would bear the consequences if this war expands. My constituents include veterans, military families, immigrants, and young people who could be asked to serve. They deserve a voice before our nation commits itself to another open-ended conflict.

Serious questions also remain about whether this war serves American interests alone. Gulf states have long viewed Iran as a regional rival, which only makes transparency more important.

At the same time, President Trump’s financial ties in the region have raised ethical concerns. Entities tied to the United Arab Emirates have reportedly invested roughly half a billion dollars into a Trump family crypto venture, and Qatar reportedly offered Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 worth about $400 million for use as a future presidential aircraft. Americans deserve confidence that decisions about war are made solely in our national interest, not influenced by foreign money or business ties.

Congress must reclaim its constitutional role before this conflict deepens further. The American people deserve a voice in decisions that could send their sons and daughters into harm’s way.

I will continue to raise my voice and elevate the voices of people in my community who believe that America must live up to its values, especially in matters of war and peace.

-Tarik Khan is a nurse practitioner and State Representative of Pennsylvania’s 194th House District, located in Northwest Philadelphia.