Democrat Gies worries of wider conflict, Republican King says Congress must approve
By Andrew Harris
In the middle of canvasing Western New York for signatures to appear on upcoming election ballots, the challengers to sitting Congressman Nick Langworthy issued statements on the current military offensive against Iran.
Aaron Gies, the Democratic candidate from Cattaraugus County issued a statement full of worry about what he called a ‘war of choice:’
“Iran’s government is murderous, corrupt, and unpopular with the Iranian people, but it is deeply entrenched,” Gies said. “A successful transition toward freedom and democracy led by the Iranian people alone is unlikely. Even so, America should not attempt another regime change war. I oppose any move to send American soldiers to fight on the ground in Iran.”
Gies emphasized that America’s military is capable but that military power alone cannot resolve the long‑term consequences of conflict. “Our armed forces are the best in the world. I trust them to achieve any reasonable military objective, but Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan have shown us that refugee flows, political instability, hunger, sickness, and environmental damage are not problems military power alone can solve.”
Gies also warned of the economic costs of a prolonged conflict. Oil prices have risen sharply and U.S. missile systems are expensive and slow to replace.
“At a moment when so many Americans are struggling to afford the necessities of life, there is no excuse for launching a war of choice that costs taxpayers billions of dollars per day and is likely to raise costs for months or even years. I support democracy at home and abroad. A free and peaceful Iran is a worthy objective, but bombing alone cannot achieve it, and may even move us in the opposite direction.”
Tioga County Republican Jim King insists that Congressional vote on War Powers is necessary :
“Why has Congress let this President start a war? This President’s order to attack Iran skirts the Constitution. Only Congress has the authority to declare war. The founders made Congress the check on a despotic Commander-in-Chief.
Iran poses no imminent military, economic, or societal threat to the United States. In sympathy to the repressed citizens of Iran, we may want to help bring a regime change in Iran, but that isn’t a security necessity of the United States. Nor is it our business. Why risk the lives of our sons and daughters in America’s armed forces?”
King, a self-described moderate Republican, pointed to the precedent that an offensive against Iran has moral and financial dangers for the United States:
“With this act, America has abandoned the moral high ground. World opinion now places America with the unlawful acts continuing in Ukraine by Putin. Congress can and must stop this, if not for the criminal behavior it represents then to save the billions of dollars that have been diverted from feeding our hungry and caring for our sick.
I join with every resident of the 23rd Congressional District—Republicans, Democrats, and others—who pleads for real congressional controls on this would-be dictator in the White House.”
Congressman Nick Langworthy issued a statement last week in full support of the action taken by President Trump, noting that the “Gang of 8,” top leaders in Congress were fully briefed on the military action against Iran. Read his full statement in our previous reporting:
