Sen. Peter Welch Questions Presidential Authority on Military Action

Senator Peter Welch says any decision to initiate military action should require congressional authorization, calling the potential conflict a “war of choice” rather than a response to an imminent threat.

Welch said if the president moves forward, he has an obligation to present a clear case to Congress and the American people — outlining objectives, duration, and limits of any military operation.

While criticizing the Iranian government and its leadership, Welch emphasized that the broader constitutional question is separate from views about the regime itself. The central issue, he argued, is whether a president can initiate war without congressional approval.

Welch’s answer: no.