Bill —
With Operation Epic Fury, the United States is now engaged in a serious military confrontation with Iran. The situation is dangerous and still unfolding. Six American service members have already been killed, and others wounded. Civilians in the region are also paying a heavy price.
First and foremost, we mourn the Americans who have lost their lives in service to this country, and we hold their families in our thoughts. We hope for the speedy recovery of those injured and for the safe return of every American in harm’s way. War also brings suffering to innocent people. Civilians often bear the cost of decisions made far from their homes. Our hearts are with those families as well.
Iran’s government has long supported terrorism and destabilized the region. At the same time, the Iranian people themselves have repeatedly shown courage in demanding freedom, dignity, and opportunity. The Forward Party stands with the Iranian people and hopes for a future where they can determine their own destiny free from repression.
Click the image for our official statement on Operation Epic Fury
But moments like this also raise serious questions about the health of our own democracy and the checks and balances that were installed by the founders.
The Constitution is clear. The power to declare war belongs to Congress. The founders put that responsibility in the legislative branch so decisions about war would be debated openly and decided collectively by the representatives of the American people.
Over time, that system has eroded. Presidents of both parties have increasingly used military force without clear authorization from Congress. Meanwhile, Congress has too often avoided the responsibility the Constitution assigns to it. When members of Congress fail to debate and vote on war, they are not only avoiding politics; they are avoiding accountability.
This is exactly why the War Powers Resolution was passed in 1973. The law was meant to ensure that Congress had a clear role in approving and overseeing military action. Yet again and again, Washington finds ways to sidestep it.
The Forward Party believes that America can be strong and responsive to world events and national security threats while still faithful to the Constitution. Supporting our troops and defending the rule of law are not competing values. They reinforce each other.
This moment also shows why our political system needs more voices at the table.
Today, the two major parties often treat national security debates as partisan battles instead of constitutional responsibilities. Members of Congress frequently line up behind or against a president based on party loyalty rather than institutional duty. That leaves the branch of government responsible for declaring war acting more like a spectator than a decision maker.
This is why the Forward Party exists. When independent and third-party lawmakers hold seats in Congress, they can act as a forcing function for accountability. They are less tied to the incentives of the two-party system and more able to insist that Congress actually vote on the most important questions the country faces. War should never be decided by default or drift. It should be decided by debate and by votes.
That is what checks and balances are supposed to look like.
America is strongest when our institutions work as the Constitution intended. That means a president who leads, a Congress that does its job, and a political system that rewards courage instead of silence.
Our troops deserve nothing less. The American people deserve nothing less. And the future of our democracy depends on it.
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