Congressman Paul Denounces Unauthorized Airstrike Against Iraq
August 10, 2001

Washington, DC: Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) today expressed his opposition to the massive airstrike launched by US and British forces early this morning, citing the lack of Congressional authorization for the action.

"We are foolishly escalating our ongoing 11 year war with the Iraqi government," Paul stated. "Bombing raids are acts of war, and the Constitution requires a congressional declaration of war before such strikes legally can be commenced. In this instance the commander did not even bother to get presidential authorization for the mission, nor is there any indication that the action was done at the behest of NATO or the UN. It's time for Congress to put an end to these unilateral and unconstitutional acts of aggression."

"Our policy toward Iraq has only served to solidify support for Hussein, who uses American aggression as a convenient scapegoat to deflect criticism from his own tyrannical regime," Paul continued. "Our economic sanctions and bombing raids are only hurting innocent Iraqi people. We cannot solve the problems in Iraq by invading their airspace and killing innocent civilians."