Member of Congress War Game Best Way to Understand Possible Conflict with Iran (Rep. Jim McDermott)

I’ve made no secret of my concerns that the President might order a military strike against Iran. But I want to propose something here that goes beyond rhetoric, because time is growing short for the remainder of this Administration and, in my judgment, that only increases the danger that the Vice President will again push the President into seeking a military confrontation despite all evidence to the contrary.

I propose that every Member of Congress – with the American people watching on television – participate in an Iran war game. We know that the Pentagon has conducted war games to examine the casualties and consequences of a military strike against Iran. We should too, in order to consider globally important questions about a military strike. How many dead? How many wounded? How much destruction? Would we pulverize Iranian targets with bunker buster bombs? Could a U.S. military strike against Iran metastasize like a malignant cancer into a wider Mideast war? What provocation could cause the President to order a strike?

This idea was brought to me by a group of recently retired, high-level CIA intelligence officers. These are patriots whom we trusted with keeping and protecting America’s secrets. There are many recently retired officers who could be called upon to fairly and accurately produce a U.S.- Iran war game. Furthermore, a retired Air Force Colonel who conducted war games for the Pentagon is prepared to bring his expertise to bear, so that Congress and the American people can participate in the information and decision-making process – exactly how it is done in the White House and Pentagon.

A military strike against Iran would involve life and death issues. It’s time for Congress and the American people to see what these life and death issues would look like. I hope that members of Congress and the media will join me in demanding that we publicly conduct a U.S.-Iran war game as soon as possible.