Phil Andrew: Attack on Iran Without Congressional Approval Risks American Lives

Former FBI Agent, Phil Andrew Calls Out Trump Administration For Decisions That Could Ignite Regional Conflict, Demanding Congressional Oversight and Clear Objectives

(Buffalo Grove – February 28th, 2026 ) – This morning, Phil Andrew, Candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 9th District and former FBI Agent and hostage negotiator, spoke to constituents in Buffalo Grove about the recent attack in Iran launched by the US and Israel.

This is his statement:

“The United States and Israel have initiated direct military action against Iran following earlier assurances that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been neutralized. When facts shift, the American people deserve clarity.

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is an existential threat to the United States, Europe, and Israel and a grave danger to regional and global stability. Preventing a nuclear-armed Iran must remain a clear and unwavering objective of the United States and our allies, but how we confront that threat matters.

Phil Andrews photo 9th Congressional District. Photo courtesy of Phil Andrews

“This administration has effectively started a war. Decisions that could ignite a regional war and place American service members in harm’s way must be debated and authorized by Congress, yet there has been no public vote. The Constitution does not give any President the unilateral authority to drag this country into sustained conflict. That is not a technicality; it is a safeguard against impulsive, personality-driven decision-making.

“The public justifications for this action have shifted from destroying nuclear material, to regime change, to protecting Israel, to defending protestors. When the mission shifts, credibility erodes. Unclear objectives and evolving rationales increase the risk of miscalculation and unintended consequences. That approach may generate headlines, but it does not generate long-term security.

“Escalation without congressional authorization risks regional war, unnecessary loss of life, and drawing the United States into a prolonged conflict without a defined end. At the same time, defense experts warn that U.S. missile and interceptor stockpiles are already strained from commitments in Europe and the Middle East. Entering a sustained conflict without defined objectives, allied coordination, industrial readiness, and congressional backing compounds the risk to our forces, to Israel, and to global stability.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, and America has a strategic interest in standing firmly against nuclear proliferation. I have worked directly in counterterrorism and counter-proliferation efforts. I understand the seriousness of the Iranian threat. But preventing a nuclear Iran requires more than airstrikes. It requires disciplined strategy, allied unity, credible diplomacy, and sustained congressional oversight.

“As a former FBI agent and hostage negotiator, I know that the most dangerous moments are often the most emotional. Effective leadership in national security demands steadiness, clarity of mission, and accountability. Strength is not measured by how quickly we pull the trigger. It is measured by judgment and strategic discipline.”

Democrat Phil Andrew is a candidate for Illinois’ Ninth Congressional District. He is a former FBI Special Agent, national security professional, hostage negotiator, attorney, and small business owner. A survivor of the 1988 Laurie Dann shooting in Winnetka, Andrew has dedicated his life to protecting others and strengthening public safety. He is the founder of PAX Group, a global consultancy focused on conflict resolution and organizational resilience. To learn more, visit: www.philandrewforcongress.com

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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