Legion firmly supports U.S. troops, and also cautions, ‘America must apply the hard lesssons of recent wars.’
American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley issued the following statement Feb. 28 following the U.S. strike against Iran.
"The American Legion stands firmly in support of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces following today’s strikes on Iran. We pray for wisdom for our nation’s military and civilian leaders, for the safety and success of the service members in the region, and all of their families.
“For decades, the Iranian people have suffered under a theocratic dictatorship which has denied them basic human rights and freedom. The Iranian regime has been the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, kidnapping and murdering U.S. citizens and targeting U.S. military and allied personnel through proxies. They have sought to expand their nuclear weapons capability despite repeated international efforts to find a diplomatic solution. And while there may be debate about the immediate justification for these actions, there is strong bipartisan agreement that the Iranian regime poses an enormous threat to the United States and our allies.
“As an organization of wartime veterans, The American Legion understands the weight of military action, the risks borne by our service members, and the cost of caring for them when they return. America must apply the hard lessons of recent wars. If there is further action, we call upon Congress to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to ensure we have clear objectives, strong force protection, and a strategy to prevent prolonged conflict."
- Commander