[GPRI] Judas DEMS Abandon War Authority on Iran

[John Gallagher]

If this isn't serious, what is?  Everyone should
(demand) their Senators that Congress check the
Presidents war authority as stated in the CONSTITUTION
before we kill another 655,000+ civilians.  It will
seem like Iraqi's are throwing flowers at us compared
to what may be if we go to war with Iran.

This is PEACE candidate Sheldon Whitehouse's remarks
in the next paragraph.
He needs to know that WE DO NOT APPROVE OF THIS.
                                               John G


"The United States must do all it can to prevent Iran
from obtaining nuclear weapons. I think we have to do
pretty much all it takes to prevent that, including
MILITARY ACTION if necessary."

Sheldon Whitehouse statement in the August 27, 2006
Projo on page A-19

******************************************************


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031307K.shtml

Dems Abandon War Authority Provision
    By David Espo and Matthew Lee
    The Associated Press

    Tuesday 13 March 2007

    Top House Democrats retreated Monday from an
attempt to limit President Bush's authority for taking
military action against Iran as the leadership
concentrated on a looming confrontation with the White
House over the Iraq war.

    Officials said Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other
members of the leadership had decided to strip from a
major military spending bill a requirement for Bush to
gain approval from Congress before moving against
Iran.

    Conservative Democrats as well as lawmakers
concerned about the possible impact on Israel had
argued for the change in strategy.

    The developments occurred as Democrats pointed
toward an initial test vote in the House
Appropriations Committee on Thursday on the overall
bill, which would require the withdrawal of U.S.
combat troops from Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008, if not
earlier. The measure provides nearly $100 billion to
pay for fighting in two wars, and includes more money
than the president requested for operations in
Afghanistan and what Democrats called training and
equipment shortages.

    The White House has issued a veto threat against
the bill, and Vice President Dick Cheney attacked its
supporters in a speech, declaring they "are telling
the enemy simply to watch the clock and wait us out."

    House GOP Leader John Boehner of Ohio issued a
statement that said Democrats shouldn't count on any
help passing their legislation. "Republicans will
continue to stand united in this debate, and will
oppose efforts by Democrats to undermine the ability
of General Petraeus and our troops to achieve victory
in the Global War on Terror," he said.

    Top Democrats had a different perspective.

    Pelosi issued a written statement that said the
vice president's remarks prove that "the
administration's answer to continuing violence in Iraq
is more troops and more treasure from the American
people."

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in
a statement that America was less safe today because
of the war. The president "must change course, and
it's time for the Senate to demand he do it," he
added.

    The Iran-related proposal stemmed from a desire to
make sure Bush did not launch an attack without going
to Congress for approval, but drew opposition from
numerous members of the rank and file in a series of
closed-door sessions last week.

    Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said in an interview
there is widespread fear in Israel about Iran, which
is believed to be seeking nuclear weapons and has
expressed unremitting hostility about the Jewish
state.

    "It would take away perhaps the most important
negotiating tool that the U.S. has when it comes to
Iran," she said of the now-abandoned provision.

    "I didn't think it was a very wise idea to take
things off the table if you're trying to get people to
modify their behavior and normalize it in a civilized
way," said Rep. Gary Ackerman of New York.

    Several officials said there was widespread
opposition to the proposal at a closed-door meeting
last week of conservative and moderate Democrats, who
said they feared tying the hands of the administration
when dealing with an unpredictable and potentially
hostile regime in Tehran.

    Public opinion has swung the way of Democrats on
the issue of the war. More than six in 10 Americans
think the conflict was a mistake - the largest number
yet found in AP-Ipsos polling.

    But Democrats have struggled to find a compromise
that can satisfy both liberals who oppose any funding
for the military effort and conservatives who do not
want to unduly restrict the commander in chief.

    "This supplemental should be about supporting the
troops and providing what they need," said Rep. Dan
Boren, D-Okla., on Monday upon returning from a trip
to Iraq. Boren said he plans to oppose any legislation
setting a clear deadline for troops to leave.

    In his speech, Cheney chided lawmakers who are
pressing for tougher action on Iran to oppose the
president on the Iraq War.

    "It is simply not consistent for anyone to demand
aggressive action against the menace posed by the
Iranian regime while at the same time acquiescing in a
retreat from Iraq that would leave our worst enemies
dramatically emboldened and Israel's best friend, the
United States, dangerously weakened," he said.





 
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