Washblog || Sen. Cantwell Joins Sen. Webb in Opposing Attack on Iran

Sen. Cantwell Joins Sen. Webb in Opposing Attack on Iran

By DWE
Wed Oct 31, 2007 at 04:51:18 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Military

Those of us who've been warning of an impending military strike on Iran sometimes feel like the proverbial voice crying in the wilderness. Many of us have wondered why Democrats in Washington D.C. haven't been raising their voices, even as the Bush administration hypes the rhetoric and builds its case for military action against Iran.

Led by Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, some Senate Democrats have finally realized the urgency of addressing head-on the Bush plans to bomb Iran. While I would have wanted even stronger wording from Sen. Webb, I applaud his move to send a letter to Bush that spells out that the President is not authorized to attack Iran. I also applaud Sen. Cantwell for signing on to this letter and urge our senior Senator to join her. Here is the letter, which is due to be sent out today or tomorrow:

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.
We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran, including the Senate vote on September 26, 2007 on an amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, expressing the sense of the Senate on Iran and the recent designation of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, should in no way be interpreted as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran.
We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution. At the same time, we wish to emphasize that no offensive military action would be justified against Iran without the express consent of Congress.
Sincerely,
[names to be added]

< Nameless Soldier back from the sandbox | The Arrogance of the State Clinton Campaign >

Sen. Cantwell Joins Sen. Webb in Opposing Attack on Iran | 3 comments (3 topical)

Final draft

Here is the final draft of the letter, which was sent today:

November 1, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.
We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran. This includes the Senate vote on September 26, 2007 on an amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, expressing the sense of the Senate on Iran, and the recent designation of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, should in now way be interpretd as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran.
We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution, but we wish to emphasize that offensive military action should not be taken against Iran without the express consent of Congress.
Sincerely,
[30 signatures]

Both Senator Cantwell's signature and Senator Murray's signature was on the list.

by DWE on Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 04:21:00 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

Thanks DWE, news is appreciated. Value ??

but at this point, any and all efforts are better than none, I guess. Appreciating that for Jim Webb, first time Senator, his clout is somewhat limited. Appreciating that Senator Cantwell, not such a new Senator, it's good to see her throwing around some of her clout.

The news as you have reported it is good news and I don't mean to be a wet blanket on the fact that you are sharing news. The news itself, though, is imo, a weak effort is weak, but an effort is an effort. At this point it feels to me like an effort about the size of one of those tiny cries from one of those tiny Dr. Seuss characters -- a tiny cry barely registering on the noise scale. (Horton hears a Who!)

No, at this point it feels like it's too bad some of the Senators didn't use a bigger voice when it might have had an impact and now, after 5 years in Iraq, their voices seem mighty tiny. I think that war expanding to Iran is pretty much inevitable now.

On the Surge in Iraq "--we have set the bar so low it's buried in the sand at this point." - Barack Obama

by Lietta Ruger on Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 04:55:15 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Agreed. by DWE, 11/01/2007 05:01:32 PM PST (none / 0)

Sen. Cantwell Joins Sen. Webb in Opposing Attack on Iran | 3 comments (3 topical)

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