WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic leaders in Congress lobbed a warning shot Friday at the White House not to launch an attack against Iran without first seeking approval from lawmakers.
"The president does not have the authority to launch military action in Iran without first seeking congressional authorization,"Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told the National Press Club.
The administration has accused Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs and contributing technology and bomb-making materials for insurgents to use against U.S. and Iraqi security forces.
President Bush said last week the U.S. will "seek out and destroy" networks providing that support. While top administration officials have said they have no plans to attack Iran itself, they have declined to rule it out.
This week, the administration sent another aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf _ the second to deploy in the region. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the buildup was intended to impress on Iran that the four-year war in Iraq has not made
America vulnerable.
The U.S. is also deploying anti-missile Patriot missiles in the region.
The U.S. has accused Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Iran would not back down over its nuclear program, which Tehran says is being developed only to produce energy.
Reid made the comments as he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spoke to the National Press Club on Democrats' view of the state of the union four days before Bush addresses Congress and the nation. His remarks were the latest Democratic display of concern about the possibility of military action in Iran and Bush's power to launch it.
Last week, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., challenged the president's ability to make such a move. In a letter to Bush, Biden asked the president to explain whether the administration believes it could attack Iran or Syria "without the authorization of Congress, which does not now exist."
Meanwhile, Lee Hamilton, the Democratic co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday that the U.S. must try to engage Iran and Syria in a constructive dialogue on Iraq because of the countries' influence in the conflict.
The Bush administration, and several members of Congress, say they oppose talks with Iran and Syria because of their terrorist connections.
Bringing the two countries into regional talks aimed at reducing violence in Iraq was one of the study group's recommendations.
"Do we have so little confidence in the diplomats of the United States that we're not willing to let them talk with somebody we disagree with?" Hamilton asked.
============
Again, at WHAT point is all the talking in the world....by the EU, France, Germany, US, UN etc. considered NOT using diplomats to work it out?
They are nuts just to state such falsehoods. They can't see 'talking' isn't going to change the mind of Iran's MADMAN. And he's CERTAINLY NOT going to 'wipe Israel off the face of the earth' with ANY ENERGY program.
Where do they get this GARBAGE?
I often wonder if these yo-yo's EVER really read our laws/constitution.
And it SURE appears to me that [b]they ALL had better refresh their pitful memories on the [any] Presidential WAR POWERS.
It sure doesn't appear they do to me.
They're telling this President that he can't do this without prior agreement/authorization from congress???
What planet do they live on?
Of COURSE he can....and then must advise them within a certain period of time why he did so. I believe that time limit is 60 days...but I'm not sure on that time frame.
And of course, their double standard is they NEVER required/asked the same thing of clinton when HE BOMBED IRAQ WITHOUT THEIR 0kay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
[ edited by Linda_K on Jan 19, 2007 04:28 PM ]
posted on January 19, 2007 04:16:52 PM new
"""Dems Seek to Bar U.S. Attacks on Iran
Jan 19 1:44 PM US/Eastern By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic leaders in Congress lobbed a warning shot Friday at the White House not to launch an attack against Iran without first seeking approval from lawmakers.""""
posted on January 19, 2007 04:52:18 PM new
How sad that you never have called the mad-man of Iran...nor saddam a terrorist...but you have the gall to call a U.S. President one...when the FULL congress backed him in this war. tsk tsk tsk
And you get upset when I say you support/aid and abet our enemies??? You do.
=================
IF more Iranian soldiers are found in Iraq...fight our soldiers...under the war powers this President CAN go after them.
"CRS Report RL32267, The War Powers Resolution: After Thirty Years, and CRS Report RL31133(pdf),
Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force:
Background and Legal Implications). It is important to note that since the War Powers Resolution's enactment, over President Nixon's veto in 1973, every President has taken the position that it is an unconstitutional infringement by the Congress on the President's authority as Commander-in-Chief.
The courts have not directly addressed this question.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on January 19, 2007 05:00:30 PM new
Oh Yes linduh, bushy certainly CAN start another ill-advised war and it can certainly be as "successful" as the one he started in Iraq...
What's he gonna do...start wars until he gets it right!?????
posted on January 19, 2007 07:34:45 PM new
The rumours are flying in the financial community that Israel has asked us what we intend to do with the Iran situation. Supposedly they have said we have 6 months, then they will take out the Iranian nuclear installations on their own. There has been a lot of shuttling of Israeli/US politicians and military people in the last few months.
As a "coincidence" there are 2 US carrier groups in the region.
posted on January 19, 2007 09:42:12 PM new
hmmmm....very interesting. Yes, it sure is. Thanks.
Within that same six month time frame....we will also be able to tell if the Iraqi gov. will actually follow through, this time, on their promise to provide more of their own troops and if they have met the other conditions this administration have called upon them to do.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on January 20, 2007 04:35:32 AM new
"""Within that same six month time frame....we will also be able to tell if the Iraqi gov. will actually follow through, this time, on their promise to provide more of their own troops and if they have met the other conditions this administration have called upon them to do."""
Time frame??? Time frame? You mean there should be an end somewhere in time??????
posted on January 20, 2007 04:44:31 AM new
That, of course, will be up to our CIC to decide at that point.
I've just read several statements that in 4-6 months we will be able to see IF the Iraqi gov. IS holding up their part of this most recent agreement or not.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on January 20, 2007 05:04:13 AM new
"""That, of course, will be up to our CIC to decide at that point."""
Why? He hasn't done very well so far.
But I suppose he's just counting the hours until he can get out of office and pass the whole mess on to someone else....afterall, he's done what he was put in office to do...start a war in Iraq...THAT was the mission he "accomplished".
[ edited by Linda_K on Jan 19, 2007 04:28 PM ]