Joementum leads 1/3 of Senate (Rs & Ds) to war on Iran

[AtomicKitten]

Here we go again. Democrats aiding and abetting Republicans in getting another war on.

Lieberman Edges US to War with Iran
February 18, 2012
link: http://consortiumnews.com/2012/02/18/lieberman-edges-us-to-war-with-iran/

Exclusive: American neocons have moved the United States closer to war with Iran via a subtle change in the “red line” phrasing, inserting the word “capability” after the usual threats to take out an Iranian “nuclear weapon.” Now, Sen. Joe Lieberman is making the shift official, reports Robert Parry.

By Robert Parry

Sen. Joe Lieberman is leading a group of nearly one-third of the U.S. Senate urging that the red line on war with Iran be shifted from building a nuclear weapon to the vague notion of Iran having the “capability” to build one. The neoconservative senator from Connecticut has introduced a “Sense of the Senate” resolution that would put the body on record as rejecting a situation that arguably already exists, in which Iran has the know-how to build a bomb even if it has no intention to do so.

The resolution tracks with the positions of hardline Israeli leaders, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and undercuts the position of President Barack Obama, whose administration has been exploring ways to negotiate an agreement with Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

-- snip

In a statement at his Web site, the senator announced that 32 senators – both Republicans and Democrats – have banded together to introduce a resolution urging action to prevent Iran from pushing “forward in its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. … By rejecting any policy that would rely on containment of a nuclear-weapons capable Iran, this bi-partisan resolution sends a clear message to Iran’s rulers that the United States will stop them from acquiring nuclear weapons capability.”

In other words, the next preemptive war could be launched not against Iran for actually building a bomb or even trying to build a bomb but rather for simply having the skills that theoretically could be used sometime in the future to build a bomb. The “red line” has been moved from some possible future development to arguably what already exists.

Lieberman is co-sponsoring the resolution with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), with support from Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), John McCain (R-Arizona), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Bill Nelson (D-Florida), Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), Mark Udall (D-Colorado), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Boozman (R-Arizona), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), Dean Heller (R-Nevada).

[Scootaloo]

1. More to the point...

This isn't about Iran's "nuclear capabilities." It Never has been. That's a fig leaf.

This is about using American blood and money to enact Israeli foreign policy.

If it weren't for iran's attempts to enrich uranium, it'd be Human rights. if it weren't human rights, It'd be their supposed link to terrorists. if it weren't for terrorists, it'd be their "undue influence in Iraq." If it weren't Iraq, it'd be their "harboring Kurdish militias." Any excuse would do, really. Selling too much oil? Selling too little oil? hell, I'll bet Lieberman and hte others could find a way to turn Iran's environmental ministry's plan to reintroduce the cheetah to Iran as an act worthy of war.

It boils down to getting a lot of people killed so that Israel can feel like the dominant local power, though.

[Pirate Smile]

2. F@#king Congress - both parties - always undermine Presidents when it comes to Israel.

It is truly pathetic and disgusting.

Even the friggin Bush Administration figured out what a disaster an Iranian military strike would be for the US and the entire world.

Bibi is also going to be doing everything he can to help get a Republican elected President in November - and the dumbass Congress will just wag their idiotic heads.

IMHO...

[AtomicKitten]

6. On your last point,

"Bibi is also going to be doing everything he can to help get a Republican elected President in November - and the dumbass Congress will just wag their idiotic heads."

That's why it's important that this crap doesn't get put on the books. Even if it's not acted upon now, a Republican president down the line will and will point to this resolution for justification. That's exactly what happened with Iraq.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. Obama has stated that he wants to pursue diplomacy. n/t

[UTUSN]

4. R#1, not for Joementum, but for him to go to wherever he (never mind). n/t

[Denver Donkeys]

7. He's scheduled to be kicked out at the end of the year

Ala retirement.

So good riddance to bad rubbish.

And Joe - I'm Jewish - and I don't support what you are trying to do.

[Initech]

5. No more pointless wars. Period!

Absolutely nothing was gained from Iraq and Afghanistan. And all Iran will do is cost lives and pour money into the hands of the fucking war contractors. War with Iran = very bad idea.