Republicans are making their case for war in Iran

[n2doc]

Since the national leadership of the Republican Party moves only in a lock-step approach, recent events make it clear that they are attempting to make the case for another war.

By now, it is almost cliche to suggest that Republican freshman Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas created a storm of protest over his letter to the Ayatollahs of Iran. Forget for the moment the seditious element of the gesture and that 46 fellow Republicans felt it was within their purview to circumvent the president on issues of foreign policy. Pair the message of this letter with the Speaker of the House's invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Republican Party strategy becomes abundantly clear: The United States needs to take a hard-line policy toward Iran and its nuclear ambition; and since a hard-line policy will not work, the U.S. needs to remove the nuclear threat using military means.

One of the blatant flaws in Netanyahu's presentation to the joint session of Congress was his argument that international sanctions have forced Iran to its knees and, therefore, Iran needs a deal with the West so desperately that a complete ban on all nuclear capability is within the grasp of the negotiators. The fact that this contradicts Netanyahu's earlier assessment seems to have disturbed no one, other than his detractors. To them, it seems incongruous to argue that Iran is weakened to the point of desperation, when one has just argued that Iran has taken over the region, controlling the capitals of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza. Perhaps this was all accomplished while on its knees?

It is important to note that the Cotton letter was signed by virtually all of the Republican luminaries in the Senate. Added to this and following almost immediately in The Washington Post was an opinion piece, "War With Iran is Probably Our Best Option," by a research fellow at John Hopkins University, Joshua Muravchik. He argued that since Iran's leaders are ideologues, they will only accept a deal that will allow them to pursue their mission. As he states, "Ideology is the raison d'etre of Iran’s regime, legitimating and inspiring its leaders and their supporters. ... Iran aims to carry its Islamic revolution across the Middle East and beyond."

more

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/defense/236207-republicans-are-making-their-case-for-war-in-iran

[upaloopa]

1. The have replaced the fear of communist

expansion with the fear of Islamic expansion.

[2naSalit]

2. Since Congress has the power to declare war...

I wonder what would happen if they declared war on Iran and the president refused to execute military action.

I can't help but envision something of that sort coming down the pike... they'd probably impeach him for that, I guess.

[riderinthestorm]

3. Ugh. I'd be really interested in any DUers idea if this is feasible.

because I too could definitely see them pulling a shitty stunt like this.

[2naSalit]

4. Indeed.

I fear that as soon as one of these "brain-children" comes up with that idea, it will be their next passion play.