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In reply to the discussion: And the Democratic Senators are silent on the Iranian letter [View all]Cha
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Democrats Blast Cotton, GOP Over Open Letter to Iran
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But other Democrats joined Reid in expressing outrage about the GOP letter, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who leads her party on the Intelligence Committee.
I am appalled at the latest step of 47 Republicans to blow up a major effort by our country and the world powers to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear program, Feinstein said. This is a highly inappropriate and unprecedented incursion into the presidents prerogative to conduct foreign affairs and is not befitting this chamber. This letter only serves one purpose to destroy an ongoing negotiation to reach a diplomatic agreement in its closing days.
In fact, Cotton has long indicated he would prefer the current negotiations with Iran fail to yield an agreement, as he said at a Heritage Action event in January.
The end of these negotiations isnt an unintended consequence of congressional action. It is very much an intended consequence, Cotton said.
Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin joined Reid in an exchange on the floor after issuing his own statement critical of the letter.
Understand that if these negotiations fail, a military response to Iran developing their nuclear capability becomes more likely, said Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, in his statement. These Republican Senators should think twice about whether their political stunt is worth the threat of another war in the Middle East.
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http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/harry-reid-response-gop-iran-letter-115900.html