Dems bury resolution due to (Iran) war fears

[sabra]

Source: WashTimes

The House Democratic leadership has effectively shelved a resolution calling for what critics say would amount to a naval blockade of Iran because of concerns that it could provoke another war, officials on Capitol Hill said.

Even though the document would not be a law but a "statement of policy" aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the Democratic leadership is worried that it could be viewed by the Bush administration as a green light to use military force against Iran, officials said.

Howard L. Berman, California Democrat and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he has concerns about the current text and will not bring it before the committee until those issues are addressed. That, in effect, blocks the document from reaching the floor.

"If Congress is to make a statement of policy, it should encompass a strategy on how to gain consensus on multilateral sanctions to change Iran's behavior," Lynne Weil, a spokeswoman for committee, said in reference to Tehran's defiance of three U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The draft "demands that the president initiate an international effort" that would impose "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran." It would also ban "the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/26/democrats-bury-resolution-due-to-fears-of-another-/

[WhiteTara]

1. it's amazing what a "leadered" Congress

can do. They have been flailing for 2 years now and is seems as though suddenly, the spine is starting to take shape!

[jjanpundt]

2. It helps that they only have 4 months left of this admin n/t

[sarcasmo]

8. Exactly, no more fear of the boy King.

[High Plains]

3. Mr. Berman is smart enough to kill this war resolution.

The US might want to clean up its messes in Iraq and Afghanistan before starting a third war. Sheesh!

[bdamomma]

4. well I guess they are finally waking up.

[Scurrilous]

5. Good news.

:thumbsup:

[leveymg]

6. Thank G-d. The intent of HR 462 was to provoke Iran into a mutually-destructive war.

One of the most ill-conceived measures in history.

[PSPS]

7. They could have used this same procedure to kill war funding, but didn't.

[iandhr]

9. Don't worry

Bush will find a way with out congress to create a third war.