Dennis Kucinich: Bush Administration Pushes United States Closer To War With Iran

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29965

Bush Administration Pushes United States Closer To War With Iran
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2008-01-09 20:03. Iran

From the office of Congressman Dennis Kucinich

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 9, 2008) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) released the following statement after President Bush ratcheted up rhetoric in a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this morning, further setting the stage for a war with Iran:

The President said, “Iran is a threat to world peace and that the United States would continue to keep pressure on the Iranians.” However, a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report released just last month reaffirmed Iran does not have an active weapons program.

“After using lies and deception to lead us to war in Iraq, the belligerent Bush Administration is doing the same with statements that suggest a preemptive attack on Iran is necessary to avoid a larger war,” Kucinich said.

Today’s press conference comes on the heels of numerous news reports that state the United States fabricated video and audio footage showing Iranian boats confronting U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf.

“If the Bush Administration were truly intent on understanding the facts of the January 6 incident, they would spend their time in the Middle East and hold high-level diplomatic talks with Iranian leaders instead of degrading the diplomatic relations further with bellicose rhetoric.

“The Bush Administration is so intent on starting another war, they will stop at nothing. They will use this incident as a green light to go to war with Iran,” Kucinich said.

Iranian officials reject the footage as fake and accused Washington of trying to stir up tension in the region. The video from Sunday’s incident shows small Iranian boats swarming around U.S. warships in the Straight of Hormuz. According to the Associated Press, the man in the recording speaking in heavily accented English threatened, “I am coming to you. … You will explode … minutes.”

“It is time to stop using war as an instrument of foreign policy. It didn’t work with Iraq and it won’t work with Iran,” Kucinich concluded.

Kucinich has consistently spoken out against the Administration’s drumbeat of war targeting Iran. He has given more than 70 speeches on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007.

[fascisthunter]

1. Bush and the Republicans need this War

[babylonsister]

4. Yea, I guess just one or two isn't good enough for them. nt

[Swamp Rat]

2. Won't be long...

[mikelgb]

3. Kick