30 Senators Say WH Must Seek Congressional Approval for Offensive Military Action Against Iran

[The Straight Story]

30 Senators Say White House Must Seek Congressional Approval for Offensive Military Action Against Iran

Aggressive Rhetoric Undermines Diplomacy

Washington, DC — Along with 28 co-signers, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Jim Webb of Virginia sent a letter to the White House today warning the President not to take offensive military action against Iran without the express consent of Congress. Designed to clarify any ambiguity as a result of a recent Senate amendment urging designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, the Senators also expressed concern that the administration’s increasingly provocative rhetoric has undermined diplomatic efforts with Iran.
A copy of the letter follows.


November 1, 2007

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.

We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran. This includes the Senate vote on September 26, 2007 on an amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, expressing the sense of the Senate on Iran, and the recent designation of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, should in no way be interpreted as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran.

We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution, but we wish to emphasize that offensive military action should not be taken against Iran without the express consent of Congress.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb (D-VA)
Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI)
Max Baucus (D-MT)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Thomas R. Carper (D-DE)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND)
Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
John F. Kerry (D-MA)
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV)
Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=286602&&

[Alexander]

1. Where are Biden and Obama?

[TwilightGardener]

3. Why let them muscle into Hillary's good PR?

[Basileus Basileon]

4. So are you suggesting Hillary

somehow blocked Obama from declaring that K-L may not be a predicate for war?

[TwilightGardener]

6. No, just saying Biden and Obama may not have been contacted for a signature.

[Basileus Basileon]

2. Where are Biden and Obama?

It'll be interesting to see what the Obama folk have to say about this one.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Where's Russ Feingold?

I'll bet most of these folks will end up rolling over, just like always. What a joke.

[daninthemoon]

7. That's great, but that's an awful short list. I'm thinking this has more

to do with helping HRC cover her patootie, than really influencing *, or seriouly pre-empting a pre-emptive attack on Iran. Too little too late?

[Basileus Basileon]

8. 30 is over half the Democrats. nt

[babylonsister]

9. Here's a reason for NOT signing it:

http://alternet.org/wire/#66750

Sources knowledgeable with the crafting of the letter said there were two general arguments offered by those who did not sign on in support: that Congress already has the power to declare war, and that the letter text was too vague about defensive and/or covert action against Iran. Notably, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also declined to attach his name.