Photo: Kusa Dogwood, Lois Barber
May 2013 - In Congress, the drumbeats for war with Iran are getting louder and more insistent,
reminiscent of the lead-up to war against Iraq ten years ago.
House Resolution (H.R.) 98 supports pre-emptive military action by Israel against Iran.
It states: "The House of Representatives fully supports Israel's lawful exercise of self-
defense, including ... a strike against Iran's illegal nuclear program." And if Israel were to
attack Iran, Senate bill S.Res. 65 calls on the U.S. to support Israel militarily. An attack
on Iran, according to former Sec. of Defense Robert Gates, on 10/3/2012, "would make
a nuclear armed Iran inevitable. They would just bury the program deeper and make it
more covert."
Another bill, H.R. 850 directs the President to introduce harsher sanctions and make
plans to "disrupt and deny" Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapon capabilities.
Notice this is not only to deny Iran an actual nuclear bomb, which is President Obama's
commitment, but even the capability of making one. Some analysts say Iran already has
this. Could this bill be seen as a green light to attack Iran even now?
A much more effective approach is H.R. 783. Introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee, it calls
for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Iran to work intensively on negotiations and
continue the progress begun recently. A negotiated agreement, with inspections, would be
a lasting solution and is the best way to avoid both a nuclear-armed Iran and the horrors
of war.
Urge your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 783, Barbara Lee’s Resolution for expanded
on-going diplomacy to prevent a nuclear armed Iran and the threat of war. Also ask him/
her to oppose H.R. 98 that supports an attack by Israel, and H.R. 850 that supports harsh
sanctions that are likely to damage the possibility of an agreement. Also contact your
Senators and ask them to oppose Senate Bill S.Res. 65.
- Web: www.senate.gov & www.house.gov
- Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard)
- Mail: Senator or Representative
- (first & last name)
- U.S. Senate
- Washington, D.C. 20510
- or
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Washington, D.C. 20515
- Photo credit: Flowers of Buddha, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, Bill
Carbone
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