U.S. Lawmakers Return From Israel Pledging Tougher Iran Law

[Purveyor]

Source: Jewish Telegraphic Agency

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Fresh off summer-recess visits to Israel, several key lawmakers are intensifying the push to pass legislation aimed at isolating Iran.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who led a trip to Israel last week involving 18 members of Congress, told JTA that Israeli leaders depicted the Iran issue as most urgent. The delegation met with Israel's prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister, opposition leader and president.

"All of us came back with a renewed sense of the importance of dealing with Iran, of the dangers that a nuclear armed Iran would pose to the region and the international community," Hoyer said. "There is a sense that Ahmadinejad is one of the few world leaders who expresses the possibility of the elimination of another sovereign nation -- Israel -- and hopes to eliminate from the Middle East the United States of America."

The renewed pushed could produce a clash between Congress and President Bush. Though the president also backs Iran's isolation, he opposes attempts by lawmakers to dictate the foreign policy of his administration.



Read more: http://stlouis.ujcfedweb.org:80/page.html?ArticleID=156669

[bobthedrummer]

1. Use the "diplomacy" of the BFEE State Department's "Office of Iranian Affairs/OIA"

Right Web profile

Office of Iranian Affairs/OIA
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/3312

[seemslikeadream]

2. Prelude to an Attack on Iran "There will be an attack on Iran." ROBERT BAER

A Hegemonic Hubris More War on the Horizon By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1656303

Iraq Kurds accuse Iran of cross-border shelling
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1654411&mesg_id=1654411

Prelude to an Attack on Iran "There will be an attack on Iran." ROBERT BAER
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1625957

The Long String of “Coincidences” on Our Road to War and its Cover-up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1634369

Reply #33: Beating Louder on Iran Bush's War Drums
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=165702&mesg_id=170402

Bolton: I ‘Absolutely’ Hope The U.S. Will Attack Iran In The Next ‘Six Months’
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1640855

Former CIA Officer: US to Attack Iran Within 6 Months
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1633512

Iranian helicopter downed in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1621191

Kurds flee homes as Iran shells villages in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1621227

Read Chris Floyd: "Project Management: Bushists Through the Looking-Glass on Iran Charges"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1616482

This will be my last post in the foreseeable future about the coming attack on Iran
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1601993

Michael Ledeen's Dangerous Iran Obsession
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1612651

Worth a mention. JoeforClark? was worried about the Kurds,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1604939

Cheney urging strikes on Iran: McClatchy Newspapers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1573102

Of Chertoff, Cheney, Radioactive Trucks and Tinfoil...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1556240

S. commander says Iraqi cleric Sadr in Iran
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1560971

A New Tactical Twist in the Coming War on Iran
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1562014

Bush Cheney launch coordinated campaign to pin Iraq's troubles on IRAN
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1554535

After Propagating False Iraq Intel, NYT’s Michael Gordon Now Echoing Bush Claims On Iran
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1544525

Iran Promotes US War with Turkey
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1463997

B-2s being fitted for Bunker Buster Bomb - FOR IRAN???
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1414759

Kurdish officials in northern Iraq say they fear a full-scale invasion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1411790

U.S. Funding Armed Groups to Overthrow Iranian Government:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1603806

[peacetalksforall]

3. Nuts. (I) Can't trust Hoyer. I DO NOT WANT TO BOMB IRAN!

MANY DO NOT WANT TO BOMB IRAN!
NOT
NOT WANT

The innocent people of Iran do NOT WANT to be bombed.

This is another leader to leader to leader fight. And we are their victims.

Leader = same as corporation, foundation, baron.

Hoyer reports to the barons. Leiberman, also.

I despise and resent people who can't make peace.

Who don't even try to make peace.

Because there is too much profit in killing.

[snappyturtle]

4. Is this same group now going to Iran to talk with Ahmadinejad? n/t

[MessiahRp]

5. "All of us came back with a renewed sense of the importance of dealing with Iran"....

Also known as: paid. off. No question in my mind they were treated to some nice Israeli bribes to find such a heightened awareness.

Rp

[snappyturtle]

6. Your supposition wouldn't surprise me in the least. Well, let's just

get on with it....no more stalling....I want Israel and the U.S. to start bombing Iran!:sarcasm: Maybe our representatives are trying to settle the score for the kidnapping of our citizens!? Makes about as much sense as anything does today. imho

[VP505]

8. You beat me

to it, I was going to say that they came back with pockets bulging with AIPAC money.

[LeftishBrit]

16. It would be an odd place to go to get AIPAC money

As AIPAC is not in Israel.

[youngdem]

7. Why are we willing to risk nuclear and world war for Israel again? Can someone remind me?

Because I can't think of a SINGLE fucking reason why I would endanger my day to day safety, life, treasury, army or future on a country that can't seem to seek peace with their neighbors, and in fact actively PROVOKES their neighbors so that big brother America comes and does her fighting for her.

I am sick of Israel's undue, enormous and hugely destructive influence on American foreign policy. It is time for Americans to ask themselves the tough questions about why we are in this fight, and what is possible for the US to win and all that it is possible to lose, and ask if we really want to be in this fight. We do not have to. At all.

I wish that religion would just get the FUCK out of government. I just cannot believe that in this day and age, we are still fighting over who's invisible friend is the coolest. SICK of it.

[0007]

9. The drum beat is getting louder & louder.......

Texas Mike Conaway a Republican representing District 11 in the US House. Held a townhall meeting in Midland Texas last week. The topic was, how crazy Ahmadinejad is and his plan to nuke Israel. He must be stopped!!

It appears that junior may be given the green light.

[HuffleClaw]

10. "The renewed pushed could produce a clash between Congress and President Bush." ??

*snicker*

suuuuuuuuuure

[lovuian]

11. Its Oil and about protecting Israel

I think the whole NWO underestimates Iran

[rodeodance]

12. It is critical, Hoyer said, to make certain that Iran know all options are on the table.

......The House passed two bills prior to the summer break aimed at Iran's isolation: One targets U.S. corporations that create foreign subsidiaries to evade restrictions on dealing with Iran's energy sector; another measure provides legal protection to states that divest from Iran. Florida had divested its pensions from Iran and a number of other states are close to passing similar legislation.

Both those bills are now under consideration in the Senate, where they are expected to pass.

Bush might object to broader legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, that would extend sanctions to any third party having dealings with Iran's nuclear sector -- and restrict the president's ability to waive such sanctions.

Hoyer says he hopes to accelerate the passage of the Lantos legislation. He says the measure has 323 sponsors -- a number substantially greater than the 291 votes that would be needed to override a veto by Bush.

"There will be renewed activity in the Congress," Hoyer said.

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the House's minority deputy whip and its sole Jewish GOP member, said the Republican caucus was also committed to the Lantos legislation. Cantor led 17 other Republicans on his own Israel tour a week before Hoyer's delegation.

"There is overwhelming bipartisan support for that legislation," Cantor told JTA. "The sense in Congress is that we've got to do everything we can to isolate the clerics in Iran from global finance."

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee welcomed the accelerated push for tougher sanctions on Iran. "By strengthening the sanctions against Iran, Congress is sending a strong message that America and our allies will use all economic pressures available to encourage the regime to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons," AIPAC spokesman Josh Block said.

In addition to the two congressional delegations, Lantos and the chairman of the House's Middle East subcommittee, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), also toured Israel this month.

Hoyer said he was unsettled by what he described as the relative lack of urgency among Europeans and others about Iran. A nuclear Iran would exert greater controls over oil markets, he said.

"Russia and Europe and China have economies that are reliant on foreign products. They should have concern over such a destabilizing reality," he said.

It is critical, Hoyer said, to make certain that Iran know all options are on the table. Stressing that he was speaking for himself and not his Israeli interlocutors, he added: "Clearly no one believes that you can take the military option off the table given the serious threat that would exist to the region and the international economy of a nuclear armed Iran."

[legin]

13. I'm up for sale !!

I've said this before in the basement, for a free 10 day holiday in israel with lots of good food and drink plus visits to the beach, I'll say anything israel wants me to say, I might even consider giving them their capital letter back.

I wasn't taken up on it last time, much to my irritation.

This little beanie left for israel 12th August.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=891798&contrassID=25&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=1&listSrc=Y&art=2#article891798

[IndianaGreen]

14. This is more evidence of Israel's undue influence on US foreign policy

Every time that someone points this connection out, Israel's American megaphones launch their "Jews don't control America" strawman attacks, smearing and silencing critics of US-Israel relations. I wonder if Israel's American megaphones even realize how their tactics reinforce the increasingly held view that Israel does have undue influence on US foreign policy.

Those members of Congress that see war on Iran as more important than ending the war on Iraq (a war that was championed by the Israel Lobby), should have their children enlist in the military and go off to the war they so badly want.

[LeftishBrit]

17. How about putting the blame for American foreign policy straight where it belongs...

in the hands of Bush and Cheney and their cronies. And those who got them into power, when they were not duly elected.

The American government is not controlled by any other country. On the contrary, Bush and Cheney would like to control other countries, but are having increasingly less success at it. Blair let Bush control him, but that was his (Blair's) choice. If America goes to war with Iran (I hope it doesn't!), then it's Bush's choice, not Israel's choice - and is quite likely to endanger Israel, as well as every other Middle Eastern country.

Yes, it would be better if politicians and their children volunteered for the wars they support. If they did, there would be fewer wars.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Obviously you missed Hillary's Iran's speech to AIPAC earlier this year

"All options (including nuclear) are on the table," she crowed to wild applause.

Both major parties are responsible for the mess in the Middle East. Both parties voted for the war in Iraq, both parties voted to impose sanctions on Iran and Syria, and both parties stood silent as Israel bombed Beirut.

[GeorgeGist]

15. The Holy Land ...

indeed.
:freak::freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak: :freak:
:nuke: :nuke::nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[0007]

19. bttmft