Webb: Liebermann - Kyle admendment is Cheney's Fondest Pipe Dream

[illinoisprogressive]

On the Senate floor today, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) made an impassioned appeal to his fellow senators, declaring that the Lieberman-Kyl amendment on Iran should be “withdrawn” because the “proposal is Dick Cheney’s fondest pipe dream.” Webb cautioned that the “cleverly-worded sense of the Congress” could be “interpreted” to “declare war” on Iran. He continued:

Those who regret their vote five years ago to authorize military action in Iraq should think hard before supporting this approach. Because, in my view, it has the same potential to do harm where many are seeking to do good.

“At best, it’s a deliberate attempt to divert attention from a failed diplomatic policy,” said Webb. “At worst, it could be read as a backdoor method of gaining Congressional validation for military action, without one hearing and without serious debate.”

Webb said that amendment’s attempt to categorize the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as “a foreign terrorist organization” would, for all practical purposes, “mandate” the military option against Iran. “It could be read as tantamount to a declaration of war. What do we do with terrorist organizations? If they are involved against us, we attack them.”

He also slammed the lack of debate and examination that was accompanying the amendment, saying “this is not the way to make foreign policy”:

We haven’t had one hearing on this. I’m on the Foreign Relations Committee, I’m on the Armed Services Committee. We are about to vote on something that may fundamentally change the way the United States views the Iranian military and we haven’t had one hearing. This is not the way to make foreign policy. It’s not the way to declare war.


http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/25/webb-kyl-lieb-iran/

[muntrv]

1. I'll support a war with Iran when Chimpy, Dickie, and the rest of the republiks

enlist in the army.:evilgrin:

[H2O Man]

2. Thank you.

Nominated.

[polichick]

3. "Cheney's Fondest Pipe Dream"

And Israel's too ~ this has nothing to do with what's best for the U.S.

[w4rma]

4. My U.S. Senator rocks.

I hope the rest of you are jealous of my U.S. Senator and go out and get your own like him. :P

[spooky3]

6. let's hope we get a second (M. Warner) next year.

[w4rma]

7. Fully agreed. Virginia is turning blue, again. (nt)

[spooky3]

22. we need to clean house at the state legislative level, though

the Rethugs are totally inept there.

[Tom Joad]

5. Harry Reid (Nevada - Dumbass) has taken no position on the amendment yet.

but i think he is a dependable yes vote.

[annabanana]

8. Well then. . He needs some pestering.

He needs some wholesale pestering...

[Tom Joad]

11. he needs retirement, a nice and long retirement.

Let him go back to Nevada and enjoy the sunshine.

[KittyWampus]

13. As per usual you are misinformed. But any occassion to trash a Dem. Reid is the one holding it.

At a press conference this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that the hawkish amendment on Iran being offered by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is now being revised prior to a Senate vote on the matter:

REID: There are efforts being made before we vote on them to modify those two amendments, because people have issues with both of those amendments. So, until we finalize what they really want to do, I think it would be unwise for me to say that I support Kyl-Lieberman, or don’t support it. I think I have to wait until I see what they are finally going to come up with, because some people have some real substantive problems with what’s in that Kyl-Lieberman amendment.

The revisions to the Lieberman-Kyl amendment are most likely driven by concerns raised by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), who warned the amendment amounted to a declaration of war.

[Tom Joad]

14. I read this. but why revise it... why not call out for its outright disposal?

who is he kidding?
as to your comment, i just have no respect for anyone in congress who supported the IWR amendment. none. and here he is, he can't even say he won't do it again.

at least he could have said that he would not vote for it in its present form.

[debbierlus]

21. If that is so, it is time to ACTIVELY ADVOCATE HIS REMOVAL

It was a long time ago, imo.

Dem leaderships sucks. Almost redundant to say it that way.

[ProSense]

9. I knew Webb would redeem himself after his

MoveOn and FISA vote. I just wish his amendment for the troops had gotten more attention last week.

[polichick]

10. He needed redemption after those votes...

I'm glad he chose such an important issue to stand up for!

[Tom Joad]

15. his support for greater off-time for troops engaged in an illegal war

is not what we need. We need to get those troops home. to stay.

[tyedyeto]

12. Pipe dream? or Wet dream?

I believe it to be the latterIt's 2002 all over again but against a different country. I'm so far out of the loop as afar as what the US has planned, but from speeches, press conferences, etc, the US is in a repeat of post 9/11 era when it didn't matter what evidence there is, we are going to go to another war with a country who has nothing to do with today's world problems.

[ribrepin]

16. Sadly, I think you are right

I AM SO DEPRESSED!

[tyedyeto]

17. Me, too

:hug:

And I believe it will get much worse in the coming months.

Perhaps to the point that, when, or 'if', a new administration is elected, nothing can be done to undo all that happened previously.

Very depressing.


Edit for spelling

[annabanana]

18. I don't always agree with JIm Webb, but he certainly seems

to have his eye on the ball. He is paying attention.

[bdamomma]

19. I hope more eyes are on the ball.

[debbierlus]

20. Kick

And, they will pass it.

The House did with only 16 people dissenting.

Un Fucking Believable

This almost feels like a declaration of the end of the world.