[THS] Repubs: Resolution Green-Lighting Israeli Strikes on Iran

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http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26007.htm

Resolution Green-Lighting Israeli Strikes on Iran Introduced by House Republicans

By Jamal Abdi

July 23, 2010 "Huffington Post" -- Republicans in the House of Representatives have
introduced a measure that would green-light an Israeli bombing campaign against
Iran. The resolution, H.Res. 1553 (in full below), provides explicit support for military
strikes against Iran, stating that Congress supports Israel's use of "all means
necessary" against Iran "including the use of military force". US military leaders have
warned that strikes could be catastrophic to US national security interests and could
engulf the Middle East in a "calamitous" regional war.

Nearly a third of House Republicans have signed onto the resolution, which has been
publicly discussed and circulated by its lead sponsor, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), for
months. The National Iranian American Council is leading calls to oppose the
measure, urging those concerned to demand that House Republican Leader John
Boehner denounce the resolution.

The introduction of the measure coincides with a pattern of renewed calls for military
strikes that have escalated since President Obama signed "crippling" Congressional
Iran sanctions into law. Neoconservatives who were instrumental in orchestrating the
Iraq War, such as Bill Kristol, and Reuel Marc Gerecht, have led the stepped up calls
for military action.

Hawkish former Bush Administration official John Bolton recently laid out the game
plan to prod Israel into attacking Iran, arguing that outsiders can "create broad
support" for a strike by framing it as an issue of Israel's right to self defense.
Supporters for military strikes, Bolton says, should "defend the specific tactic of pre-
emptive attacks" against Iran. He urges that Congress can "make it clear" that it
supports such strikes and that "having visible congressional support in place at the
outset will reassure the Israeli government, which is legitimately concerned about Mr.
Obama's likely negative reaction to such an attack."

In spite of enthusiasm from the neocons, top US military leaders have warned of the
many dangers of military strikes against Iran. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has
argued, "Another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need. In fact, I believe it
would be disastrous on a number of levels." Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs has expressed his own serious reservations about an attack, stating, "Iran
getting a nuclear weapon would be incredibly destabilizing. Attacking them would
also create the same kind of outcome. In an area that's so unstable right now, we
just don't need more of that." General David Petraeus has warned that a strike on
Iran would be utilized by the Iranian government to unite it's otherwise divided
populace.

Simulations have been conducted over the past year to assess the outcome of a
preemptive military strike against Iran. One such simulation, by the Brookings
Institution's Saban Center, found that strikes would draw the US into the conflict that
would engulf the region into war, and would enable Iran to use the attacks as an
opportunity to unite the Iranian people and dismantle its opposition. The simulation
also found that the strikes could not destroy Iran's nuclear program but merely set it
back a few years.

An Oxford Research Group report released recently reinforced those findings and also
warned that an Israeli attack would be disastrous and would be unlikely to stop Iran's
nuclear program. Instead, the report concluded attacks could convince Iran to
withdraw from the international Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and to aggressively
seek to develop nuclear weapons.

Iranian activists have urged that even raising the specter of war undercuts the
opposition in Iran. "The mere fact that Obama didn't make military threats made the
Green Movement possible," noted Akbar Ganji. "A military attack would destroy all of
that."

Send your letter demanding that House Republican Leader John Boehner denounce
the Iran War Resolution

Iran Resolution [photo]

Jamal Abdi: - Policy Director, National Iranian American Council