Posted on 04/19/2006 8:15:25 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
RENO, Nev. (AP) - The Bush administration is relying too heavily on other countries in the international effort to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to Sen. Harry Reid.
Reid, D-Nev., said the administration should be taking the lead, but instead is relying on Germany, France and Great Britain to convince Iran to end its uranium enrichment program.
"It is hard to comprehend," Reid said Tuesday in Reno. "We should be involved at trying to arrive at a diplomatic solution. ... Not just these three countries."
Reid said the Middle East is a "powder keg" because of U.S. failures in Iraq, the rise of fundamentalism and the recent election of Hamas in Palestine.
"Our not being involved diplomatically in trying to solve the situation in Iran shows the Bush failure in foreign policy there and elsewhere."
And he said the U.S. has no military option in Iran.
"We don't have the resources to do it" because of the ongoing war in Iraq," he said.
On Wednesday, Republican National Committee spokesman Tucker Bounds said the president has not ruled out military action in Iran.
Reid opened his day on Tuesday addressing The Northern Nevada Faith-Based Services Summit, which mirrored an event Reid organized last year in Las Vegas - an ecumenical gathering of religious groups and social services advocates.
Reid stopped short of saying the summit reflected a melding of government and religion. Rather, he said churches need to know where to turn for financial resources outside of their congregation.
Beyond connecting religious organizations with federal resources, Reid said the summit also sought to connect the various religious organizations with one another, private businesses and secular social service providers.
"Churches need to understand what is out there for them," he said. "It is beneficial for churches to understand that they are not alone."
As Nevada faces growing difficulties in providing health care, affordable housing and senior services, faith-based organizations are becoming an important part of the social safety net, summit participants said.
Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ, told the summit audience Democrats and Republicans failed to talk about the needs of the poor in the last election.
"There's been a lot of talk about the faith-based initiative," Edgar said. "It is my fear that President Bush thought the faith-based initiative would simply be, 'Lets take all the welfare programs and dump that on the churches and synagogues and mosques.' The faith-based initiative must be based on partnership."
"We don't have the resources to do it" because of the ongoing war in Iraq," he said.
Is this is why the DEM's cannot be trusted with the U.S. national security (be it from the WH or majorities in either chambers of Congress).
The GOP base needs to come together over the next few months. Allowing these people in control of either chamber of Congress simply can't be allowed at this time in our nations history.
Let me get this straight - according to the Democrats, the U.S. is going it alone in Iraq but relying on too many other countries in Iran. The U.S. is acting too unilaterally... no, the U.S. is relying too much on other countries... no, the U.S. is acting too unilaterally...
They will say ANYTHING (even to the point of undermining our own country in a time of war) just to get elected.
Hezbollah Harry
Hamas Harry
Name me the last Minority or majority leader who called the President of the United States a "LOSER" in a public forum?.........You can't!!!!!
Harry Reid is a genuine POS, and a disgrace to the Senate. A lot of the nasty discourse, right now, in Washington DC can be blamed on Harry Reid, the man is simply void of any class or statesmanship whatsoever
All three of these problems he perceives are created by Iranian influence. Iran has created the "powder keg". Either you try to defuse it or the powder keg explodes and the entire region develops into an Islamic Civil War. This will slow or stop a lot of oil shipments. Since Iran created the "Powder Keg", Iran is THE major determinant into which route will be taken.
They hold the fuse.
LOL!
Does he not F-ing know that "bogged down in Iraq" means "lined up for Iran"?!?
Blame only the voters. See tag.
Looking at a map is beneath his pay grade.
:-)
"What pansies? I don't see any pansies!"
I could make those bobble head things! Whoever cut that one out didn't even leave a 'white area' around it. The programs always seem to leave it no matter how careful you are!
I like Pansies, gotta find another name for them.
Can't call Reid a "rose" or a "daisy" or a "buttercup"
He may act tough - but he is just a crooked pansy!
His voice is not too great either -
Kind of 'reidy', or reedy??
Wonder who started the bad connotation of Pansey, HAD to be some guys who didn't appreciate Panseys!
Hi SmartA. I didn't make it. I may have to try that next, lol.
"Reid Condemns Bush" is a non-headline. It's the same as "Security Flaw Found in Internet Explorer" and "Pope Denounces Violence." It would be a headline if it didn't happen.
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