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Fears grow over Iran (POTUS Faces Impeachment?)
TIMES UK ^ | 23 February 2007 | Tom Baldwin in Washington and Philip Webster, Political Editor

Posted on 02/22/2007 5:04:57 PM PST by shrinkermd

Tony Blair has declared himself at odds with hawks in the US Administration by saying publicly for the first time that it would be wrong to take military action against Iran. The Prime Minister’s comments came hours before the UN’s nuclear watchdog raised the stakes in the West’s showdown with Tehran.

Robert Gates, the Defence Secretary, who has previously called for direct talks with Tehran, is said to be totally opposed to military action.

Although he has dispatched a second US aircraft carrier to the Gulf, he is understood to believe that airstrikes would inflame Iranian public opinion and hamper American efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. One senior adviser to Mr Gates has even stated privately that military action could lead to Congress impeaching Mr Bush.

Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, is also opposed to using force, while Steve Hadley, the president’s National Security Adviser, is said to be deeply sceptical.

The hawks are led by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, who is urging Mr Bush to keep the military option “on the table”. He is also pressing the Pentagon to examine specific war plans — including, it is rumoured, covert action.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: gates; iran; legal; militarystrike; robertgates; savage; savagelovesit
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To: shrinkermd
Congress should be impeached. They've known all along, since 9/11, that an attack on Iran might be necessary. Dubya said then that you were either for us or against us, that if you fed, supported or sheltered a terrorist, you were a terrorist. That we were coming for you.

Congress didn't have the guts to complain then. The country wanted blood. It took them six years of constant sniveling and carping by their treasonous media pals for them to muddy the waters enough to work up the courage to start talking about impeachment. Dubya should make some of them disappear just as he's attacking Iran. We have to go into Iran. We have no choice. We have to stop them.

21 posted on 02/22/2007 5:54:36 PM PST by LibWhacker
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To: plain talk

Hillary will destroy the military, hand over US force protection to the UN, and approach all actions as police issues.

Hillary Clinton will say and do anything to get elected. If faced with Iran, she would kowtow. She may even agree with Persian and Arab opinion, given her past words and actions toward Palestinians and Jews.

In my opinion, not only we, but also the whole world knows this.


22 posted on 02/22/2007 5:54:41 PM PST by combat_boots (The MSM: State run Democrat media masquerading as corporations)
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To: shrinkermd

All options are on the table and I seriously doubt that President Bush is too overly worried, if at all, about being impeached, especially where issues of national security of this magnitude are concerned.


23 posted on 02/22/2007 5:57:46 PM PST by TADSLOS (Iran is in the IED exporting business. Time to shut them down.)
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To: Vicomte13
Impeaching Bush just takes a majority of the House. They could do that tonight.

To REMOVE him takes 2/3rds of the SENATE: 67 votes. They're nowhere close.

Just like when Clinton was President.

24 posted on 02/22/2007 5:58:37 PM PST by Doe Eyes
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To: shrinkermd

What would the Dems rather have President Bush or President Cheney


25 posted on 02/22/2007 5:59:14 PM PST by Despot of the Delta ("Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience")
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To: areafiftyone

They were complaining that the US was going to attack Iran in the 2004 campaign. Bush won't do it. It's too bad.


26 posted on 02/22/2007 6:00:18 PM PST by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: shrinkermd
1. Blair is one foot out the door. Blair's main objective is to kick the Iran can down the road.
2. Impeachment over a strike on Iran would be a rather justified impeachment cause.
3. A strike on Iran would unleash tens of thousands of Iranian paramilitaries on the US and Iraqi army in Iraq (and somewhat in Afghanistan)
4. If Pelosi and Murtha continue the slow bleed strategy after the President's strike on Iran, their political position dictates the president must take all blame, otherwise all blame falls on the Dem leadership.
5. A strike on Iran, Iran's response, the collapse of Iraq's government etc., would have Kurds declare unilateral independence probably.
6. Regional war, Turkey's military, secular political and religious political factions go into a frenzy that is very unpredictable.
7. Iran has the strategic depth that strikes on facilities won't eliminate the program, and gives Iran justification to openly go nuclear.
8. Iran can wait until the Dem's win the WH in '08 then go to war. Iran's strategy has long been to wait out Bush's term.

Impeachment would be a proper course of action for a opposition party if the strike's consequences spiral out of control quickly.

(I do not want a nuclear Iran either, but if cautionary principles are thrown out the window due to Bush's political time frame, more harm than good will come from the strike.)

27 posted on 02/22/2007 6:01:49 PM PST by JerseyHighlander
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To: AmishDude

I agree its too bad. I guess old Nostrils Henry Waxman isn't getting what he wants yet. He's the one that is trying to bring impeachment proceedings against the president.


28 posted on 02/22/2007 6:02:39 PM PST by areafiftyone (RUDY GIULIANI 2008 - STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP)
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To: Vicomte13
Hell, he could strangle a reporter on national TV with his bare hands while doing a line of coke, and so long as 34 GOP Senators stonewalled, he'd be in office until the end!

If it were David Gregory, I'd want a Constitutional amendment allowing a third term.

29 posted on 02/22/2007 6:03:19 PM PST by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: matt1234

I'll bet they try it in Sept/Oct 2008 just to please the moonbats.


30 posted on 02/22/2007 6:05:14 PM PST by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: shrinkermd

This is my prediction, and I really have nothing to back it up except for a gut feeling.

The US will not make a preemptive move on Iran. Not during the Bush Administration.


31 posted on 02/22/2007 6:05:34 PM PST by airborne (Elect an Airborne Ranger,Vietnam Veteran for President ! Duncan Hunter 2008!!)
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To: areafiftyone

It should be noted: We are doing EXACTLY what the Left wants in Iran. Let's see what the results are, shall we?


32 posted on 02/22/2007 6:06:59 PM PST by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: AmishDude

True. Seems to me they aren't satisfied. It seems like they are provoking Bush to do something. Hmmmm??? Warmongers? LOL!


33 posted on 02/22/2007 6:11:18 PM PST by areafiftyone (RUDY GIULIANI 2008 - STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP)
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To: Doe Eyes

Precisely!
And Clinton knew that.
Once it was clear he was going to be impeached, he didn't give a damn.
His approach was "Never complain, never explain!"
There was no contrition, no backing down, no guilt, and no slowing down. After the impeachment, he did things just to stick it in people's eyes. My favorite was during the Bush/Gore debacle, Clinton flew out on a Friday and came back on a Monday morning, and did a weekend state visit...to the Sultan of BRUNEI! LOL! Clinton had balls. He couldn't keep them in his pants...even went on STATE VISITS to be a horndog!...but once he knew he was going to be impeached, he blew it off and did what he wanted. Impeachment don't mean crap if you can't REMOVE me!
Resign? Go suck eggs. I'm here to STAY, and I'm BULLETPROOF, because you ain't got 67 Senators.
Recall that the Dems picked up seats in the Congressional elections during the Clinton impeachment.


34 posted on 02/22/2007 6:12:12 PM PST by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: areafiftyone

Me? I love "save Darfur". How, peaceniks?


35 posted on 02/22/2007 6:18:40 PM PST by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: JerseyHighlander

Impeach away.
It means NOTHING.
Clinton proved that.
An impeachment is merely an expression of displeasure by the majority party in the House.
YAWN.
Get 67 votes in the Senate, where the Democrats have precisely 49 - THAT'S what matters.
An impeached President is called Mr. President and he's still the Commander in Chief with perhaps even greater powers, because once he's impeached, he's got NOTHING to lose, really, so long as 18 Republican Senators don't flip.
And there is zero chance of 18 Republican Senators flip him.

The Democrats could impeach Bush 50 times, and it is irrelevant because they can't remove him ONCE.
Clinton taught us that an impeachment does not mean CRAP. Removal is what matters.
The President is essentially unlimited in his power if 34 Senators will stand with him and refuse to remove him from office. If he defies Congress and goes to war, arrests political opposition leaders, you name it, the only way to stop him is to REMOVE him. Impeachment's nothing. And if 34 Senators refuse to remove him, and the executive branch continues to obey him, a botched impeachment can actually end up neutering Congress. Clinton was emboldened by his impeachment, not chastened at all, but even he didn't see the full potential of his power. Though he did see some of it.
Pardon Marc Rich in exchange for influence, sexual favors from Rich's wife, and probably some money for the library?
That's Bribery! Heh, heh, then IMPEACH me, ya bastards! Ha ha.

If Bush attacks Iran without Congressional authority, the House might impeach him. The Senate doesn't have the votes to remove him, and the war goes on.


36 posted on 02/22/2007 6:18:59 PM PST by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: boxerblues
He will not want to leave it unresolved for his successor,

No. Bush has said long ago after 9/11 he won't leave such matters unresolved for his successor.

He also said he's a very patient man. As the old saying goes, "beware the fury of a patient man."

37 posted on 02/22/2007 6:19:16 PM PST by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: plain talk

No, that is HER hope.


38 posted on 02/22/2007 6:21:06 PM PST by ShandaLear (Perfect People Need Support, too.)
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To: AmishDude
Who would have thunk that the Democrats would become warmongers - hoping for a war with Iran so they can impeach Bush. I guess they don't want this anymore
39 posted on 02/22/2007 6:23:47 PM PST by areafiftyone (RUDY GIULIANI 2008 - STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP)
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To: Thud

fyi


40 posted on 02/22/2007 6:25:05 PM PST by Dark Wing
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