Posted on 09/25/2007 11:12:13 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress signaled its disapproval of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with a vote Tuesday to tighten sanctions against his government and a call to designate his army a terrorist group.
The swift rebuke was a rare display of bipartisan cooperation in a Congress bitterly divided on the Iraq war. It reflected lawmakers' long-standing nervousness about Tehran's intentions in the region, particularly toward Israel—a sentiment fueled by the pro-Israeli lobby whose influence reaches across party lines in Congress.
"Iran faces a choice between a very big carrot and a very sharp stick," said Rep. Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "It is my hope that they will take the carrot. But today, we are putting the stick in place."
The House passed, by a 397-16 vote, a proposal by Lantos, D-Calif., aimed at blocking foreign investment in Iran, in particular its lucrative energy sector. The bill would specifically bar the president from waiving U.S. sanctions.
Current law imposes sanctions against any foreign company that invests $20 million or more in Iran's energy industry, although the U.S. has waived or ignored sanction laws in exchange for European support on nonproliferation issues.
In the Senate, Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., proposed a nonbinding resolution urging the State Department to label Iran's military—the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—a terrorist organization.
The Bush administration had already been planning to blacklist a unit within the Revolutionary Guard, subjecting part of the vast military operation to financial sanctions.
The legislative push came a day after Ahmadinejad defended Holocaust revisionists, questioned who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks and declared homosexuals didn't exist in Iran in a tense question-and- answer session at Columbia University.
The Iranian president planned to speak Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly.
Lantos' bill was expected to draw criticism from U.S. allies in Europe. During a visit to Washington last week, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told lawmakers that France opposes any U.S. legislation that would target European countries operating in Iran. He argued that such sanctions could undermine cooperation on dealing with Iran.
Yeah. But I just get carried away and wordy sometimes. Heck, I have to have something to wile away my time :)
STILL waiting for you to post a single document fact about HOW or WHAT a Paul Administration would do.
Indeed you are. And a fine job you’re doing.
A Paul administartion would lobby to eliminate the CIA. Ron is s oul brother of Frank Church, RObert Toricelli and Rockefeller where American intellignece is concerned.
It needs to be started before it can be finished. ; )
I'm right here little girl, you can just post to me if you feel.....
A number of times.
His post don’t seem to indicate that...
Uh, huh.
Isn't Ron Paul a Republican?
Anarchist, interesting, that's largely how I view his supporters. Though in power, I suspect they take on the characteristics of fascists. Tough to support that, anarchists don't win that frequently, when they do they're defined by the roles they later adopt.
Given Paul's past characterization of Iran as a victim of American colonialism, his views of a neocon hijacking of American foreign policy for the purpose of "remaking" the mideast, and his opposition to the war, this vote shouldn't surprise anyone.
Some time today? Don’t get to play your usual game here. YOU actually have to defend your position not just prosecute everyone you disagree with.
A FACT? Do you need a few days?
I told you I wasn’t going to be any fun.
Heh...
If you only had a fact.
Nice sounding retoric and slogans don’t cut it. WHERE is the evidence? Perhaps you need more time?
That can be a direct line to fun for many of us.
I’ll have all I’m giong to get. It’ll have to be enough.
BTW what does my quote have to do with you?
Were you in the parade scene?
Boy, you're good! Hey! Give a little for me too, will ya? I can't anymore...meds ya know.
Whatever blows your skirt up.
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