Posted on 06/19/2009 10:24:56 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the strongest message yet from the U.S. government, the House voted 405-1 Friday to condemn Tehran's crackdown on demonstrators and the government's interference with Internet and cell phone communications.
The resolution was initiated by Republicans as a veiled criticism of President Barack Obama, who has been reluctant to criticize Tehran's handling of disputed elections that left hard-liner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power.
Rep. Mike Pence, who co-sponsored the resolution, said he disagrees with the administration that it must not meddle in Iran's affairs.
"When Ronald Reagan went before the Brandenburg Gate, he did not say Mr. (Mikhail) Gorbachev, that wall is none of our business," said Pence, R-Ind., of President Reagan's famous exhortation to the Soviet leader to "tear down that wall."
Democrats, who are quick to voice their support for Israel anytime the Jewish state is seen as under siege, easily agreed to push through the mildly worded resolution.
Rep. Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-sponsor of the resolution, said "it is not for us to decide who should run Iran, much less determine the real winner of the June 12 election.
"But we must reaffirm our strong belief that the Iranian people have a fundamental right to express their views about the future of their country freely and without intimidation," added Berman, D-Calif.
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., have proposed a similar measure in the Senate, although a vote was not certain.
The policy statement expresses support for "all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties and rule of law" and affirms "the importance of democratic and fair elections."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Sarkozy spoke out against it. You know it’s bad when the French show more cojones than the POTUS.
That may be true, but the important point here is that a nay vote doesn't represent a constitutional objection, or protest, as Ron Paul seems to think it does.
LOL! Wow, what an argument!
Is our presence in the middle east going to bring democracy?
Let's not kid ourselves here. The middle east has a long history of tyrants and dictators.
This is all they know. Besides, there will never be peace in the middle east, no matter how hard we want there to be.
If there not fighting the great satan or Britain, they are fighting another muslim country, if not that, they are fighting another tribe and so forth.
Rape, murder, disembowelment, hangings, dismemberment, beatings, torture. This is what you see on a daily basis in the middle east and it has been this way thousands of years.
Do we really believe that in a decade we are gonna change their culture? I think not.
Socio-political change is only as good as the next dictator.
Not saying I agree with him. Just saying you know where he stands. It is never something I have to decipher.
He can’t use the libertarian argument that we shouldn’t get involved in other country’s affairs, as a simple House vote has no standing on anything.
Again, how so? What does America get out of this condemnation? Nothing! Other than sticking it to Obama in a way that does more damage than good for everyone concerned.
Does anyone need any more evidence to declare Ron Paul a nut case?
Does any one need more evidence to declare that if that if you were any dumber about statecraft, someone would have to water you?
The rollcall I saw indicates that Keith X voted for the resolution. The rep who voted "present" is listed as ELLSWORTH.
So, in your opinion, George Washington was a nutcase when he gave his farewell address?
I fixed your post.
So you the lone member of the Neville Chamberlain fan club. I wondered who it was.
Sometimes, when you think everyone is against, you're a delusional neurotic who's out of touch with reality.
Other times, when everyone really is against, you're still a delusional neurotic who's out of touch with reality.
Ron Paul and the Paulians fit nicely into both categories.
Ron Paul is a hero. We can’t afford another war....and that that is the hidden agenda of this resolution. If you are looking for Freedom Movements to support, there are plenty in the dicatorial Asian ex-Soviet Republics who are now getting our tax money.
They keyboard bombadiers on this thread seem determined to bankrupt us even more through another Wilsonian war.
Yer a freakin loon, too. I remember you.
George Washington's idea's about WMD consisted of the grapeshot (look it up).
Isolationism and withdrawal gave us the bloodiest war in the history of wars, including the murder of over 6 million jews.
Washington was born over 250 years ago, perhaps you should look for guidance on matters of foreign policy from people who knew what the atom was.
You asked me why we’re there and I gave you the most concise and direct explanation I could. In that explanation I gave you the key to understanding the enemy. If you don’t understand that, or simply reject it like the Democrats, then nothing else will make sense, and you have no solid grasp of what’s going on in the world. That’s why Ron Paul shouldn’t come anywhere near the Oval Office. He doesn’t understand the nature of the enemy.
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