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H.R. 362: Proposed U.S. Naval Blockade on Iran Amounts to "an Act of War"
The National Intelligence Estimate released Dec. 3, 2007, states that Iran's nuclear weapons program was halted in 2003. The EU froze the assets of the biggest Iranian bank after Bush visited Britain in June. H.R. 362, introduced in Congress on May 22, 2008, would impose a naval blockade upon Iran which experts say would amount to "an act of war."
H.R. 362: Proposed U.S. Naval Blockade on Iran Amounts to “an Act of War”
By David R. Kimball June 29, 2008
In an article entitled The Iran Trap, posted on 6-8-08, author Chris Hedges quotes House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers' May 8th letter to Bush, where Conyers threatened to open impeachment proceedings if Bush attacked Iran: "... the December 2007 National Intelligence Estimate concluded that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in the fall of 2003, a stark reversal of previous Administration assessments."(1)
The U.S. imposed unilateral financial sanctions on Iran in October of 2007. (2) Bernard Weiner of “The Crisis Papers” wrote on December 12, 2007, in regard to Bush and Cheney: “What they want before a new president is inaugurated in January 2009 is to wipe out Iran’s weapons capabilities...”(3)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, after a White House meeting with George W. Bush on June 4th, that the two leaders were of one mind: “... George Bush understands the severity of the Iranian threat and the need to vanquish it, and intends to act on that matter before the end of his term in the White House.” This information is quoted from a 6-19-08 article by Ray McGovern, Army Intelligence/infantry officer and a CIA analyst for 27 years.(4)
The European Union’s 27 member states agreed in mid-June to freeze the assets of the biggest bank in Iran and impose new oil and gas sanctions upon the country.(5) At a press conference during George W. Bush’s visit in mid June, British Prime Minister George Brown said that Iranians did not have to choose a “path of confrontation”...(6)
A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that, if it becomes law, would impose a naval blockade on Iran. It “demands” that the President impose “stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran.” House Resolution 362 was introduced May 22, 2008 and was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; by June 18th it had attracted 146 co-sponsors. According to an article by Andrew W. Cheetham: “experts say that the measures called for in the resolutions amount to an act of war”. (7)
(1) http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080608_the_iran_trap/ The Iran
Trap, by Chris Hedges 6-8-08
(2) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21468595/ U.S. Imposes Sweeping
Sanctions on Iran, AP 10-25-07
(3) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00165.htm Bush’s Nuclear
Boogie-man Scam, by Bernard Weiner 12-12-07
(4) http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/061908c.html Bomb Iran?
What’s to Stop Us?, by Ray McGovern 6-19-08
(5) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2139863/Iranian-bank-assets-frozen- by-EU-sanctions.html Iranian Bank Assets Frozen by EU Sanctions 6-17-08
(6) http://www.truthout.org/article/bush-and-browns-warning-iran?print Bush and Brown’s Warning to Iran BBC 6-16-08
(7) http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?aid=9377&context=va House Resolution Calls For Naval Blockade Against Iran, by Andrew W. Cheetham 6-18-08
By David R. Kimball June 29, 2008
In an article entitled The Iran Trap, posted on 6-8-08, author Chris Hedges quotes House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers' May 8th letter to Bush, where Conyers threatened to open impeachment proceedings if Bush attacked Iran: "... the December 2007 National Intelligence Estimate concluded that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in the fall of 2003, a stark reversal of previous Administration assessments."(1)
The U.S. imposed unilateral financial sanctions on Iran in October of 2007. (2) Bernard Weiner of “The Crisis Papers” wrote on December 12, 2007, in regard to Bush and Cheney: “What they want before a new president is inaugurated in January 2009 is to wipe out Iran’s weapons capabilities...”(3)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, after a White House meeting with George W. Bush on June 4th, that the two leaders were of one mind: “... George Bush understands the severity of the Iranian threat and the need to vanquish it, and intends to act on that matter before the end of his term in the White House.” This information is quoted from a 6-19-08 article by Ray McGovern, Army Intelligence/infantry officer and a CIA analyst for 27 years.(4)
The European Union’s 27 member states agreed in mid-June to freeze the assets of the biggest bank in Iran and impose new oil and gas sanctions upon the country.(5) At a press conference during George W. Bush’s visit in mid June, British Prime Minister George Brown said that Iranians did not have to choose a “path of confrontation”...(6)
A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that, if it becomes law, would impose a naval blockade on Iran. It “demands” that the President impose “stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran.” House Resolution 362 was introduced May 22, 2008 and was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; by June 18th it had attracted 146 co-sponsors. According to an article by Andrew W. Cheetham: “experts say that the measures called for in the resolutions amount to an act of war”. (7)
(1) http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080608_the_iran_trap/ The Iran
Trap, by Chris Hedges 6-8-08
(2) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21468595/ U.S. Imposes Sweeping
Sanctions on Iran, AP 10-25-07
(3) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00165.htm Bush’s Nuclear
Boogie-man Scam, by Bernard Weiner 12-12-07
(4) http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/061908c.html Bomb Iran?
What’s to Stop Us?, by Ray McGovern 6-19-08
(5) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2139863/Iranian-bank-assets-frozen- by-EU-sanctions.html Iranian Bank Assets Frozen by EU Sanctions 6-17-08
(6) http://www.truthout.org/article/bush-and-browns-warning-iran?print Bush and Brown’s Warning to Iran BBC 6-16-08
(7) http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?aid=9377&context=va House Resolution Calls For Naval Blockade Against Iran, by Andrew W. Cheetham 6-18-08
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It's not H.R. 362, which is "To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science teachers, and for other purposes".
It's H.CON.RES 362 : "Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the threat posed to international peace, stability in the Middle East, and the vital national security interests of the United States by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and regional hegemony, and for other purposes."
Two entirely different bills.
It's H.CON.RES 362 : "Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the threat posed to international peace, stability in the Middle East, and the vital national security interests of the United States by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and regional hegemony, and for other purposes."
Two entirely different bills.
There is little doubt in my mind that the threat of a pre-emptive attack on Iran, by either the U.S. or our surrogate Israel, before the term of this administration is up is a very real one. The demonizing of Ahmedinijad is much like that done to Hussein prior to our attack of Iraq, the sacking of Adm. Fallon who publicly opposed such an attack on Iran, and the large-scale physical movement of our naval forces into this area all presage such an action on our part.
Furthermore, the administration continues to assert that the Iranian Quds Force is arming anti-American groups in Iraq and providing them with high-tech roadside bombs and sophisticated rockets. It dismisses the 12/07 National Intelligence Estimate conclusion that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program. Unfortunately, he White House has not provided evidence to back up its claims. The languaging of the bellicose statements of administration leaders like Bush, Cheney, and Rice all lend support to such a pre-emptive strike on the part of the U.S. or Israel.
Now, the ultimate sanction of a severe blockade of persons and resources entering or exiting Iran, a serious act of war, which H.R. Con. Rea. 362 is about, appears to be designed to provoke some retaliatory act on Iran's part which would be the pretext for war that we are looking for.
Those who are in favor of a much more measured diplomatic way of dealing with Iran should be marshalling all of the forces that we can, lobbying, street protests, spokespersons speaking out publicly, arm twisting in the Congress and in the military leadership, up to, and including taking concrete steps toward impeaching the President. In this way we can make sure that House Con Res. 362 does not pass and that it is clear that we are madder than hell and won't take what this administration is dishing out anymore. I strongly believe, however, that, only if all of the forces who oppose the warlike direction of this administration come together in a dramatic way, definitely work in concert with each other, and raise the consciousness of the public on this matter, will we be able to prevent an actual war with Iran.
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