UNITED NATIONS - The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, Wednesday compared the threat from Iran’s nuclear programs to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
“Just like Sept. 11, only with nuclear weapons this time, that’s the threat. I think that is the threat,” Bolton told ABC News’ Nightline. “I think it’s just facing reality. It’s not a happy reality, but it’s reality and if you don’t deal with it, it will become even more unpleasant.”
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Bolton’s statements came as a Republican-controlled House panel, ignoring White House objections, overwhelmingly approved legislation Wednesday to tighten sanctions against Iran.
The 37-3 vote of the House International Relations Committee reflected deep hostility toward Iran’s Islamic regime and the specter that Tehran may some day acquire nuclear weapons.
Among other provisions, the legislation would end U.S. economic aid to any country that helped Iran by investing in its energy sector or permitted a private entity to carry out such investment.
The administration said it could not support the legislation, contending that it would limit the flexibility needed to pursue a diplomatic solution to the stalemate over Iran’s nuclear program.
Committee chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., voted for the bill even though he said he had reservations about provisions that threaten to punish allies that do business with Iran. He called that approach “divisive.”
Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., the committee’s ranking Democrat, said persuasion won’t work with Iran. “We can only hope to inflict such severe economic pain on Tehran that it would starve the leadership of the resources they need to fund a costly nuclear program,” he said.
More than 350 of the House’s 435 members are said to support the bill.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11849446/It looks like the congress, with the ports deal and now Iran policy, is in open revolt against the Bush administration on national security issues. While I dislike Bush intensely, something about this bothers me. I am starting to feel like legislators are having knee-jerk reactions to complex issues. Also, as much as I dislike Bush, I not sure this legislation is beneficial at this time.
I don't know, but it concerns me. We seem to be rushing into things without thinking through all the consequences...again.
Edit: Bolton is a loose cannon. If the Bush administration doesn't expect congress to react in this way, then why are they allowing him to spew such inflammatory rhetoric? Is this a case of good cop/bad cop or what?
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