WTF??? Dems MAY support military action in Iran

[debbierlus]

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Democrats_in_Congress_lay_low_on_0418.html

Granted, this information is compromised of comments from aides. However, I am VERY disturbed at the lack of outcry against this adminstration's rheoteric and reported operations ALREADY occurring in Iran.

Where is the democrat PREEMPTIVE strategy to stop the lunatic Bush adminstration from starting another horror of a war?

Asked about Democratic strategy on Iran, the aide said, “The strategy is simple: Give the Republicans enough rope and they’ll hang themselves.”

Another quote from the article:

"The difficulty in obtaining comment from Democrats illustrates an elemental schizophrenia in the party’s foreign policy message. Democrats are caught on the fence – they must satisfy an anti-war base while at the same time projecting a hardline image on national security matters which will increase the attractiveness of Democratic candidates to independent-leaning voters in the 2006 midterm elections."

If the dems do not aggressively and consistently work to stop this insanity before it begins, I do not want to stay affliated with them as a party. There is NO excuse in the world for the dems not to be DEMANDING that nuclear weapons be taken off the table as an option. We should not have to be 'guessing' their strategy. If the dems will not stand up because they are worried they will look weak on national security, then they are truly lost and all my worst fears are true about them. This is an issue that the dems need to be talking about YESTERDAY, time is running out.

Give the Republicans enough rope, indeed! They won't hang themselves, they will commit murder on a mass scale, AGAIN.

Additional information from the article on the few courageous dems:

Dennis Kucinich confronted Bush in a letter a few days ago (link in my journal), along with another Congressman.

And, one congresswoman has serious concerns about Iran:

Not all Democrats are silent on Iran. Perhaps the most outspoken and most cogent voice is Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. Speaking specifically about Iran to the Council on Foreign Relations in early April, Harman portrayed US intelligence on Iran as a potential minefield. (Harman's full remarks, along with that of former Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin, are available here.)

“I think that some of the intelligence I see -- and I did ask to see the intelligence case on Iran -- is not close to where it needs to be,” Harman said. “I'm not going to reveal the classified information, but I did have a reaction in the briefing I got that some of this might be disinformation, not information. And I know we are passing around our intelligence case, the administration is, to the and some of our allies.”

As the leading Democrat on the Committee, Harman is one of only four Democratic members of Congress who receive top-level briefings from US intelligence agencies. This is part of the party’s struggle – one senior Democratic aide said that nearly all Democrats were in the dark because of their lack of access to the latest intelligence.

Neither the House nor the Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled hearings on Iranian intelligence oversight, though both committees say they have interest in doing so.

Harman’s discussion of Iran suggests she believes the Bush Administration may be putting forth questionable intelligence.

“All I'm saying is I remain skeptical,” she told an intelligence panel. “Lots of unanswered questions and conjecture that I have is that if I were Iran and I wanted to put out disinformation, it might look a lot like what our government is claiming is information.... I want to be absolutely sure that we base decisions, especially tough decisions like what are the next steps with Iran -- and I surely hope they are diplomatic because I think those are our best options -- on pristine and pure intelligence, or the closest we can get to that.”

“I have no question that Iran is a dangerous place, so don't let me tell you that there's any doubt in my mind,” Harman added. “The issue is how capable are they, and what are the real intentions of Iran's leaders? And I think the jury's out on both of those.”





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50 Comments

[LittleClarkie]

1. I hate that this story is filled with anonymous quotes

I never trust those.

[debbierlus]

2. My concern goes more to the lack of outcry from the dems

Then, anonymous quotes....

Because, the MAJORITY are keeping silent again. And, this is unacceptable.

[sutz12]

3. Democrats need to be outspoken

and VISIBLE! This is insanity.

We need a congressional statement against further warfare, and especially against the Nuclear option.

No nukes in Iran!

[debbierlus]

5. Exactly

They need to be actively fighting to stop this....

[DearAbby]

4. I would hope...

that they are not just relying on the intelligence that is coming from the white house...remember they like to cook the intelligence to suit their needs...The little boy that had cried wolf too often...they lied once, there is no reason to believe them on this situation.


Fool me once....

[baby_mouse]

6. zzz...nt

[Savannah Progressive]

7. Please tell me you aren't as outraged as you seem to be

A few weeks ago, I posted, almost jokingly, that with our rush to be more Conservative than the Repugniks, we should nominate Zell Miller. I pointed out how the radical Right Wingers would line up to vote for "Give them Zell" and his fascist message. We would have a Democrat in the White House, and hopefully a Democratic Controlled Senate and House.

I pointed out that this would equal exactly zero difference between now, and then, as the radicals would still be at the helm of this ship.

Most laughed, some were insulted, and others, well they were shocked, as I imagine you are now.

However, that is the direction our party is heading in, as far to the right as possible, and as fast as we can run that way. Look what we have thrown overboard so far to lighten the ship so we can pick up speed heading right.

1)Individual rights, Dozens of Democrats voted FOR the PATRIOT ACT.

2) Individual Right, Bankruptcy reform, individuals can't get rid of Credit Card Debt, but Corporations can toss the employee pension plans out the window.

3) Collective Right, Abortion, under assault in many states, some annalists expect 22 states to ban it. I personally expect a Federal Prohibition in the not to distant future, but of course, as they told us when Alito and Roberts were nominated, "They would Never ban Abortion, they need the Campaign issue".

They seem to be doing alright by Immigration.

We operate on the assumption that there is a finite amount of Hatred in the Repugnik heart, ignoring the obvious evidence that there is an infinite reserve of hatred and things to campaign against.

How many more rights will we throw overboard in our tacking race to get the Repugniks position as the "conservative" party? How much more pandering will we do before the alter of the Hate Mongers on the Right before we realize they will never support us?

[sandnsea]

8. I'm okay with this right now

Every Democrat I've heard make a statement has said attacking Iran is nuts. Biden, Kerry, Dean, Edwards, off the top of my head.

Right now, Bush, Cheney, Rummy & Condi are hanging out there all alone. You put somebody in there for them to fight with, you emotionally charge the debate. One wrong word by a Democrat, and that becomes the debate instead of nuclear war. No, this is fine for now. They're going to have to make the argument all on their own.

With Democrats saying this is crazy, often enough to be heard, but not so often to become the focus of the debate.

[Azathoth]

9. The problem is that Iran might actually pose a threat to us

Unlike Iraq, which was utter bullshit from the word 'GO', the concerns over Iran are not entirely unfounded. I have to agree with the Dems on this one. They should lay low, get the facts, and wait to see how things play out. Dubya's not going to be able to bomb anybody antime soon; he's bogged down our entire armed forces in Iraq, and he's used up every shred of credibility and good will he ever had both with the US military and the American people.

[ncgirl06]

10. Not prepared for Iran

Yes, the scary thing is that Iran DOES pose more of a threat than Iraq every did and if something really does come from it, we are not prepared. We do not have the money or military resources to fight them and they know it. Bush loves to say "We are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here" but what happens if they attack us over here again? All of our resources are "over there". Have you seen our pathetic National Guard bases, which are our main resource for national emergency response? So much for our country being safer - good plan, huh W?

[Oversea Visitor]

11. When has bush got a good plan

I do like the facts you know you got a born loser for a president
As to your fear of IRan
:rofl:
You joking right
Attacking us over here again
Come on when was the first time

All our resources over there
I have to agree 9 trillion in debt
and growing
Nah US collapse by itself under bush
No need to do a single thing but watch him screw America

You have nothing to fear from anyone
You only need to fear the nightmare of a US goverment gone crazy

[mmonk]

12. Vote candidates, not necessarily party without knowing

where they stand. Primaries carry more meaning now. It may be the only place to look to choose someone of the character to fight this foreign policy of aggressive war.