Stop Congress from Iran Embargo Contact your reps to stop fomenting of war
by Jim Babka, Downsize DC
Reprinted by permission, CC
Text of letter to Downsize DC subscribers 6/21/08:
Urgent: Stop Congress from fomenting another war
We rarely send you action items on Saturday. We're doing so today because the House appears likely to vote on a bad resolution early next week. If you oppose starting a war with Iran then we must act now to oppose House Concurrent Resolution 362.
This resolution has 169 co-sponsors, including 77 Democrats and 92 Republicans. The resolution calls on President Bush to:
Create an international blockade of Iran to prevent it from importing the refined gasoline it needs to run its economy
Subject all cargo entering or leaving Iran to stringent inspections
Tighten economic sanctions against Iran
Violate international treaties by prohibiting Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program from travelling abroad.
If another country took such actions against us, we would consider it an act of war. In addition, passage of this resolution would end negotiations with Iran in Baghdad that the administration has recently signaled it was prepared to resume.
House Concurrent Resolution 362 is a major step toward war. It would reduce the opportunity for a negotiated settlement with Iran, and even worse, President Bush could take this resolution as a sign that he has Congressional support to attack Iran before he leaves office.
Look, we don't like Iran's government any better than anyone else does, but we do like the Iranian people, and they like us (America). An attack on Iran could turn the Iranian people against us, and further cement the Iranian government in power. It would also further radicalize the Muslim world and increase the threat of terrorism.
Our government overreacted to the supposed threat of WMD in Iraq, and now it's doing the same thing with Iran. Our so-called leaders seem never to learn. They just careen from one disaster to the next. So the real leadership must come from us.
Please send a message to Congress today promoting expanded negotiations with Iran. Use your personal comments to ask your representatives to oppose House Concurrent Resolution 362. You can send your message here.
