Iran Freedom Support Act: Big surprise, it's the oil, stupid!

[robertpaulsen]

I don't know how many people here are aware of what happened last week, but for those who didn't catch this the first time around:


House votes 397-21 for “Iran Freedom Support Act”

author: benfrankblog
How is it possible that Bush is still getting away with promoting lies about Iran. How is he even still in office?

As if Iraq isn't a big enough mess, the House of Representatives has just voted to 'hold Iran accountable and support a transition to democracy'. Sound Familiar? Only this time Iran is a democracy. They just held an election where their president was actually elected by the people. How refreshing.

After everything that has been exposed...the lies, the profiteering, the long list of war crimes, 397 'Representatives' gave Bush the go ahead on attacking Iran. Only 21 Patriots voted Nay. Sad to say but these are the only people we can trust...

Baldwin, Blumenauer, Boyd, DeFazio, Duncan, Flake, Hostettler, Jones (NC)
Kucinich, Leach, McDermott, McGovern, McKinney, Oberstar, Obey, Olver
Paul, Rahall, Snyder, Stark, Taylor

The most disappointing aspect however is the fact that so many of our 'progressive' leaders in congress voted for this lie. John Conyers voted yay. Maxine Waters, Murtha, Bernie Sanders, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee all voted for it. On the hill today the Progressive Caucus is hosting a hearing on Iraq...

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/04/338379.shtml


What part of 'regime change' did they miss? Apparently they also missed this paragraph that shows the real reason for all this:

The opening of Iran’s bourse will only hasten the inevitable decline of the dollar and a death-spiral for the American economy; that is why Congress passed the Iran Freedom Support Act last week (even before the Security Council had made its recommendations!) Hidden in the small print of the legislation is a clue that reveals Congress’ real intentions:



“The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to deny Iran the ability to support acts of international terrorism . . . by limiting the development of Iran’s ability to explore for, extract, refine, or transport by pipeline petroleum resources.”



Yes indeed; Iran’s plan to sell oil in euros is now tantamount to an act of “international terrorism”, a clear sign of the importance that Washington attaches to the coming bourse.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May06/Whitney03.htm


Thanks to Demeter for posting this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x207820

[bullimiami]

1. and it will no doubt pass the senate.

bush is going to say it gives him permission to invade iran.

i am so fucking sick and dissapointed in the house, especially the dems that voted for this.

i am going to send a letter to my rep now letting him know i view this as insanity.



Done. Text follows.

.......................................


Rep Meek,

I have to wonder if it is insanity or stupidity that would lead you and a host of other Democrats in the House to vote for the Iran Resolution.
Bush lied to congress about Iraq and dragged us into a monsterous war and it is deja vu with Iran and you all fell for it.

This will pass the Senate and Bush is going to say congress gave him permission to deal with Iran how he sees fit and all he sees is death and destruction.

I will NOT vote for you again. I am horrified that you would betray your constituents this way. I am going to donate and work for any candidate that opposes stupidity and insanity and you are apparently not one.

[robertpaulsen]

2. Good idea. My rep Berman dropped the ball too.

And he's usually a pretty progressive Dem. Could this be another case of what Conyers told Michael Moore in Fahrenheit 9/11? Are those 21 the only ones who actually read?!

My head hurts.

[Oversea Visitor]

3. Damn I been saying

327-21 haha :blush:

[bananas]

4. Kucinich calls Iran Freedom Support Act a "steppingstone to war"

Kucinich calls Iran Freedom Support Act a "steppingstone to war"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1051946

Kucinich Speaks Out Against House Bill That Lays The Ground Work For War
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1052802

[robertpaulsen]

7. Thanks for those links. He had my vote in the 2004 primary.

His consistency on progressive issues is dazzling. He's got another Congressional election to win this year. I hope he doesn't get Wellstoned, we can't afford to lose him.

[dogday]

5. I posted this twice last week

This is the same old song and dance they always play when they want war... I am amazed at the number of Democrats that voted for this? I wonder what their thinking is on that???

Here is the bill:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll105.xml

[robertpaulsen]

9. God, it makes my blood boil to read that list.

The bill title says it all:

BILL TITLE: To hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran

Duh, how do you support a transition to democracy and hold the current regime "accountable" at the same time? Can you say REGIME CHANGE? I promise you, before the end of the year, our pResident will say those words about Iran.

[Oversea Visitor]

6. I watch the arguement live

Hats of to Ron Paul a Republican who was really against it
I was surprise
Good to see people think of what is good for the country.

The worse part is that now it is legal for bush to fund groups to overthrow the Iran goverment.

Oh yes Dennis K was great too he really fought hard
But I was disappointed at how many support this bills

This is like an undeclared war. But still war.

[robertpaulsen]

12. I think Ron Paul is my favorite Republican.

I don't know his entire voting record, so there may be some stinkers I don't know about. But from everything I've read, he's been a relentless advocate for civil liberties and a fierce opponent of the Bushit war. I'm not surprised he voted against this, and I'm glad he spoke out for the record.

[Oversea Visitor]

15. He did and with real passion.

Was surprise when I saw (R) Ron Paul when he was speaking.

[leftstreet]

8. MCDERMOTT: "Mr. Speaker, I know it is an election year,

McDermott rocks! More at link

...and I know President Bush's ratings are at an all-time low, and I know gas prices are very high and the people are restless. Nevertheless, I call upon my colleagues and the President to resist the temptation to start yet another war.

Just as we did in the months leading up to the invasion of Iraq, a country which had no connection to 9/11 and no weapons of mass destruction, this administration intentionally confused us with regard to Iraq. It is doing the same with Iran. The administration says they want compliance with nuclear treaties but makes it clear that they really will settle for nothing less than regime change.

When we started demanding regime change in Iraq instead of demanding compliance with U.N. inspectors, we put ourselves on the path to war in Iraq. We are on the same plan and the same path in Iran. We will not talk with the Iranian government, and we will not stop talking about overthrowing it. It is impossible for the Iranian government to satisfy this administration and remain a government, although this administration will immediately deny that.

http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/sp060425.shtml

[robertpaulsen]

10. Great speech! Is he your Rep?

There is an old saying: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Amen! Too bad we don't have a President who knows that saying. ;)

[leftstreet]

11. Fool me..uh...er...

Yeah really.

Jim's "almost" my Rep. I'm in a neighboring district right now, but used to be in his.

He's terrific.

[Kittycat]

13. I wonder what China will have to say about that?

Didn't they just sign a big deal with them, or are finishing up one?

[robertpaulsen]

14. That's right.

'$100b Iran-China energy deal ready to be inked'

Sunday, April 30, 2006 - ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, March 30 (IranMania) - Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Lio G Tan has said that the oil and gas deal between Iran and China has been thoroughly studied by experts and is ready to be signed, MAN reported.

The Chinese ambassador was clearly referring to an energy agreement between Tehran and Beijing which is worth over $100 bln.

“No country can prevent the deal,” the ambassador told the Mehr News Agency correspondent in Tehran last week.

When asked whether China was under U.S. pressure not to sign the deal, Lio responded by asking, “Would the U.S. export oil to us if it didn’t let you (Iranians) give it to us?”

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=42422&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

[phusion]

16. this is nuts...talk about deja vu

HOW is this happening again??