Senators want Bush to tone down Iran rhetoric

[unhappycamper]

Senators want Bush to tone down Iran rhetoric
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 1, 2007 17:32:45 EDT

A group of 30 Democrats led by Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia is asking the Bush administration to tone down its rhetoric on Iran.

Reminding the White House that Congress has not approved offensive military action against Iran, the letter sent Thursday says the economic sanctions imposed by the administration and “provocative” statements by President Bush and other senior administration officials are “counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.”

“We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution, but we wish to emphasize that offensive military action should not be taken against Iran without the express consent of Congress,” the letter says.

Webb, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, is the sponsor of legislation that would require the administration to seek congressional approval for any offensive military action against Iran unless the action is specifically meant to thwart an Iranian threat or repel an Iranian attack.

Other Democrats who signed the letter include Robert Byrd of West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., did not sign the letter.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/military_senators_iran_071101w/