Hagel: New Unilateral Iran Sanctions ‘Escalate The Danger Of A Military Confrontation’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/25/hagel-rice-iran/


Hagel: New Unilateral Iran Sanctions ‘Escalate The Danger Of A Military Confrontation’

chuckha.jpg Today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson accused the Quds division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps of proliferating weapons of mass destruction and sponsoring terrorism. They announecd new unilateral sanctions, the “broadest set of punitive measures imposed on Tehran since 1979.”

In his weekly news conference today, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sharply criticized the administration’s move, warning that it brings the United States one step closer to war:

“Unilateral sanctions rarely, ever work,” Hagel said by phone during his weekly news conference. “I just don’t think the unilateral approach and giving war speeches helps the situation. It will just drive the Iranians closer together.” <…>

“It escalates the danger of a military confrontation,” Hagel said.

“I certainly think engagement is critical … direct engagement,” said Hagel. “That’s what great powers do.”

In the press conference today, Rice insisted that the United States continues to pursue the “path of cooperation” with Iran. But the administration’s announcement comes just a day after CQ reported on the administration’s $88-million request to equip B-2 “stealth” bombers with a new 30,000-pound bunker buster — a weapon “meant for the kind of hardened targets found chiefly in Iran.”

On Sunday, Vice President Cheney issued “his sternest warning to date on Iran,” promising that there will be “serious consequences” if Iran continues “on its present course.” President Bush also last week publicly warned for the first time of the risk of “World War III” if Iran gets nuclear weapons.

[truebrit71]

1. File this under 'no shit sherlock'....

...:eyes:

Putin said sort of the same thing...but he called bush a madman in the process...the direct quote is in another thread....

Bottom line: Russia is the only thing standing between Iran and annihilation...

[TwilightGardener]

2. He also warned last week that there may be a "deliberate misrepresentation"

by this administration in order to pursue military action there. In short, he thinks they're going to "lie" us into another war. That may be "no shit sherlock" coming from a Democrat, but this is coming from a guy who's been deep inside the Repub ranks--he knows what's coming. He's my Senator, and on foreign policy, I take him seriously. He hasn't really been wrong yet.

[Tempest]

3. It's hard to believe that Hagel has become a voice of sanity

Where are our Democratic representatives?

[TwilightGardener]

4. I don't know. Obama almost sounded like he agreed with this new sanction BS--I hope not.

[leftchick]

5. warmongering for AIPAC

apparently they have not bought off Hagel. Oh the irony.

[TwilightGardener]

8. AIPAC does not like him--especially after he called on both Lebanon/Hezbollah

AND Israel to declare a cease-fire last year--about the only member of Congress not to side blindly with Israel.

[leftchick]

9. I don;t know how I missed that

Hagel a hero! who knew?? :crazy:

[lyonn]

6. Senator Webb was on Matthews shows discussing this very issue

today. He pretty much said we were being maneuvered into the same position we were in prior to invading Iraq. He has a bill that should be brought to the Senate floor that covers the "attack Iran" issue. Webb said bush should be forced to come to the Congress before attacking another country. He pretty much said this is a critical issue.

[Inuca]

10. He has been a very sane voice on foreign policy for a long time n/t

[NNN0LHI]

13. Makes me wonder why he stays with the party of diaper wearers and toilet cruisers

Why does he do that? If he switched parties that could actually make a difference on this war stuff. It would take Lieberman out of the picture. But he hangs right in there with the perverts.

He must have something to hide like most Republicans.

Don

[TwilightGardener]

16. LOL! I wonder that too, why he doesn't just

become an Independent at least, and the only reason I can come up with is that he thinks he will have more power, and his stock will be higher, by remaining a Republican--in other words, he's not quite done with politics despite leaving the Senate.

[spanone]

7. of course they do....bullies bully.

[Deny and Shred]

11. Halliburton has avioded Iran sanctions for years

Instead of creating new sanctionsPerhaps The Administration ought to have sactioned themselves first, by reining in Halliburton 'subsidiaries.' The link at the bottom of this post is to a 60 Minutes piece explaining how Iran was aided by an HAL subsidiary who took their orders directly from the home office in Houston, therby violating SEC arms-length requirements, and showing it was the parent-company, Halliburton itself, who decided to violate U.S. policy.
The U.S. government had forbidden U.S. firms from aiding Iran, a state sponsor of terror. Of course, this didn't dissuade Halliburton, who provided support and equipment for years, allowing Iran to generate billions in oil revenues. I guess that is a small price to pay, in Cheney's eyes, for Hallibuton profits.
This support continued into the current Iraq conflict. Now that The Administration has revved up the Iran threat, and decried Iranian involvement in the insurgency, Cheney ought to point the finger of blame at himself. His firm was among the first, and most prolific sactions violators. The irony is thicker than a Texws drawl.
Does Cheney 'Support the Troops?' Not if it conflicts with 'Support Halliburton's stock price.' I've said enough, read, and let me know what you think.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/22/60minutes/main595214.shtml

[TwilightGardener]

12. Hi! Welcome to DU, and interesting link.

The new sanctions are a joke--they're either just for diplomatic "show", or they're meant to provoke--they won't change Iran's behavior. I'm surprised to see how open and blatant our business ties with Iran are--I'm sure Cheney/Halliburton are not afraid of ever being held accountable. We've pretty much rolled over and played dead in this country.

[Deny and Shred]

14. DU used to accept input for Top 10 Con. Idiots

First, thanks for the welcome WD. I agree, how could they fear accountability when every move is shielded by National Security.

I used to read Top Ten Conservative Idiots pretty often, back in like 2001-2. At that time, the DU homepage had a link to which one could send evidence of conservative idiocy, and the list would use it, if it made the top ten in the minds of the DU Deciders (no slight intended, that list is still some of the best reading on the web.)
I've been looking around the site and haven't found DU asking for input for the list. Given the myriad examples of idiocy and hypocracy, I'm sure they don't NEED user input, but if anyone knows how to submit examples, please let me know. I'd really get a kick out of contributing to the list.

[TwilightGardener]

15. On the Top Ten page (go to the home page and look to the right for the link)

there are instructions for contributing material via e-mail to whomever compiles the list:
here's a link: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/top10