Opposing the Resolution of Condemnation Regarding Iran
Kucinich gave the following speech in Congress on February 16, 2006:
Speaking in opposition to H. Con. Res. 341, Resolution of Condemnation Regarding Iran, Congressman Kucinich said:
"I want to thank my friend [Mr. Lantos] and indicate that I rise in opposition.
"This rhetoric that we are hearing on the House floor from people who I have to say I do respect greatly is eerily reminiscent of the debate in this House prior to the United States authorizing an attack on Iraq. I think we can look back today and say that the U.S. rushed into war against Iraq, only to find that there were no weapons of mass destruction.
"Madam Speaker, I will include for the Record an article from the Washington Post dated August 2, 2005, which says, 'A major U.S. intelligence review has projected that Iran is about a decade away from manufacturing the key ingredients for nuclear weapons, roughly doubling the previous estimate of 5 years.' It goes on to say that 'this carefully hedged assessment, which represents consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies, contrasts with forceful public statements by the White House. Administration officials have asserted but have not offered proof that Tehran is moving determinedly toward a nuclear arsenal.'
"I also include for the record the remarks of Angela Merkel, who is the leader of Germany, who says that we have not used all of our available windows of opportunity. She saw an opportunity for a negotiated settlement. As a matter of fact, in this news dispatch out of Berlin from yesterday, the German chancellor says there are real chances for a diplomatic deal to defuse the ongoing crisis over Iran's nuclear program.
"Madam Speaker, I include for the record a news report out of Moscow and Tehran of yesterday which says that Iran and Russia will hold talks on Monday on a Russian offer to conduct uranium enrichment for Iran in the Russian territory. This would avert what is a building crisis.
"Madam Speaker, I include for the record an analysis that was done of the joint resolution on Iraq, this was done by myself, that pointed out the flaws in a resolution that was presented to this House. This is an analysis from October 2, 2002, that relates to analyzing the Iraq resolution. I think this would be very valuable when you compare it side by side with the resolution that we have now.
"Madam Speaker, I want to call to the Members' attention the same article that Mr. Paul called to Members' attention, section 3 of the enactment clause, which calls on members of the United Nations Security Council, particularly the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, to expeditiously consider and take action in response to the report of Iran's noncompliance. This is in response to a report of Iran's noncompliance and fulfillment of the mandate of the Security Council to respond and deal with situations bearing on the maintenance of international peace and security.
"The importance of this point and this amendment is that this point undermines and sets aside the only possibility for a peaceful resolution of this crisis, namely the offer by Russia to enrich uranium for Iran to use in its nuclear power plants. Iran would not operate any enrichment processing facilities of its own, so we have an opportunity to put aside this crisis if we see what is developing now. This resolution, unfortunately, would scuttle the Russian-led negotiated settlement. I ask Members to consider that this resolution would put us on the threshold of war.
"Now, I stand with Mr. Lantos in defense of the right of Israel to survive. I voted for legislation yesterday that challenges any nation that would call for the destruction of Israel, and we should do that. But we don't have to go to war against Iran or to set the stage for a war against Iran when we have diplomatic means of resolving this. We should continue to pursue diplomacy.
[Ed. note: H. Con. Res. 341 was agreed to by recorded vote: 404 - 4 (Roll No. 12).]
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