“Do we have so little confidence in the diplomats of the United States that we’re not willing to let them talk with somebody we disagree with?” All right. Let’s talk to Herr Ahmadinejad, Mr. Chamberlain. Prepare a plane to Munich. Our diplomacy will be particularly effective once the Iranians know that there is no possibility that we will use force.
By Laurie Kellman for Associated Press, with thanks to Kemaste:
Democratic leaders in Congress lobbed a warning shot Friday at the White House not to launch an attack against Iran without first seeking approval from lawmakers.
“The president does not have the authority to launch military action in Iran without first seeking congressional authorization,” Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told the National Press Club….
President Bush said last week the U.S. will “seek out and destroy” networks providing that support. While top administration officials have said they have no plans to attack Iran itself, they have declined to rule it out….
Last week, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., challenged the president’s ability to make such a move. In a letter to Bush, Biden asked the president to explain whether the administration believes it could attack Iran or Syria “without the authorization of Congress, which does not now exist.”
Meanwhile, Lee Hamilton, the Democratic co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday that the U.S. must try to engage Iran and Syria in a constructive dialogue on Iraq because of the countries’ influence in the conflict.
The Bush administration, and several members of Congress, say they oppose talks with Iran and Syria because of their terrorist connections. Bringing the two countries into regional talks aimed at reducing violence in Iraq was one of the study group’s recommendations.
“Do we have so little confidence in the diplomats of the United States that we’re not willing to let them talk with somebody we disagree with?” Hamilton asked.