HRC: The Republicans are rattling their sabers at Iran, but “I want to prevent a rush to war.” … “Well, first of all, I am against a rushed war. … Secondly, I am not in favor of this rush to war, but I am also not in favor of doing nothing.” Says that Iran is working towards nuclear weapons. “… I prefer vigorous diplomacy.”
Update:
CD: I think those 76 votes are going to be waved in front of us when George Bush tries to take unjustified action against Iran.
JB: Let’s look at what happened from the moment that vote took place. Oil prices went up. “We’ve emboldened Bush at the minimum,” he’s made irresponsible comments about WWIII. Driven Muslim moderates underground across the area, promotes urban legend that Americans are on a crusade against Islam, bad even if nothing else happens.
BO: I don’t think we should be talking about attacking Iran. Drumbeat from administration, Republican debates, need to pursue aggressive diplomacy. Need to be looking at carrots, “we have not made those serious attempts. … Weakens our capacity to influence Iran.” Shouldn’t talk about extreme options when haven’t tried other means.
HRC: Urges colleagues to pass resolution declaring that Bush doesn’t have authority to go to war. Need vigorous diplomacy, all options on table, resolution gives “I am not going to speculate about when or if they get nuclear weapons.” Should not allow them to acquire nuclear weapons, best way to prevent that is to have leverage for negotiators.
JE: The best way to promote diplomacy is to vote for an amendment that looked like it was written by the neocons and gave Bush everything he wanted? Did anyone read this thing? “A lot of us on this stage have learned this lesson the hard way. You give this president an inch and he’ll take a mile.”
BR: There is a redline, can’t permit Iran to use nuclear weapons. There are moderate elements in their society, we can come to a compromise and allow them to have civilian power. Critically important that we talk to North Korea, Syria and Iran. Saber rattling won’t get diplomacy started.
DK: There are a lot of enablers in this rush to war, a lot of them are Democrats. When you say ‘all options are on the table,’ you enable President Bush. The policy of pre-emption has licensed the war.