Washington – Fearing that President Bush may be preparing to launch a military strike against Iran, Senate Democrats are drafting legislation that would require the White House to seek congressional approval before any such action.
Freshman Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a former Republican Navy secretary and decorated Vietnam veteran who opposes the Iraq war, is leading the effort. Webb said Thursday that he’s still working on the details, but he intends to introduce his measure next week as an amendment to the $93.4 billion war spending bill.
Democrats aren’t satisfied with assurances from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace that there are no plans to attack Iran.
Bush has deployed two aircraft-carrier battle groups off Iran’s coast. He also frequently denounces Iran’s alleged supply of weapons to Shiite fighters in Iraq, and he has issued orders to U.S. troops there to hunt those Iranians who are causing trouble.
In addition, there are persistent reports quoting people close to the administration saying that an attack on Iran is under consideration, both to inhibit Iran’s nuclear program and to try to undermine its leaders.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he supports Webb’s concept.
“There are many out there much smarter than I am who believe the administration is ramping up to have the same thing happen in Iran that’s happened in Iraq,” Reid said.
At the same time, the administration announced this week that it will attend a regional conference on Iraq that will include representatives from Iran and Syria, reversing its previous refusal to talk to either regime.
Many Democrats are skeptical that the Bush administration is committed to solving its problems with Iran diplomatically. They see similarities to the buildup to the Iraq war and want to leave no doubt that the 2002 authorization to use force in Iraq doesn’t extend to Iran.
Webb said that under his proposal, the U.S. military “would still be able to repel an immediate attack if it began on Iranian soil or (undertake) hot pursuit if there were Iranian activity where they were to cross the border. I want to be very reasonable about this.”
