McCaul blasts Iran in resolution
McCaul blasts Iran in resolution
Austin Congressman's resolution condemns Iran for human rights violations and restrictions on women, religion and freedom of speech.
By Tara Copp, as printed in the Austin American Statesman
WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, of Austin, led a bipartisan congressional resolution Tuesday condemning Iran's human rights record and suggested that the United States should consider using force to help Iranian citizens overthrow their government.
McCaul's resolution, which he co-sponsored with Rep. Joseph Crowley, of N.Y., coincided with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech to the United Nations General Assembly and the tenuous diplomatic situation regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Ahmadinejad skipped President Bush's morning speech to the assembly, where the President reiterated that Iran must abandon what the administration suspects is a nuclear weapons program.
Bush said the U.S. is supportive of Iran achieving a truly peaceful nuclear energy program.
Although the President said the United States is working toward a diplomatic solution, Time magazine is reporting this week that the Pentagon is considering targeting Iran's reactor and enrichment facilities to set its nuclear program back.
McCaul's resolution condemns Iran for its human rights violations and restrictions on women, religion and freedom of speech. It stops short of calling for the use of force.
But in his floor speech, McCaul said that "we also must not shrink from our responsibility through the option of strength."
Some Minority critics cautioned that the resolution "looks like Iraq all over again."
"Let's look at what we're doing here," said Dennis Kucinich, of Ohio. "We have to see that . . . the circumstances are being set in an order which could lead us toward a path of war toward Iran."
The widely supported resolution, which was co-sponsored by John Carter, of Round Rock, was introduced last week.
It passed by a voice vote, with a recorded vote on the issue expected today.
The other Central Texas lawmakers Lamar Smith, of San Antonio, and Lloyd Doggett, of Austin supported the bill.
Doggett said that despite Kucinich's premonitions, "the wording of this resolution seems sufficient to avoid providing the administration a pretext for another invasion."
McCaul said the vote Tuesday allows "Congress to send a message to Iran and to the president of Iran" while Ahmadinejad is in the country. A similar resolution, condemning Iran for suppressing its Bahai community, also overwhelmingly passed Tuesday night.
"We're signaling to the majority of Iranians that we support you and we support those who want to take back their country," McCaul said.
"I think the timing couldn't be better, because it is exactly what they need to hear," he said.
http://www.house.gov/list/press/tx10_mccaul/morenews/9_20_06_Iran_Res_AAS.html