Why is the Senate avoiding the Iran issue?
Via ThinkProgress, DB sees that there is the semblance of a pulse in the Senate with regards to Iran:
Swell. But what about this amendment, S. 759, introduced by Sen. Webb on March 5, to be added to the Iraq supplemental bill?
Here's the amendment's current status:
Do they need to read it again? If so, here it is:
What's the hold up? Bush has already been trying to use force in Iran. Why is Congress waiting until it's too late to assert their authority here?
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and Joe Biden (D-DE) write President Bush: “Congress needs to have greater confidence that the Administration is not mismanaging Iran policy as it has mismanaged its Iraq policy.”
Swell. But what about this amendment, S. 759, introduced by Sen. Webb on March 5, to be added to the Iraq supplemental bill?
Specifically, the amendment requires that the President seek congressional authorization prior to commencing any broad military action in Iran and it allows the following exceptions: First, military operations or activities that would directly repel an attack launched from within the territory of Iran. Second, those activities that would directly thwart an imminent attack that would be launched from Iran. Third, military operations or activities that would be in hot pursuit of forces engaged outside the territory of Iran who thereafter would enter Iran. And finally, those intelligence collection activities that have been properly noticed to the appropriate committees of Congress.
Here's the amendment's current status:
Latest Major Action: 3/5/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Do they need to read it again? If so, here it is:
SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAN.
(a) Prohibition- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds appropriated or otherwise made available by any Act, including any Act enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act, may be obligated or expended for military operations or activities within or above the territory of Iran, or within the territorial waters of Iran, except pursuant to a specific authorization of Congress enacted in a statute enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Exceptions- The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to military operations or activities as follows:
(1) Military operations or activities to directly repel an attack launched from within the territory of Iran.
(2) Military operations or activities to directly thwart an imminent attack to be launched from within the territory of Iran.
(3) Military operations or activities in hot pursuit of forces engaged outside the territory of Iran who thereafter enter into Iran.
(4) Military operations or activities connected with the intelligence or intelligence-related activities of the United States Government.
(c) Report- Not later than 24 hours after determining to utilize funds referred to in subsection (a) for purposes of a military operation described in subsection (b), the President shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the determination, including a justification for the determination.
(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined- In this section, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
(1) the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
What's the hold up? Bush has already been trying to use force in Iran. Why is Congress waiting until it's too late to assert their authority here?
