From my Middle East Peace Forum...

Antiwar.com Action Alert
Iran War Resolution May Be Passed Next Week

Introduced less than a month ago, Resolution 362, also known as the
Iran War Resolution, could be passed by the House as early as next
week.

The bill is the chief legislative priority of AIPAC. On its Web site,
AIPAC endorses the resolutions as a way to ''Stop Iran's Nuclear
Program" and tells readers to lobby Congress to pass the bill. In the
Senate, a sister resolution, Resolution 580, has gained co-sponsors
with similar speed. The Senate measure was introduced by Indiana
Democrat Evan Bayh on June 2. It has since gained 19 co-sponsors.

The bill's key section "demands that the president initiate an
international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the
economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably
suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting
the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing
stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships,
planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting
the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in
negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program."

"Imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles,
ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran" can be
read to mean that the president should initiate a naval blockade of
Iran. A unilateral naval blockade without UN sanction is an act of
war.

Resolution 362 has already gained 170 co-sponsors, or nearly 40
percent of the House. It has been referred to the Foreign Affairs
Committee, which has 49 members, 24 of whom, including the ranking
Republican, are co-sponsors. The Iran Nuclear Watch Web site
writes, "According to the House leadership, this resolution is going
to 'pass like a hot knife through butter' before the end of June on
what is called suspension - meaning no amendments can be introduced
during the 20-minute maximum debate. It also means it is assumed the
bill will pass by a 2/3 majority and is non-controversial. "

Our national legislators deem it non-controversial to recommend to a
president known for his recklessness and bad judgment that he
consider engaging in an act of war against Iran. Those of you who
consider this issue controversial can go to the Just Foreign Policy
Web site and tell your representative to oppose this resolution.

http://capwiz. com/justforeignp olicy/issues/ alert/?alertid= 11518951

For more information about this action item, media requests,
donations or other information, please contact Angela Keaton at 310-
729-3760 or akeaton @ antiwar.com.

===

H. Con. Res. 362: Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the
threat posed to international peace, stability in...
Bill Status
Introduced: May 22, 2008
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY]
Status: Introduced
Go to Bill Status Page

You are viewing the following version of this bill:

Introduced in House: This is the original text of the bill as it was
written by its sponsor and submitted to the House for consideration.

Text of Legislation
HCON 362 IH

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. CON. RES. 362
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the threat posed to
international peace, stability in the Middle East, and the vital
national security interests of the United States by Iran's pursuit of
nuclear weapons and regional hegemony, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 22, 2008

Mr. ACKERMAN (for himself and Mr. PENCE) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
----------

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the threat posed to
international peace, stability in the Middle East, and the vital
national security interests of the United States by Iran's pursuit of
nuclear weapons and regional hegemony, and for other purposes.

Whereas Iran is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT), has foresworn the acquisition of nuclear
weapons by ratification of the NPT, and is legally bound to declare
and place all its nuclear activity under constant monitoring by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);

Whereas for nearly 20 years, in clear contravention of its explicit
obligations under the NPT, Iran operated a covert nuclear program
until it was revealed by an Iranian opposition group in 2002;

Whereas the IAEA has confirmed such illicit covert nuclear activities
as the importation of uranium hexafluoride, construction of a uranium
enrichment facility, experimentation with plutonium, importation of
centrifuge technology, construction of centrifuges, and importation
of designs to convert highly enriched uranium gas into metal and
shape it into the core of a nuclear weapon;

Whereas Iran continues to expand the number of centrifuges at its
enrichment facility, as made evident by its announced intention to
begin installation of 6,000 advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium,
in defiance of binding United Nations Security Council resolutions
demanding Iran suspend enrichment activities;

Whereas the November 2007 National Intelligence Estimate reported
that Iran was secretly working on the design and manufacture of a
nuclear warhead until at least 2003, but that Iran could have enough
highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon as soon as late 2009;

Whereas an Iranian nuclear weapons capability would pose a grave
threat to international peace and security by fundamentally altering
and destabilizing the strategic balance in the Middle East, and
severely undermining the global nonproliferation regime;

Whereas Iran's overt sponsorship of several terrorist groups,
including Hamas and Hezbollah, and its close ties to Syria raise the
possibility that Iran would share its nuclear materials and
technology with others;

Whereas Iran continues to develop ballistic missile technology and is
pursuing the capability to field intercontinental ballistic missiles,
a delivery system suited almost exclusively to nuclear weapons
payloads;

Whereas Iranian leaders have repeatedly called for the destruction of
Israel, a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, and a
member of the United Nations;

Whereas the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom,
and Germany have offered, and continue to offer, to negotiate a
significant package of economic, diplomatic, and security incentives
if Iran complies with the United Nations Security Council's
resolutions demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment;

Whereas Iran has consistently refused such offers;

Whereas as a result of Iran's failure to comply with the mandates of
the United Nations Security Council, taken under Chapter VII of the
United Nations' Charter, the international community has imposed
limited sanctions over the past 2 years that have begun to have an
impact on the Iranian economy;

Whereas Iran's rapid development of its nuclear capabilities is
outpacing the slow ratcheting up of economic and diplomatic sanctions;

Whereas Iran has used its banking system, including the Central Bank
of Iran, to support its proliferation efforts and its assistance to
terrorist groups, leading the Department of Treasury to designate 4
large Iranian banks proliferators and supporters of terrorism;

Whereas Iran's support for Hezbollah has enabled that group to wage
war against the Government and people of Lebanon, leading to its
political domination of that country;

Whereas Iran's support for Hamas has enabled it to illegally seize
control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority, and to continuously
bombard Israeli civilians with rockets and mortars;

Whereas Iran continues to provide training, weapons, and financial
assistance to Shi'a militants inside of Iraq and antigovernment
warlords in Afghanistan;

Whereas those Shi'a militant groups and Afghan warlords use Iranian
training, weapons, and financing to attack American and allied forces
trying to support the legitimate Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas Iran is further destabilizing the Middle East by underwriting
a massive rearmament campaign by Syria;

Whereas through these efforts, Iran seeks to establish regional
hegemony, threatens longstanding friends and allies of the United
States in the Middle East, and endangers vital American national
security interests; and

Whereas nothing in this resolution shall be construed as an
authorization of the use of force against Iran: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--

(1) declares that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons
capability, through all appropriate economic, political, and
diplomatic means, is vital to the national security interests of the
United States and must be dealt with urgently;

(2) urges the President, in the strongest of terms, to immediately
use his existing authority to impose sanctions on--

(A) the Central Bank of Iran and any other Iranian bank engaged in
proliferation activities or the support of terrorist groups;

(B) international banks which continue to conduct financial
transactions with proscribed Iranian banks;

(C) energy companies that have invested $20,000,000 or more in the
Iranian petroleum or natural gas sector in any given year since the
enactment of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996; and

(D) all companies which continue to do business with Iran's Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps;

(3) demands that the President initiate an international effort to
immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and
diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear
enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran
of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection
requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and
cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international
movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the
suspension of Iran's nuclear program; and

(4) urges the President to lead a sustained, serious, and forceful
effort at regional diplomacy to support the legitimate governments in
the region against Iranian efforts to destabilize them, to reassure
our friends and allies that the United States supports them in their
resistance to Iranian efforts at hegemony, and to make clear to the
Government of Iran that the United States will protect America's
vital national security interests in the Middle East.

===

AIPAC'S SINISTER AND TREASONOUS ACTION ALERT
http://aipac. org/694.asp# 12667

You can affect Israel's future and promote America's interests in the
Middle East by urging your Members of Congress to support these
important initiatives.

Support Security Aid for Israel
The administration has requested $2.55 billion in security assistance
for Israel as part of the fiscal year 2009 budget. The aid request
reflects the first year of a 10-year plan to gradually increase U.S.
security assistance to the Jewish state in order to meet increasing
threats. American security assistance is essential in helping Israel
face a potential nuclear-armed Iran, daily rocket attacks from Gaza
and a rearmed Hizballah. Please urge members of Congress to support
this vital aid to Israel and the overall fiscal year 2009 foreign aid
bill.

Email Congress:
Email your Representative
Email your Senators
Related Materials:
Boost in U.S. Aid to Israel Vital Amid Increasing Threats (PDF, 430k)

Stop Iran's Nuclear Program
Members of the House and Senate have introduced resolutions (H. Con.
Res. 362 and S. Res. 580) calling on the administration to focus on
the urgency of the Iranian nuclear threat and to impose tougher
sanctions on Tehran. The resolutions, introduced in the House by
Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Mike Pence (R-IN) and in the Senate by
Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and John Thune (R-SD), urge the president to
sanction Iran's Central Bank and other international banks and energy
companies investing in the country. They also demand that the United
States lead an international effort to increase pressure on Iran by
curtailing Iran's ability to import refined petroleum products.
Please urge your representatives to cosponsor this critical
resolution.

Legislative Details:
Bill Summary: House (PDF, 49K) | Senate (PDF, 49K)
Text of Resolutions: House (PDF, 55K) | Senate (PDF, 35K)
Cosponsors: House | Senate
Email Congress:
Email your Representative
Email your Senators
Related Materials:
U.S. Must Do More to Prevent Nuclear-Armed Iran (PDF, 1027k)
FAQ: The Iranian Threat (PDF, 99k)

Support Israel's Quest for Peace
More than half of the House and three-quarters of the Senate sent
letters to President Bush reinforcing the key principles America
should stand by as it works to help Israel achieve peace. The letters
reiterate Israel's right to self-defense, call on the U.S. to stand
strongly with Israel at the U.N. and urge the president to press the
Arab states to do more to support Israeli-Palestinian talks. The
House letter, sent on June 27 and signed by 268 members of the House,
was authored by Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Howard
Berman (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). The Senate letter, sent
on June 24 and signed by 77 members of the Senate, including Sen.
John McCain (R-AZ), was authored by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and
Susan Collins (R-ME), and was reinforced by an additional message by
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). Please thank your members of Congress if
they signed the Senate and/or House versions.

Legislative Details:
Text of Letters: House (PDF, 3874K) | Senate (PDF, 216K)
Signatories: House (PDF, 20K) | Senate (PDF, 13K)
Email Congress:
Email your Representative
Email your Senators
Related Materials:
Israel Defending Its Citizens Amid Constant Terror (PDF, 988k)

Support Sanctions Against Iran
With Iran continuing to defy the international community's demands to
suspend its nuclear activities, the House has passed and Senate is
considering comprehensive legislation aimed at increasing economic
and political pressure on Iran to persuade Tehran to end its nuclear
program. The legislation -- introduced in the House by Reps. Tom
Lantos (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and in the Senate by
Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) -- strengthens U.S.
tools to cut off funds to Iran's nuclear program and prohibits U.S.
nuclear cooperation with those aiding Iran's atomic efforts. The bill
passed the House on Sept. 25 by a vote of 397-16. Please thank
members of the House who voted for the bill and urge senators to
cosponsor it.

Legislative Details:
Bill Summary: House (PDF, 41K) | Senate (PDF, 42K)
Text of Legislation: House (PDF, 117K) | Senate (PDF, 78K)
Vote or Cosponsors: House | Senate
Email Congress:
Email your Representative
Email your Senators
Related Materials:
FAQ: The Importance of the Iran Counter-Proliferati on Act (PDF, 58k)
FAQ: The Iranian Threat (PDF, 95k)
Implementing Tough Sanctions Key to Countering Iran (PDF, 119k)
U.S., International Sanctions Having Impact on Iran (PDF, 81k)

Support Divestment from Iran
As Iran continues to make rapid advancements in its illicit nuclear
weapons program, the House has passed the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act
of 2007 by a vote of 408-6. The bill authorizes state and local
governments to divest from companies investing in Iran's petroleum
and natural gas sector and protects fund managers who divest from
such companies from potential lawsuits. The legislation was
introduced in the House by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Christopher
Shays (R-CT) while Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sam Brownback (R-KS)
introduced the bill in the Senate. Please thank your member of the
House for voting for the bill and urge your senators to cosponsor the
bill.

Legislative Details:
Bill Summary: House (PDF, 38K) | Senate (PDF, 38K)
Text of Legislation: House (PDF, 68K) | Senate (PDF, 55K)
Vote or Cosponsors: House | Senate
Email Congress:
Email your Representative
Email your Senators
Related Materials:
Divestment: An Important Tool in Preventing Nuclear Iran (PDF, 67k)
Iran's Support for Terrorism (PDF, 223k)

Take Action

Support Security Aid for Israel
Stop Iran's Nuclear Program
Support Israel's Quest for Peace
Support Sanctions Against Iran
Support Divestment from Iran

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