Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Webb seeks to prohibit Bush from attacking Iran without OK
The freshman senator, a critic of the war in Iraq, says his measure would not affect intelligence gathering.
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From The Roanoke Times
As a candidate for the U.S. Senate last year, Democrat Jim Webb was a persistent critic of President Bush's decision to launch a war against Iraq.
Now, as Virginia's freshman senator, Webb wants to make sure Bush can't expand the war into Iran without the approval of Congress.
Webb on Monday introduced legislation that would prohibit the Bush administration from taking "unprovoked" military action against Iran without funding authorization from Congress.
The measure is designed to eliminate uncertainty over whether Congress' 2002 authorization to send troops to Iraq could apply to neighboring Iran, which has been accused of supplying arms to Shiite fighters in Iraq.
"Iran is not Iraq," Webb said in a Senate floor speech explaining his bill. "The president has no authority to begin unilateral military operations against Iran."
Webb said his legislation is intended to "clarify the ambiguity" and ensure "that there will be no more shooting from the hip when it comes to the gravely serious question of when we send out military people into harm's way."
Webb, a former Navy secretary, said the legislation would not affect intelligence gathering or prevent the U.S. from carrying out "tactical responsibilities" in Iraq or in waters off Iran's coast.
He said the measure would allow military action "to directly respond to attacks or possible attacks that might be initiated from Iran, as well as those that might be begun elsewhere and then carry over into Iranian territory."
In a conference call with Virginia reporters, Webb said: "We're not taking any options off the table. We're saying that the president, in and of himself, does not have the constitutional power to begin a war on his own initiative.
"And that is what this legislation is intended to fix."
Virginia's senior senator, Republican John Warner, said Webb's proposed fix could have problems.
Warner is the second-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and former chairman of the panel.
"My initial reading of the bill raises concerns that the legislation could be construed as limiting a president's constitutional authority to conduct prudent planning for contingencies related to our national security," Warner said in a written statement. "This is an important issue, and the congressional committees of jurisdiction will certainly be given the opportunity to review this bill, and any others, before Congress will be called upon to act."
In his floor speech, Webb took note of the Bush administration's assurances that it has no plans to attack Iran. And he commended administration officials for pursuing regional meetings on Iraq that will involve Iran and Syria.
But, Webb said, "it is important that we clarify, formally, the perimeter of our immediate military interests in the Middle East."
"This administration has used force recklessly, choosing the military option again and again while never matching the quality of our military's performance with robust, creative diplomacy."
