Forestalling a blockade of Iran

from Joe Miller

Dear Friend,

Progress is being made by peace groups, labor, and retired military leaders in derailing House Congressional Resolution 362 which calls for a naval blockade of Iran. Many feel that such a blockade would lead to a military confrontation with, and war with, Iran. Senator Evan Bayh is the sponsor of a similar resolution in the Senate -- Senate Resolution 580. Both resolutions have a large number of cosponsors.

Here's an excerpt from Mark Weisbrot's article that captures the importance of defeating H. Con. Res. 362 and S. Res. 580:

... "On May 22, a bill was introduced into Congress that effectively called for a blockade of Iran, H. Con. Res. 362. Among other expressions of hostility, the bill calls for: "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 ... " This sounded an awful lot like it was calling for a blockade, which is an act of war. A dangerous proposition, especially given all the efforts that the Bush-Cheney administration has taken to move us closer to a military confrontation with
Iran, the bluster and the threats, and the refusal to engage in direct talks with the Iranian government. The last thing we need is for the war party to get encouragement from Congress to initiate more illegal and extremely dangerous hostilities in the Persian Gulf. If the bill were to pass, the Bush
Administration could take it as a green light for a blockade. It's hard to imagine the Iranians passively watching their economy strangled for lack of gasoline (which they import), without at least firing a few missiles at the blockaders." ...

Below find links to several short articles that provide added insight into why it is exceptionally important to oppose H. Con. Res. 362 and S. Res. 580. Representatives Wexler (D-FL), Frank (D-MA), Cohen (D-TN), Allen (D-ME), and Clay (D-MO) have now removed their names as cosponsors of H. Con. Res. 362

Best,

Joe

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Mark Weisbrot: Anti-War Movement Successfully Pushes Back Against Military Confrontation With Iran 7/23/08
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-weisbrot/anti-war-movement-success_b_114545.html

Iran Nuclear Watch: California Labor Federation Opposes Military Attacks on Iran 7/24/08
http://irannuclearwatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/california-labor-federation-opposes.html

Iran Nuclear Watch: Retired Military Leaders Oppose H.Con.Res. 362 7/10/08
http://irannuclearwatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/retired-military-leaders-oppose-hconres.html

Sarah van Gelder: Americans Say No to War with Iran: Will Washington Listen? 7/13/08
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-van-gelder/americans-say-no-to-war-w_b_112374.html

Arianna Huffington: Scary Thought: Is Condi Rice Our Last, Best Chance for Peace? 7/16/08
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/scary-thought-is-condi-ri_b_113187.html

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.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HC00362:TOM:/bss/110search.html

S.RES.580: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SE00580:TOM:/bss/110search.html



Joseph Miller
Associate Professor of Psychology
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556