[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   H. CON. RES. 398: EXPRESSING THE CONCERN OF CONGRESS OVER IRAN'S 
          DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEANS TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 17, 2004

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this ill-
conceived and ill-timed legislation. Let's not fool ourselves: this 
concurrent resolution leads us down the road to war against Iran. It 
creates a precedent for future escalation, as did similar legislation 
endorsing ``regime change'' in Iraq back in 1998.
  I find it incomprehensible that as the failure of our Iraq policy 
becomes more evident--even to its most determined advocates--we here 
are approving the same kind of policy toward Iran. With Iraq becoming 
more of a problem daily, the solution as envisioned by this legislation 
is to look for yet another fight. And we should not fool ourselves: 
this legislation sets the stage for direct conflict with Iran. The 
resolution ``calls upon all State Parties to the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), including the United States, to 
use all appropriate means to deter, dissuade, and prevent Iran from 
acquiring nuclear weapons . . .'' Note the phrase ``use all appropriate 
means.''
  Additionally, this legislation calls for yet more and stricter 
sanctions on Iran, including a demand that other countries also impose 
sanctions on Iran. As we know, sanctions are unmistakably a move toward 
war, particularly when, as in this legislation, a demand is made that 
the other nations of the world similarly isolate and blockade the 
country. Those who wish for a regime change in Iran should especially 
reject sanctions--just look at how our Cuba policy has allowed Fidel 
Castro to maintain his hold on power for decades. Sanctions do not hurt 
political leaders, as we know most recently from our sanctions against 
Iraq, but rather sow misery among the poorest and most vulnerable 
segments of society. Dictators do not go hungry when sanctions are 
imposed.
  It is somewhat ironic that vie are again meddling in Iranian affairs. 
Students of history will recall that the U.S. government's ill-advised 
coup against Iranian leader Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953 and its 
subsequent installation of the Shah as the supreme ruler led to intense 
hatred of the United States and eventually to the radical Islamic 
revolution of 1979. One can only wonder what our relations would be 
with Iran if not for the decades of meddling in that country's internal 
affairs. We likely would not be considering resolutions such as this. 
Yet the solution to all the difficulties created by our meddling 
foreign policy always seems to be yet more meddling. Will Congress ever 
learn?
  I urge my colleagues to reject this move toward war with Iran, to 
reject the failed policies of regime-change and nation-building, and to 
return to the wise and consistent policy of non-interventionism in the 
affairs of other sovereign nations.

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