[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             OPPOSING PRESIDENT BUSH'S MARCH TO WAR IN IRAN

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Iran Freedom 
Support Act. I certainly share my colleagues' concerns about Iran's 
apparent push to develop nuclear weapons, but I oppose H.R. 282 because 
I fear President Bush will use this legislation to lead America into an 
unnecessary war with Iran. This President used this same pattern in his 
last march to war in Iraq.
  The resolution calls upon the United States to request that the 
United Nations Security Council impose sanctions against Iran. 
President Bush used Iraq's violation of similar sanctions to justify 
his initiation of the ill-fated Iraq War.
  The legislation also authorizes President Bush to fund the Iranian 
opposition to radical Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad despite the fact that American support for pro-Western 
leaders has often backfired. In fact it's backfired in Iran before! 
America's historic support for the Shah propelled former radical leader 
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power. Is it any wonder then that the 
Washington Post recently reported that pro-democracy forces in Iran do 
not want U.S. funding since their association with America taints their 
credibility within their country?
  The United States spent millions of dollars in Iraq to fund the 
opposition to Saddam Hussein. In return, the Bush Administration 
received bogus information from informants that claimed that Iraq had 
weapons of mass destruction. The Administration then used this 
information to scare America into war against Iraq.
  Finally, H.R. 282 advocates regime change and I find it difficult to 
believe Iran will cooperate with our diplomatic proposals if they 
understand our ultimate goal to be the overthrow of their government.
  America can prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons through 
peaceful and thoughtful diplomacy. But this legislation sets us on the 
road to war rather than diplomacy. I therefore urge my colleagues to 
join me in voting against it.

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