[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 52 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2006

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on April 14, 2006, I sent the following 
letter to President Bush regarding reports of United States troops 
conducting military operations in Iran:

       Dear President Bush: Recently, it has been reported that 
     U.S. troops are conducting military operations in Iran. If 
     true, it appears that you have already made the decision to 
     commit U.S. military forces to a unilateral conflict with 
     Iran, even before direct or indirect negotiations with the 
     government of Iran had been attempted, without UN support and 
     without authorization from the U.S. Congress.
       The presence of U.S. marines in Iran constitutes a hostile 
     act against that country. At a time when diplomacy is 
     urgently needed, it escalates an international crisis. It 
     undermines any attempts to negotiate with the government of 
     Iran. And it will undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts at the 
     U.N.
       Furthermore, it places U.S. troops occupying neighboring 
     Iraq in greater danger. The achievement of stability and a 
     transition to Iraqi security control will be compromised, 
     reversing any progress that has been cited by the 
     Administration.
       It would be hard to believe that such an imprudent decision 
     had been taken, but for the number and variety of sources 
     confirming it. In the last week, the national media have 
     reported that you have in fact commenced a military operation 
     in Iran. Today, retired Col. Sam Gardiner related on CNN that 
     the Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA, Aliasghar Soltaniyeh, 
     reported to him that the Iranians have captured dissident 
     forces who have confessed to working with U.S. troops in 
     Iran. Earlier in the week, Seymour Hersh reported that a U.S. 
     source had told him that U.S. marines were operating in the 
     Baluchi, Azeri and Kurdish regions of Iran.
       Any military deployment to Iran would constitute an urgent 
     matter of national significance. I urge you to report 
     immediately to Congress on all activities involving American 
     forces in Iran. I look forward to a prompt response.
           Sincerely,
                                               Dennis J. Kucinich,
     Member of Congress.

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