[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 112 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 12, 2006 (Extensions)]
[Page E1701]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr12se06-73]                         



 
 IN SUPPORT OF A RESOLUTION CALLING ON IRAN TO IMMEDIATELY FULFILL ITS 
      NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION OBLIGATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2006

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a 
resolution calling on Iran to immediately fulfill its nuclear 
nonproliferation obligations.
  On August 31, 2006, Iran rejected United Nations Security Council 
Resolution 1696 requesting that Iran suspend all uranium enrichment and 
reprocessing activities, including research and development within 1 
month or face economic and diplomatic sanctions.
  In a report the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, released 
that same day, the agency discussed proof of Iran's continued pursuit 
of its nuclear program, as well as evidence that Iran might be pursuing 
alternative nuclear activities in secret.
  For decades, Iran has been deceiving the IAEA and the international 
community about the extent and the purpose of its nuclear program. Iran 
has consistently failed to provide sufficient information about its 
nuclear capabilities and has failed to fully cooperate with 
international nuclear nonproliferation laws. Time and time again, Iran 
has scorned diplomatic and economic propositions offered by the global 
community.
  The United States cannot afford to stand aside now and allow Iran to 
continue with their pattern of nuclear defiance.
  This is why I am calling for this resolution, which calls for the 
full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1696; asking the 
Security Council members to move forward quickly and apply appropriate 
multilateral sanctions against Iran. This resolution also calls upon 
President Bush to implement and exhaust every diplomatic and economic 
sanction at his disposal to prevent a nuclear Iran.
  Iran's strategic plan is blatantly obvious: With one hand it is 
stringing along diplomatic negotiations with the world's powers, while 
the hand behind its back continues to pursue nuclear activities. In 
doing so, Iran is successfully driving a wedge between 
the international communities. Iran remains defiant banking on the 
assumption that the United Nations Security Council will be unwilling 
to agree on imposing sanctions on their country.

  Iran's pattern of insubordination is extremely troubling to me. Even 
more troubling to me is the reluctance of the international community 
to unite together and take immediate action against the threat posed by 
a nuclear Iran.
  This past weekend, European Union, EU, leaders met with an Iranian 
negotiator in an attempt to persuade Iran to suspend its nuclear 
enrichment. And just last week, top diplomats from the EU-3: Britain, 
France, and Germany, as well as the United States, met in Berlin for 
the first time since Iran refused to accept the United Nations deadline 
to halt its uranium production.
  But while these meetings signal progress, they will accomplish 
nothing if all of the Security Council members do not completely 
implement resolution 1696. Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, 
and the United States voted for this resolution; now they must champion 
what it calls for.
  The need to implement multilateral sanctions and for the United 
States to apply all diplomatic and economic sanctions at its disposal 
against Iran is growing steadily.
  Over the years we have seen how Iran's defiance against the 
international community has galvanized extremist groups in Iraq, Gaza 
and Lebanon. In the most recent example of the cross-border attack by 
the terrorist group Hezbollah against Israel--largely financed and 
supported by the Iranian Government--we saw the devastating impact that 
Iranian assistance to militia groups can generate.
  On the day following the 5-year commemoration of 9/11, our Nation is 
still vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Allowing a primary sponsor of 
international terror to advance their nuclear capabilities, burgeons 
the terrorist threat posed to our Nation.
  Iran poses a huge and existential danger to our democratic ally 
Israel as well. For years, President Ahmadinejad has spewed anti-
Semitic rhetoric and has denied the Holocaust's existence. Iran's 
nuclear intentions are no secret. President Ahmadinejad is on a 
national crusade of hatred and ultimate destruction against Israel and 
the United States.
  Moreover, in one of the most unstable regions in the world, Iran 
continues to remain a highly destabilizing force. A nuclear Iran only 
intensifies the threat Iran currently poses to the security of the 
entire global community.
  Mr. Speaker, let us take a moment to consider the consequences of 
allowing a repressive anti-Semitic regime with ideological goals, 
extensive oil production capabilities, and an active sponsor of global 
terrorism, to possess nuclear powers. The possibilities are endless and 
progressively more dangerous. A nuclear arms race in the Middle East 
could break out, or Iran could garner support elsewhere in the Muslim 
world and successfully advance their radical ideological movement 
against the West.

  Many in the international community had hoped that Iran would realize 
that advancing their nuclear program makes their country less safe, not 
more. But Iran made its choice. It has not only failed to meet the 
demands of the United Nations Resolution 1696, it has defied the 
resolution and the international community. And now it must pay the 
price of sanctions.
  I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me and co-sponsor 
this resolution to request that the Security Council members and the 
United States reply with an immediate and meaningful response to Iran's 
longstanding pattern of nuclear noncompliance.

                          ____________________