[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMPREHENSIVE IRAN SANCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DIVESTMENT ACT OF 
                                  2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I would like the record to show that I 
oppose this bill. I am concerned that this bill is a continuation of 
the lopsided ``sanctions-only'' approach to Iran that only undermines 
the potential for constructive engagement through diplomacy.
  Iran poses a particular challenge because as much as we are horrified 
by the regime's support for terrorism, threatened by its nuclear 
adventurism, and troubled by the lack of democracy and human rights, we 
also know that the Iranian people are as opposed to foreign 
manipulation as they are to authoritarian rule and that both the 
Iranian and American people want to avoid war.
  The steps that the Iranian regime should take are clear. They should 
stop their support for terrorism, end their development of nuclear 
weapons capability, and begin the process of free, fair, and open 
elections. But it is naive to think that the United States can merely 
tell them what to do, sanction them for not doing it, and expect 
success. We need, instead, to develop a smart, strong and constructive 
plan to deny Iran nuclear weapons and halt its support for terrorists, 
to help keep us and our allies secure.
  The first place to look for lessons is our success with Libya, where 
a unified international front convinced one of the world's most 
dangerous state-sponsors of terror to give up its nuclear weapons 
program in exchange for the benefits of membership in the international 
community. Iran must be given a similar choice and we must provide both 
credible incentives for negotiations to work and muscular sanctions if 
they fail.
  This bill offers a piecemeal approach: sanctions without credible 
negotiations. I oppose it and other short-sighted efforts in our 
approach to Iran.

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