[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 131 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             APPROVAL OF JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 2015

  Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of peace in the 
Middle East. Peace for our allies and friends in the region. Peace for 
the Iranian people. And sustainable peace for the United States.
  Throughout my 29 years of military service, I served during war and 
peace. Throughout the Cold War, we constantly trained to respond to and 
combat the greatest nuclear threat the world has ever faced: the Soviet 
Union. I deployed to Germany on what was effectively the front line, 
within walking distance of this grave threat. Afterwards, I fought in 
Desert Storm, with the Iraqi chemical and biological arsenal a threat 
at any moment. Finally, I deployed several more times to Iraq during 
the most recent war, fighting for stability against Islamic terrorists 
bent on death, chaos, and destruction.
  In each of these experiences, I found the best and worst in humanity, 
and was always working towards lasting peace and stability.
  I now have the honor to serve in the United States Congress, where I 
seek to prevent engagements in various regional conflicts, including 
those in Libya and Syria. I seek to bring a more democratic process to 
deploying American personnel into combat, which was the intent of the 
original 1973 War Powers Act. I take these positions because I know 
that the best and most responsible means of preventing conflict, or the 
exacerbation of conflict, is through strong diplomacy.
  Today, I continue to fight to keep the United States out of another 
war. I work to protect and keep safe our allies and friends throughout 
the Middle East and the world. This is why I say no to an agreement 
that will only make us and our allies less safe in both the short and 
long term. The Iranian regime is the same regime that calls for death 
to America and Israel. This is the same regime engaged in 
destabilization of Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and elsewhere. This is the 
same regime that funds the Assad regime in Syria which has used Weapons 
of Mass Destruction, killing hundreds of thousands of people. This is 
the same regime that funds terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, 
Hamas, and the Houthis. This is the same regime that directly funded, 
trained, and engaged in combat alongside radical Shiite militias that 
fought, injured, and killed American service men and women, including 
those under my command.
  This deal not only allows, but in fact tacitly approves, Iranian 
access to modern conventional arms within five years. Within eight 
years, it lifts the ban on access to ballistic missile technology. The 
deal also allows Iran to immediately access tens of billions of dollars 
through sanctions relief, ensuring the modernization of its depleted 
conventional military and support for its world-wide terror network. 
The deal seeks to eliminate the legislative sovereignty of the United 
States Congress, our states, and our municipalities when it comes to 
key aspects of our foreign policy. The deal does not permit anytime, 
anywhere inspections. The deal does not outline how inspections will 
take place. The deal does not stop nuclear research and development in 
Iran. The deal does not prohibit Iran from seeking and obtaining 
nuclear weapons either through cheating or after the expiration of the 
terms.
  I am afraid that this deal could hasten the pace to war, not end the 
threat of it. But this can be prevented. We can return to the 
negotiating table and engage from a position of strength. We can do so 
through stronger diplomacy; a more credible and consistent military 
posturing that does not appear haphazard and reactive; we can enact 
stronger sanctions, if needed; and finally, we must be willing to stick 
to a true red line and say no to a bad deal. I plead with my colleagues 
in the United States Congress, as well as President Obama, Secretary 
Kerry, and others in this Administration: do not go ahead with this 
ill-fated and weak deal that hurts our national and international 
security.

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