Senate Resolution 41 passes with a 90-1 vote, containment of Iran out of the question now
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On Sept. 22, a vote was held on the Senate floor on Senate Resolution 41, the non-binding measure originally introduced in February and sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.).
Early Saturday morning, the resolution passed with a vote of 90-1, with Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul standing alone saying, “I think a vote for this resolution is a vote for the concept of preemptive war.”
The non-binding resolution that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The resolution takes any chance of containment and throws it out the window.
The Digital Journal reports, The Joint Resolution 41 rejects any U.S. policy “that would rely on efforts to contain a nuclear-weapons-capable Iran”. Senator Richard Blumenthal said in Senate::
“We know that Iran would create access for terrorists – access for them – to these nuclear weapons, making the Middle East a nuclear tinbox. We cannot trust this regime. We know that fact beyond any potential doubt.”
Joe Wolverton with the New American says, Containment, as defined by the resolution is “the strategy of trying to prevent the expansion or invasion of countries.” Graham’s resolution declares that this “will never be our policy with regard to Iran.”
Despite denials from politicians and commentators at Fox News that says the vote “should not be construed as an authorization for the use of military force or a declaration of war”, Graham’s resolution specifically states that the United States will not “rely on containment of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran.” If we refuse to consider containment (something we do with regard North Korea, India, Pakistan, and Russia), we are left with no other option but to prevent Tehran’s development of a nuclear weapon, said Wolverton.
Ken Hanly with the Digital Journal closes his article by saying:
Since Iran is not attacking the U.S. or even threatening a first strike, Paul seems correct that the resolution puts Iran on notice that the U.S is willing to engage in a pre-emptive war against it. This is a direct threat to Iran and, to follow U.S. logic, Iran would be quite justified in attacking first! This would be a pre-emptive war in self defense.
This resolution comes just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressing the U.S. to draw a red line which, if crossed, would lead the U.S. to military action against Iran. This resolution perhaps is not immediate enough to suit Netanyahu but it does imply that if other tactics do not work the U.S. would wage a pre-emptive attack even if Iran were just capable of making nuclear weapons.
Check out Rand Paul’s Senate floor speech
Progressive commentator, Cenk Uygur’s take on the vote
