Common Dreams
US
military veterans and peace activists closed out 2014 with an appeal to
one of the U.S. Senate’s most prominent members: Don’t ruin the New
Year with a new war on Iran.
More than two dozen U.S. military vets and their allies gathered in
the bitter cold and biting wind on the last day of the year outside the
downtown Chicago office of U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) to push back
against Kirk’s controversial new bill targeting Iran. Vets charge that
Kirk’s bill -- S. 1881 -- could undermine the recent easing of tensions
between the U.S. and Iran, and could increase the threat of war by
thwarting ongoing diplomatic initiatives. Vets say Kirk should instead
be supporting current opportunities to strike a diplomatic solution to
the long-simmering and dangerous international dispute with Iran over
its nuclear program.
The U.S. and its diplomatic partners are currently negotiating with Iran over the terms of its nuclear program, within the framework of a tentative agreement to slowly lift sanctions as progress in negotiations are made. But on December 19th, Kirk introduced a punitive new bill which has the strong support of AIPAC -- the American Israel Public Affairs Committee -- that could threaten the recent easing of tensions and play into the hands of Iran’s hardliners. Kirk and his cosponsor, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), are currently expected to advance the provocative bill to the next legislative stage in the Senate on January 6.
"We believe this bill will destroy negotiations with Iran and make war with Iran possible," said Vietnam military veteran Barry Romo. "We need to respect the international community and the American public, who overwhelmingly want a peaceful settlement with Iran."
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| (Photo: Bill Branson) |
The U.S. and its diplomatic partners are currently negotiating with Iran over the terms of its nuclear program, within the framework of a tentative agreement to slowly lift sanctions as progress in negotiations are made. But on December 19th, Kirk introduced a punitive new bill which has the strong support of AIPAC -- the American Israel Public Affairs Committee -- that could threaten the recent easing of tensions and play into the hands of Iran’s hardliners. Kirk and his cosponsor, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), are currently expected to advance the provocative bill to the next legislative stage in the Senate on January 6.
"We believe this bill will destroy negotiations with Iran and make war with Iran possible," said Vietnam military veteran Barry Romo. "We need to respect the international community and the American public, who overwhelmingly want a peaceful settlement with Iran."
Read More
