Democrats Seek to Bar U.S. Attack on Iran

Does the US Congress wish the administration to sit back and simply watch Iran become a Nuclear power? An attack on the Iranian nuclear program could very well be the only tool available left to prevent a nuclear armed Iran, with all that that implies. And what about the element of surprise? Would a Congressional approval not eliminate the element of surprise and endanger troops should an attack prove the only option left? Or conversely, would a rejection of such an approval simply tell Iran that it's OK to develop nuclear weapons because nobody is going to prevent it anyway?

Perhaps the Administration should immediately seek an open-ended authorization to attack Iran, and see how the votes go. The resolution could read something like this:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FORCE:

Where by: Iran is a nation currently controlled by religious extremists who deny the holocaust and threaten to "wipe" another nation "off the face of the map."

Where by: Iran is a well known sponsor of terrorism, is on the US State Departments list of terrorist sponsoring nations, funds Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Mahedi Army In Iraq, and supports insurgent activity against the United States.

Where by: Iran continuously uses (and has for decades) belligerent language and threats against the United States, describing the United States as "The Great Satan," allies itself with every enemy of the United States and publicly seeks to harm US interests at every opportunity.

Let it therefore be resolved that: The United States Congress authorizes the administration to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons by whatever means necessary, including use of military force if necessary.

Let the Democrats go on record and history will judge. Somehow I suspect that if such a resolution were to be offered on the floor of the House, it would pass overwhelmingly, despite all of the public posturing.
Joe Gelman