House Condemns Iran's Nuclear Program
May 06, 2004
The Associated Press
Jom Abrams
WASHINGTON -- The House on Thursday accused Iran of "continuing deceptions and falsehoods" involving development of nuclear weapons and said that Europe, Japan and Russia should cut commercial and energy ties until Iran permanently end such activities.
Among the few dissenters in the 376-3 vote was Democratic presidential contender Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who said the nonbinding resolution endorsed the administration's doctrine of preventive war.
The resolution states that despite Iran's promises to the International Atomic Energy Agency to end uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, "it is abundantly clear that Iran remains committed to a nuclear weapons program."
Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said Iran "has engaged in a systematic campaign of deception and manipulation to hide its true intentions and keep its large scale nuclear efforts a secret."
The resolution said that Iran's Natanz fuel enrichment facility could, when completed, produce enough highly enriched uranium for as many as 25 to 40 nuclear weapons a year.
It says that until Iran verifies it has ended its weapons program, the European Union should break off trade talks, Japan should not proceed with the development of Iran's Azadegan oil field and Russia should not conclude a nuclear fuel supply agreement for an Iranian reactor.
Kucinich objected to language in the resolution that calls upon parties to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including the United States, "to use all appropriate means to deter, dissuade and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."
He said that was similar to the words of past congressional resolutions that the Bush administration used in justifying its decision to go to war against Iraq.
Burton disagreed, saying the resolution supported IAEA and U.N. efforts to assure Iran was not advancing a nuclear weapons program and did not amount to a tacit endorsement of regime change.
Joining Kucinich in voting against the bill were Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Ron Paul, R-Texas. Fourteen Democrats voted present.
ON THE NET
Information on the measure, H.Con. Res. 398, can be found at
http://thomas.loc.gov/ http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/8605292.htmThe three dissenters should be spammed with protest email. (smile!)