Posted on 05/11/2015 6:48:42 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
The Senate lent strong support today to a simply worded resolution calling on Iran to let four Americans come home.
The bipartisan resolution from Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) passed 90-0.
It states that it’s the policy of the United States that “the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran should immediately release Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Jason Rezaian, and cooperate with the United States Government to locate and return Robert Levinson; and the United States Government should undertake every effort using every diplomatic tool at its disposal to secure their immediate release.”
Washington Post bureau chief Rezaian, a California native who reported from Tehran since 2008, was seized on July 22, 2014, in a raid on his home. His wife, Yeganeh Salehi, a reporter for UAE English-language newspaper The National, was also detained and released in October. Word came last month that Rezaian will go on trial for espionage charges.
Marine vet Hekmati was seized while visiting extended family for the first time in August 2011, Abedini was convicted in January 2013 for establishing Christian house churches, and Levinson went missing off the coast of Iran eight years ago while working as a private investigator. Levinson’s family later received images of him in captivity, though the Iranian government has maintained they don’t know who is holding the former FBI agent.
Levinson’s senator, Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), noted in a floor speech today that “if the government of Iran really wanted to help, it could.”
“There’s somebody in Iran who can produce the facts if he wanted to, and that’s the supreme leader,” Nelson said, asking that Levinson finally be brought home to his wife and seven children.
“That is what humanity would absolutely require,” the senator added.
Risch, whose constituent is Pastor Abedini, said his offense “was being Christian and pursuing Christianity in a country where this is not permitted.” The regime, he added, “knows no shame.”
“He’s done absolutely nothing that is a threat to the Iranian people… and he should be released,” said Risch. “Iran thinks it elevates its position in the world by doing these kinds of things.”
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who represents the Hekmati family, noted the Iraq war veteran is a “patriotic American … who served his country honorably and bravely.”
“It’s frightening, it’s deplorable, it’s outrageous and he needs to come home now,” Stabenow said. “This resolution is a clear message to the Iranian government.”
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) tried to get an amendment added to the Iran nuclear agreement review bill requiring the release of the American hostages, but his amendment was not allowed a vote after a veto threat from President Obama.
More at link
Where are the missing 10 Senators?
And if they don’t we’re going to send some of our new gay/transgendered special interior decorating shock troops over to sneer at their drapes
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) tried to get an amendment added to the Iran nuclear agreement review bill requiring the release of the American hostages, but his amendment was not allowed a vote after a veto threat from President Obama. ///
God I HATE him.
That ought to scare them into complying.
Perhaps the next deployment shouldn’t include any white male Christian soldiers. You know, kind of like a social experiment.
If we had a real POTUS, our people would released...
or...
Tehran would be a beautiful glass city...
——Levinson’s senator, Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), noted in a floor speech today that “if the government of Iran really wanted to help, it could.”——
Man, my senile Senator is sharp as a tack...
Fitting thought. Trouble is, do you remember the Iran/Iraq wars?
And they voted to pass that piece of excrement even though it gives away their 2/3’s requirement for treaties and is toothless.
Why does a country swimming in oil need nuclear if not for weapons?
Have Obama go on the record for threatening a veto requiring the release of the American hostages as part of the Iran nuclear agreement.
Obviously, I was mistaken. I thought that the President's oath of Office included defending citizens, as well as the Country, as well as the Constitution
I beleive that is 0 for all three counts, and constitutes a violation of the Oath of Office.
I just remember them fighting brutally to a draw with over a million killed I think?
then it took us a few weeks to take Iraq and I realized how bad their armies were.
Your question is great and obvious to anyone with a brain or common sense, or who ISN’T any enemy of the US.
The president is an enemy, most of the public is busy playing candy crush instead of following current events.
Exactly! The same “no winner” would occur if we sent the group you suggested.
The Iran/Iraq stalemate was because both their armies where primarily “technology challenged” and instead fought more like Alexander, bloody brute force.
Iraq fell so fast to both Bush wars because we were astoundingly technologically superior.
A great deal of that technological superiority resides in the White Christian soldiers you would have sit this one out.
I’m sorry. I was being sarcastic. Should have said that. Of course you are right.
And why the hell are they only NOW demanding the release of these prisoners?! We know why and the answer really pisses me off. The prisoner’s release is bait to get the Iran nuke deal to go through and Iran is dangling the carrot. Truly despicable...
If they don’t comply, we should write them a letter saying just how angry we are.
Yeah, but, this bill makes up for that. See, they really are concerned about America, and during the next election cycle, if someone brings up their capitulation to Obama, they can argue, pointing to this worthless effort. And to think there are some here who think elected Republicans are sell outs. The Republicans are masters at setting up losing battles, then pretending to fight. I wish I was better at sarcasm.
Am I missing something?
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