From the Friends Committee on National Legislation – a Quaker Lobby for Public InterestÂ
Iran is the Key to Iraq
This week, members of Congress spent long hours questioning generals and administration officials about U.S. strategy in Iraq. According to the top general in Iraq, the war isn’t going to end soon. “We haven’t seen any lights at the end of the tunnel,” General David Petraeus said. The general went on to blame many of the problems in Iraq on Iran. President Bush this morning added his voice to the chorus blaming Iran for the problems in Iraq and insisted that Congress should now approve more money for war.
The tragedy is there is a way to achieve peace in Iraq. The administration needs to be willing to stop blaming Iran and start working with that country. Yet administration officials this week appeared intent on ratcheting up the diplomatic and military pressure on Iran. In testimony that was at times confusing and contradictory, the top U.S. officials said Iran was both responsible for inciting some of the recent fighting in Iraq and responsible for negotiating a ceasefire to stop the violence.
If Iran has this much influence, shouldn’t the United States start talking to Iran about how to end the Iraq war? Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, without preconditions, were a key recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. A bipartisan group of senators and many people in the U.S. military also have endorsed negotiations.
Take Action
Urge your senators to cosponsor legislation introduced by Pennsylvania Senator Robert Casey (S. 2130) that would organize a diplomatic offensive in the region to talk with Iraq’s neighbors and help bring an end to the war in Iraq.
This legislation will not end the war in Iraq, but it will encourage the administration to engage in the type of substantive diplomatic negotiations that could open up the possibility of a way out of Iraq. If the administration can’t see light at the end of the tunnel, then perhaps Congress needs to begin looking for that light.
Find Out More
FCNL’s response to the administration’s testimony.
What senators from both sides of the aisle said this week about the importance of diplomacy and talking with Iran.
More about FCNL’s Iraq Peace Campaign.
Background on the bill, S. 2130.
[...] Peace with Iran wrote an interesting post today on US Diplomacy with Iran is Key to IraqHere’s a quick excerptIf Iran has this much influence, shouldn’t the United States start talking to Iran about how to end the Iraq war?… [...]
[...] Peace with Iran wrote an interesting post today on US Diplomacy with Iran is Key to IraqHere’s a quick excerptThis legislation will not end the war in Iraq, but it will encourage the administration to engage in the type of substantive diplomatic negotiations that could open u p the possibility of a way out of Iraq…. … neighbors and help bring an end to the war in Iraq…. [...]
[...] Peace with Iran wrote an interesting post today on US Diplomacy with Iran is Key to IraqHere’s a quick excerptIn testimony that was at times confusing and contradictory, the top U. S. officials said Iran was both responsible for inciting some of the recent fighting in Iraq a…Iran is the Key to Iraq…Negotiations between the U. S. and Iran, without preconditions, were a key recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group….President Bush this morning added his voice to the chorus blaming Iran for the problems in Iraq and insisted that Congress should now approve more money for war…. [...]
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