The Senior Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made a significant statement today to open the hearings. Chairman Biden opened the hearing with some great comments. And before Sec. State Rice gave her statement, Senator Lugar made some pretty important comments about Iran.
But will he follow through?
Quotes and comments below the fold.
Sen For Relations C'tte Transcript from WaPo
Senator LUGAR: For this reason I've advocated broader diplomacy in the region that is directed at both improving stability in Iraq and expanding our options in the region.
Inevitably when one suggests such a diplomatic course, this is interpreted as advocating negotiations with Syria and Iran, nations that have overtly and covertly worked against our interests and violated international norms.
The purpose of the talks is not to change our posture toward these countries. But necessary, reasonable dialogues should not be sacrificed because of fear of what might happen if we include unfriendly regimes.
Moreover, we already have numerous contacts with the Iranians and Syrians through intermediaries and other means. The regional dialogue I am suggesting does not have to occur in a formal conference setting, but it needs to occur, and it needs to be sustained.
Transcript
Condi in her arrogant shaky voice implied it was no use to talk to Iran, they are evil.
Iran and Syria have made their choice and their choice is to destabilize, not to stabilize.
And so, with all respect to those who talk about engagement with Syria and Iran, I think we need to recognize that if Iran and Syria wish to play a stabilizing role for their own interests, then they will do so.
If, on the other hand, they intend to offer a stabilizing role because they believe that in our current situation in Iraq, we are willing to pay a price, that's not diplomacy; that's extortion.
And I would just ask you what that price might be. I have a hard time believing that Iran will, on one side, talk to us about stabilizing Iraq and say, "Oh, by the way, we won't talk about what you're doing in the Security Council to stop our nuclear program; that's not part of the price" -- or that Syria will talk about stabilizing Iraq while they continue to destabilize it and say, "Oh, we aren't actually interested in talking about the fact that we are irreconciled -- we have not reconciled -- to the loss of our position in Lebanon or to the existence of a tribunal to try those who are responsible for the assassination of Rafik Hariri."
Yes Condi it is hard to imagine anyone will talk to you
Unfortunately the rest of the transcipt is not yet online. Rice claimed that any American would agree that the President ought to be able to go into Iran to protect the Troops.
But Biden made it clear to Rice that any incursion into Iran would require Congressional action.
"I am laying down a marker right now" he said "that the President needs to come back to Congress before attacking Iran."