Ahead of renewed US-mediated Israeli-Palestinian talks, it's a relief to see that US lawmakers are aware of the dangers of endless negotiations.
From the House debate on the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act 2013, yesterday--
Rep. Cotton: "Iran isn't looking for a chance to get to 'yes' in negotiations. They are looking to give you a pretext to get to 'no' on this [sanctions] legislation. Stand strong and vote 'yes' to sanction Iran to stop their nuclear weapons capabilities."
Rep. Deutch: "Our policy on Iran has always been dual track: sanctions and diplomacy. Now is not the time to give up on either."
Rep. Royce: "Only when the Iranian leadership truly feels a choice between maintaining power and obtaining the bomb does our diplomacy have a chance to succeed... the centrifuges are, indeed, spinning. And it is Mr. Rouhani as chief negotiator who met the international community with delay, with more centrifuges, more missiles, more stonewalling."
Rep. Engel: "We must not allow the Iranians to play the same old game, engaging in endless negotiations with no results while continuing to advance the nuclear program. That's why we must continue to pursue a two-track approach to Iran, one that incorporates both pressure and negotiations... After many years of fruitless negotiations, it is clear that talks will only succeed if the regime feels pressure to change course."
Rep. Cantor: "Considering that Iran continues to flagrantly violate numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions... it is clear that Iran has negotiated again and again in bad faith... We must respond to Iran's policies and behavior, not to its rhetoric."
Rep. Boehner: "The United States, especially its Congress, has a duty to respond to Iran's actions, not to its rhetoric... the American people are not interested in allowing Iran another shot at running out the clock on negotiations while it marches toward developing a breakout of nuclear capability..."
Rep. Hoyer: "[D]iplomacy must continue... but delay has been too long for us not to pursue concurrent approaches. That tool of economic pressure, which is working, should also be pursued additionally."
Rep. Connolly: "Given Iran's progress in nuclear enrichment, time is of the essence and Iran's past delaying tactics cannot be allowed to continue."