Bush, Congress could collide on Iran
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020101
Sun, 12 Aug 2007 10:35:32
Source: Press TV and The Kansas City Star
Democrats and a Republican lawmaker have said any military action against Iran could put the US president on a collision course with Congress.
The US lawmakers on Friday cautioned US President George W Bush following his threat of unspecified consequences for alleged Iranian meddling in Iraq.
Addressing a White House news conference on Thursday, Bush made baseless allegations against Iran, saying Tehran is a destabilizing force in Iraq despite Tehran's assertion to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that it is helping secure his country.
He also said Iran dispatches weapons to Iraq to be used against the US forces.
"When we catch you playing a nonconstructive role (in Iraq), there will be a price to pay," Bush said.
It's been the consensus for months among the Democrats who hold the majority that Bush must get congressional authorization before any military strike. But the authorization would be no easy sell.
Two knowledgeable US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the administration so far doesn't have "smoking-gun" evidence that could be used publicly to justify an air attack.
Several administration officials said that Vice President Cheney has advocated launching air strikes against targets in Iran if there's clear evidence of Iranian support for Shia Muslim militants in Iraq.
Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., the vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Friday said, "I doubt the President could or would do so (launch a military attack on Iran) without coming to Congress."
Highlighting Democratic wariness of Bush, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia introduced a bill earlier this year that would prevent money from being used for a strike against Iran without congressional approval. Among the supporters of the bill is Reid, who's been saying for months that Bush doesn't have authority to strike Iran.
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