EDITORIAL: Talk to Iran

EDITORIAL: Talk to Iran

By PWW/NM editorial board

Earlier this month, members of Congress joined a wide range of groups in a “Time to Talk to Iran” event on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers say they are being inundated by a “drumbeat of war” from “neo-con”-type groups.

“We hear the same people who supported a disastrous war in Iraq now steadily beating the drum for war with Iran,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said at the June 10 event. “We have been down this road before.”

In January, Lee introduced the Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008, which calls for appointment of a high-level envoy to conduct direct, unconditional, bilateral negotiations with Iran. The bill, HR 5056, has 14 co-sponsors and languishes in a House committee.

Unfortunately, too many lawmakers appear to be succumbing to the lobbyists for war.

The Iran Sanctions Act of 2008, introduced by Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, would tighten and expand sanctions on Iran. It is so drastic it is even opposed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

H. Con. Res. 362, introduced by Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.), and a companion Senate measure, S. Res. 580 introduced by Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, would impose harsh new sanctions on Iran. Some warn these could set the stage for a naval blockade of Iran.

Some supporters insist that the measures specifically say they should not be construed as authorizing the use of force.

But haven’t we been there before?

The Campaign for a New American Policy on Iran, which includes groups across the political spectrum, warns that increasing unilateral sanctions are “provocative actions” that increase the danger of war.

Phil Giraldi, a former CIA counter-terrorism specialist who writes for The American Conservative magazine and for Antiwar.com, commented, “The Bush administration has refused to negotiate outstanding issues unless Iran, as a precondition, surrenders on many key points, a tactic designed to guarantee that no talks will take place. The danger that a new war in the Middle East will begin either by accident or by design is growing. It is time to begin serious negotiations, before it is too late.”

Members of Congress need to hear from the silent pro-peace majority. Call your senators and representative today. Tell them: dialogue with Iran, not threats and war.

EDITORIAL: FISA filibuster

EDITORIAL: FISA filibuster

By PWW/NM editorial board

The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved by a vote of 293-129 a compromise bill reauthorizing warrantless electronic spying on the American people under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). About 50 Democrats joined the Republicans in approving the disappointing compromise authored by House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer.

The new version of the FISA surveillance bill makes clear that the president cannot simply authorize spying on Americans — electronic surveillance may only be conducted with authorization through FISA and the criminal wiretap law. But the new bill extends from 72 hours to a full week the period in which surveillance can be conducted while awaiting FISA court approval. It also authorizes wholesale “bulk” monitoring of e-mails and phone calls. It provides retroactive immunity for AT&T, Verizon and other telecommunications giants, who face a flood of lawsuits by victims of the spying charging them with collaboration in a program that violates the Fourth Amendment guarantee against “illegal search and seizure.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement charging that the House-passed bill “fails to hold the Bush-Cheney administration accountable for its illegal wiretapping program.”

Leahy added, “I will oppose this new FISA bill when the Senate votes on it next week.” Congress, he added, must do everything possible to protect the people from Bush’s “callous disregard for the rule of law.”

Some Democrats think this deal is smart election-year politics that will immunize them from attacks by the Republican right that they are “soft” on terrorism. But the outpouring of voters so far this year indicates that people are looking for candidates who will stand and fight in defense of democratic rights and the rule of law.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will vote against the FISA bill. Democrats Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin vow to stage a filibuster to block the bill because of their outrage at the blanket immunity for the telecoms. Barbara Boxer (California) and Ron Wyden (Oregon) say they will support the filibuster. Urge your senators to oppose this bill. It makes far too many concessions to Bush-Cheney spying.