Kucinich: 'We're getting ready for war against Iran' with Thursday votes

By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/17/12 10:52 AM ET

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) warned Thursday morning that two planned House votes later in the day will move the United States much closer to a war footing against Iran, by seeking to alter U.S. diplomatic goals with Iran and by requiring the United States to move military assets to the Middle East in preparation for war.

On the diplomatic front, the House is expected to vote Thursday on H.Res. 568, a resolution expressing the importance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. While this is a non-binding resolution, Kucinich warned that it urges President Obama to affirm the unacceptability of an Iran with nuclear-weapons capability, and oppose policies that accept containment of a nuclear-capable Iran.

"This language represents a significant shift in U.S. policy, and would guarantee that talks with Iran currently scheduled for May 23, would fail," Kucinich said. "Current U.S. policy is that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons. Instead, H.Res. 568 draws the red line for military action at Iran achieving a nuclear weapons capability, a nebulous and undefined term that would include a civilian nuclear program."

Kucinich said this language would undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts with Iran.

Secondly, Kucinich noted that the National Defense Authorization act (NDAA), H.R. 4310, contains language that would require actual movement of military assets into the Middle East. He blasted Section 1221 of the bill, which says it is U.S. policy to "take all necessary measures, including military action if required, to prevent Iran from threatening the United States, it allies, or Iran's neighbors with a nuclear weapon."

Section 1222 goes further by requiring the Defense Department to augment the presence of the Fifth Fleet in the Middle East, and pre-position supplies in the region. It also requires DOD to maintain "sufficient naval assets in the region necessary to signal United States resolve and to bolster United States capabilities to launch a sustained sea and air campaign against a range of Iranian nuclear and military targets."

"C'mon," Kucinich said in reaction to that language. "We're getting ready for war against Iran."

"Sustained diplomatic engagement with Iran is the only way to ensure transparency and to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran," he added. "Rejecting or thwarting any inspections-based deal we are currently seeking with Iran … that all makes preemptive military action against Iran more likely."