Patrick Leahy Warns That Congress May 'Screw Up' Iran Negotiations

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues on Sunday to not enact a new round of sanctions against Iran, arguing that it could muck up nuclear negotiations with the country.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," the Vermont Democrat called the new sanctions bill a “mistake.”

“I will tell you why,” he added. “We have voted for sanctions, very tough, and I have voted for very tough sanctions on Iran. Right now we have P5+1 of the countries working with Iran on this. We have people who have joined us on the sanctions. If they look like we are prejudging the negotiations, they are going to say: ‘Hey, United States, you are on your own.’ They are going to start pulling away …”

Host Chris Wallace asked Leahy if he believed approval of a new round of sanctions would be tantamount to a declaration of war, as asserted by the Obama administration.

“I think if we do that we screw up the ability to have real negotiations,” he replied. “If the negotiations fail, if Iran is seen as cheating, we will impose more sanctions in a nanosecond, both the House and Senate will. Don’t do it prematurely. Because if you are trying to negotiate something, you don’t have a third party –- in this case the Congress –- coming in and getting involved in that negotiation. “

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/19/patrick-leahy-iran-sanctions_n_4627374.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[MindMover]

1. Congress is not working for the people ...

It is owned and operated by corporations...

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. This may be the most critical issue facing us now. It can mean war or peace.

And if it comes to war with Iran, the repercussions will continue for generations to come. If we never invaded Iraq we would not be dealing with calls for crippling austerity now. If we end up at war with Iran there will be no money left for anything that matters to progressives, and the police state will tighten its grip on our remaining freedoms. And then there is the river of blood, and all those maimed or killed, and all those whose lives will be destroyed.

This vote now pending in the Senate, this may be the turning point either way.

[Purveyor]

3. ^^^THIS^^^ +1 EOM

[okaawhatever]

4. Not to mention there are a few players who want to take us down economically. Namely Russia and

China. Both will gain financially from a war with Iran. They will be selling them weapons and buying their oil cheaply. The toll on our country financially may cripple us. There are many people on the world stage who want this to happen, Israel and Russia are in lock step on the issue. The average American has no idea how much worse a war with Iran will be than Iraq or Afghanistan. On the other hand, Iran having a nuke will create much worse problems. We must avoid both war and Iran having a nuke. I think of all the presidents Obama is probably the best to be dealing with this.

[Cha]

5. THey better the hell not.

[1000words]

6. Israel is pleased

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. "May" screw up? How about 100% guaranteed they will? eom

[lostincalifornia]

8. The bill is a HUGE mistake, and those democrats better pull their head out of their ass if they try

to undercut the Presdient and SOS.

The President has already said he will veto it if it passes, but regardless I will be watching which democrats are involved in this in the next election

[valerief]

9. Congress will do whatever the .001%ers who own them tell them to do.

If the ruling class wants war, war it will be, because, heavens knows, the soldiers and other 99% rabble have absolutely NO SAY in anything. When they/we try, they/we get beaten, tortured, and imprisoned. Because, uh, America. Freedumb. 2nd amendment. Liberty.