Drumbeats of War - update
- Secretary of State Clinton told the Senate Appropriations Committee today that the US has little choice but to impose sanctions on Iran. However, she asked congress not to restrict her ‘flexibility’ by passing specific legislation. Instead, she ‘hopes’ the Administration will put together some sort of sanctions in ‘30 to 60 days’.
- In the meantime, a delegation headed by US Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg, including representatives from the National Security Council and the Pentagon are headed to Israel Thursday for more ’strategic dialog’ on Iran.
- Israeli Secretary of Defense Barak today told United Nations Secretary Ban today that Iran and Syria are arming Hisballah in Lebanon and Gaza with 40,000 missiles to be used upon the population of Israel.
- Little chance of Russian support for sanctions at the UN, as Russian official Oleg Rozhkov told press today that Russia will decline to work together with the US on any sanctions that could isolate Iran. The Chinese continue to back away from commitment.
So there are two paths down the road.
Congress stands down and lets the Administration do it their way, which has been mostly ineffective, which is why Congress put together the legislation in the first place. But if they do stand down, that gives at least 1-2 months before anything happens, and probably not much even then. That would surely seem a very long road to the Israelis.
Alternately, Congress says they have had enough of the low-impact path of the Administration and goes on to pass draconian legislation against Iran that the President is duty-bound to follow. At least ostensibly. Presidents have ignored Congress before.
But if he does not, and implements Congress’ sanctions… there we go.
A lot of ifs and maybes, but it does look like whatever path is taken, there is trouble ahead. Stay tuned.
