SaraDinar
03-12-2006, 08:35 PM
US probably can stop Iran without force: senators
Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:29 PM ET
By John Poirier
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States probably can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons without military action, but use of force, subject to congressional approval, is still an option, U.S. lawmakers said on Sunday.
"I think we can stop them from having a nuclear weapon short of war," Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat, said on NBC's "Meet The Press" television program.
Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia said on the same show: "Ultimately, you never want to take military action off the table. But you never want it to get that far. But if necessary, it is an option. But it is not one that is desirable."
Biden and Allen, both potential U.S. presidential candidates in 2008, agreed that Washington must work with other countries to deal with Iran, and that Bush would need congressional approval before the United States participates in military action to curb Iran's nuclear weapons program.
The Western powers would like the statement to call on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment-related activities and to seek a report, perhaps in two weeks or a month, on whether Tehran has done so.
Divisions are expected to emerge after the statement, with Russia and China strongly opposing any escalation of measures, including sanctions, against Iran.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-03-12T192910Z_01_N12225000_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAN-USA.xml&rpc=22
Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:29 PM ET
By John Poirier
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States probably can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons without military action, but use of force, subject to congressional approval, is still an option, U.S. lawmakers said on Sunday.
"I think we can stop them from having a nuclear weapon short of war," Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat, said on NBC's "Meet The Press" television program.
Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia said on the same show: "Ultimately, you never want to take military action off the table. But you never want it to get that far. But if necessary, it is an option. But it is not one that is desirable."
Biden and Allen, both potential U.S. presidential candidates in 2008, agreed that Washington must work with other countries to deal with Iran, and that Bush would need congressional approval before the United States participates in military action to curb Iran's nuclear weapons program.
The Western powers would like the statement to call on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment-related activities and to seek a report, perhaps in two weeks or a month, on whether Tehran has done so.
Divisions are expected to emerge after the statement, with Russia and China strongly opposing any escalation of measures, including sanctions, against Iran.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-03-12T192910Z_01_N12225000_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAN-USA.xml&rpc=22