Published October 2007 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd America Must Not Sleep Walk Into Another Disastrous Military Confrontation In West Virginia and across the nation, we have reaped the bitter harvest of this Administration's reckless invasion of Iraq. As the President persists undeterred with his hopelessly failed policy in Iraq, the threat of another major conflict in the Middle East looms on the horizon. Every day now, it seems that the confrontational rhetoric between the United States and Iran continues to escalate. The main point of contention is Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. While few doubt Iran's desire to attain a nuclear bomb, there is little evidence that they are close to acquiring such a capability. I am no apologist for the Iranian regime, any more than I was for Saddam Hussein, but I believe that the recent blustering by the Bush Administration does not serve our nation's interests. Rather than pursuing a robust international diplomatic offensive, the Bush Administration is once again pushing the world community aside, pursuing unilateral sanctions, and making threatening statements. We have seen all• too clearly where this path leads. We must not pursue it again. We hear shadowy claims about Iran's destabilizing actions in Iraq, with little proof offered to back them up. Vice President Cheney has threatened "serious consequences" if Tehran does not acquiesce to U.S. demands -- the exact same phrase used by this Administration in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq. The parallels are unmistakable. Even more troubling, the President has stated his belief that previously enacted Congressional resolutions grant him all the authority he needs to launch a new war. This is simply not the case. Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution vests Congress all power to declare war. No such Presidential authority has been granted. To make this point crystal-clear, I will be cosponsoring legislation in the Senate stating that "any offensive military action taken against Iran must be explicitly approved by Congress". It is incumbent upon this Congress to reassert the powers granted to the people's branch in the Constitution. That is the best way to prevent another colossal blunder in the Middle East. It is the people of this country who pay the price of such presidential misadventures. We, as their representatives in the Congress, must not fail in our number one duty: to protect their interests. President Bush must understand that the Congress will not stand idly by while his Administration plots another march to war. We must not allow this nation to sleep walk into yet another unnecessary and disastrous conflict. October 31, 2007