(Host) Congressman Peter Welch says he’ll oppose any effort by the Bush Administration to take military action against Iran.
Speaking last night on VPR’s Switchboard program, Welch said he’s growing concerned that the Administration may be considering military strikes against Iran as part of an effort to dismantle that country’s program to develop nuclear weapons.
Welch says he feels these attacks would be a major mistake and he’s concerned that some members of Congress are also advocating military action against Iran:
(Welch) “We just had Joe Lieberman on the Sunday news programs suggesting that we should bomb Iran. And I think that’s just reckless talk that is very detrimental to our national security and very detrimental to making progress in the Middle East. I supported an amendment in the last supplemental appropriations bill that would prohibit the use of force in Iran without prior congressional approval.”
(Host) Earlier this month, Welch visited the Middle East as part of a special congressional delegation.
The group had a meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan. Welch says the King had a clear message for the United States concerning Iran:
(Welch) “He expressed serious concerns about Iran that there were moderate states, Arab states and Jordan obviously among, them that would try to work with the United States on issues related to Iran. But he said that if the United States used military force, then even Jordan would have to be on the side of Iran and that was quite surprising to me.”
(Host) Welch says it’s critical for the United States to take a stronger leadership role in the Middle East peace process to help prevent further acts of violence.