Hillary, War with Iran is No Laughing Matter

Hillary, I'm glad to see you got a good laugh when I confronted you during last week's debate over your vote calling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) a terrorist organization. The American public finally got to see your cavalier attitude toward our march to war. Your vote however is no laughing matter.

By labeling the IRG a terrorist organization, the Democratic-controlled congress has impeded our ability to negotiate with a huge portion of the Iranian government. The IRG is a 125,000-person organization with ties to every power base in Iran. The IRG is also admired by a vast potion of the Iranian people for its heroic stand against Saddam Hussein's invasion during the Iran-Iraq War. Mohammad Khatami, the former reformist president of Iran, warned the United States not to label the IRG a terrorist organization because doing so would preclude any diplomatic settlement of our differences.

While I'm sure your vote plays well with the hawks and military contractors who support your campaign, it is the height of irresponsibility. Like with Iraq in 2002, elements in our government have already decided to attack Iran and are now trying to "sell it." Last week, Congress gave the warmongers a big gift. (Note to Congressional Dems: You were elected to stop a war, not start a new one!)

Hillary, war with Iran will have devastating consequences for all Americans.

The Iranians are sure to respond with strikes at Americans at home and abroad. Imagine a dozen 9/11s. Is that something to laugh about?

The Iranian navy will intercept oil shipments through the Persian Gulf that fuel the European economies. Oil prices will skyrocket above $150 and the global economy will fall into a worldwide depression. Will you be amused when millions of Americans lose their jobs?

Will you chuckle when the Shiites in Saudi Arabia and the other oil states rise up and destabilize our allies in the Persian Gulf?

A war with Iran will not be contained. It's easy to imagine a "Guns of August" scenario that draws in Israel, Saudi Arabia and potentially Pakistan, India, Russia, and China. Hillary, a potential Third World War is no crackpot fantasy, and it's no joke.

Based on the questions during Wednesday's presidential debate, I suspect the mainstream media isn't interested in a serious discussion about this impending crisis. Tim Russert's questions had us spending more time on smoking, teenage drinking and Red Sox versus Yankees than on Iran. But this crisis is real and it's time to take it seriously before it's too late.

Comments

[Karita]

Perfectly stated, Senator Gravel!

Yes, you are right, Hillary's cavalier attitutde is bad any way you cut it.

Karita Hummer

[realitytrumpsbull]

This oil dependency crap has to stop, but until
more people stand up and push for alternatives,
we're going to keep being dependent for our
fuel etc. on 'friends' like Venezuela, Iran, and
so forth. Jimmy Carter looks smarter and smarter the longer this crap continues...

[4M]

I thought we had grown out from being a Colony but sadly this everlasting bipartisan politics just solidifies it all - we are a Colony and remain so until the end of us as a major power.
Not even one of the Presidential candidates except Mr. Gravel is seeking for the best to our Country.
We have selected the route of self to destruction and we will get it.
The end result is so depressing and terrible that to survive mentally we need to have a leader that is the best actor we can locate, someone like the Germans found in Adolf some 70 plus years ago.
He was a man who was much more than just a simple entertainer and comedian when he led his proud Nation throughout Her destiny.
The narrow path of self destruction for his Country was fixated at signing of the peace treaty for the World War I. The winners of the war became the biggest criminals on earth at the time as they knew what they were doing including the consequences - but they did it anyhow and without any hesitation!
There destiny of Germany was sealed, there was no escape, and the inevitable could not be prevented.
With our quest for the dominarion of the World we have sealed our faith.

[wmholt]

Senator Gravel,

Thank you for your post. I could not believe that Hilary voted for that amendment. It is the same exact mistake she made about the Iraq war. Too many Democrats are worried about appeasing the Republican hawks.

Just one bit of a correction:

"Will you chuckle when the Shiites in Saudi Arabia and the other oil states rise up and destabilize our allies in the Persian Gulf?"

Saudi Arabia has Sunni, not Shiites, as the dominant sect. Iran is Shiite and most of the insurgents trying to kill Americans are Sunni.

Somehow, you get the feeling that we are about to go to war to please the Sunnis in Saudi Arabia and the neocons here at home, both of whom fear the expanding influence of Iran, brought about by toppling the Sunni and secularist leader of Iraq, Sadaam Hussein.

[heatkernel]

I think that Senator Gravel is aware that Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni. He was probably referring to the Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia which is concentrated in the oil-producing Eastern province (along the Persian Gulf). This minority has existence grievances and has revolted against Wahabbite oppression before. In doing so, it was encouraged by Iran. Therefore, the possibility of such a revolt is a serious worry in the case of a US attack on Iran.

[Sidewhispers]

You're a good guy, Senator Gravel.
Hillary is only doing what warmongers are best at: demonizing an "enemy" and scaring the pants off us. Sadly, the blabberings of many of the running Democrats and, of course, the Republicans are now so eerily reminiscint of this famous crap by the Nazi Herman Goering:

" Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy. And it is always a simple matter to drag the people along. Whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leader. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

Hillary has shown her true colors when it comes to war, unwittingly or no, and I don't know how she can recover from this with the anti-war sector. Perhaps she is only trying to "be Man Enough" for the job, in which case, she only cares about her image and not the actual continued cost in blood of a war with Iran.

[Norm]

Dear Senator:

Thanks so much for your post. It is good to know there is a voice in the Democratic Party taking an stand against Kyl-Lieberman and not just speaking, but speaking out loud for all to hear. Every Senator who did not vote for Kyl-Lieberman has an obligation to castigate those who did - those who granted the Bush administration yet another carte blanche to invade a sovereign nation. Every Senator who did not vote for it must yell HELL NO, so Americans will be more aware and repeat that chant all the way to the voting booth. All I hear is a wall of silence on a topic that could well determine the fate of the planet. Would that more had the courage to speak out. Please continue before the drumbeat of war becomes deafening.

Huffpo should grant you the respect it would an alleged frontfrunner and move your post to the top.

[Sedaei]

Hi Mike,

I agree with you in that it was a huge mistake for Senators to declare IRG a terrorist organization, because it only helped Bush's intentions to create more heat than light and make a case for attacking Iranian nuclear sites.

But I do want to disagree with you on the claim that IRG enjoys support from a "vast potion" of the population. IRG is very much part of the Iranian government and, based on a five-week study I did in Tehran and seventeen years of life there, I know that the group has little popular support from the young and for the most part secular youth.

The vote could have been a good thing in that it could have helped energize the reformist movement in Iran. But by including a subtle permission for military attack, it achieved the exact opposite purpose, farther tarnishing America's image in Iran.

[gonnuts]

But wait, Hillary is the "front-runner", haven't you been told?

The campaign is a joke. The candidates that actually care about the people are ignored or ridiculed, or if they actually begin to gain traction are "swift-boated" or killed. And when we do get around to voting our voting system is rigged to make sure that war-profiteers are placed in office.

Peaceful Nation - my ASS! We have troops in 149 countries. We make more weapons than the rest of the world combined. We've been in a constant state of war/conflict with one country or another every year since WWII. Does anyone with half a brain think someone would be made POTUS that would dismantle our war economy and make us a truly peaceful nation?

The laughter you're hearing from HRC wasn't so much a reaction to Gravel's statement as it was an "in your face" laughter at anyone who thinks we're what the Founding Fathers expected us to be.

Welcome to The United Fascist States of America.

[seawolf77]

You are tragically right. These people are monsters who self righteously declare themselves patriotic. They are worms. Cockroaches.

[Sidewhispers]

That HRC laughter is soo annoying. It is probably a fake laugh too and a stall for time to come up with some diversion, like a tongue-in-cheek hint at her naughty boy Bill.

[Kungfublood]

Is it true that when she answers any question about an enemy of Israel with the appropriate snigger she gets a million more in payola from the ape-pac? What nations are not the enemies of Israel?Alright Hilliary Let's talk about the multiple rapist that was Israel's last president OK Hillery? What's the matter, not sniggering now?

[FlowerGirl]

HRC would be an unmitigated disaster for America. We do NOT need another war president. I can not support the Democratic ticket if she is on it. Those sickening votes are not at all out of line with her other actions. And please note her PROMISE that there will be American soldiers in Iraq when at the end of her second term!!

[trinity29]

Dear Mike (I am abandoning Senator here as I want to talk to you as a human being not you represented through a political position):

I am eternally grateful for the way you are conducting yourself in this presidential campaign. Its been a long time since people representing us would just tell it like it is. Blunt and to the point, politics that is for the people and not for the lobbyists or for the benefactors of war.

I was hoping that there would be at least one candidate who wouldn't care so much about "winning" or "keeping their cushy seat in DC" and just use their platform to really lay seige to the empire and look it in the eye and mock it, shame it, and abandon its rules.

You are breaking all the rules that a well-behaved presidential candidate should conform to. Perhaps you didn't get the memo, or you got it and said fuck it I am doing my own thing. I am really proud of you. I am not surprised how "they" are labeling you as "loose cannon" and spinning propaganda around your words.

The moment they think that you can create a massive impact and gather critical mass, you will be demonized further. For now, they are considering you a lightweight without much consequence. I say this is a great opportunity for you to work at the grassroots level. Their lack of interest should be the best catalyst for you to work to raise awareness of people of how devastating this war with Iran will be for the American people.

Americans need people like you who are interested in telling the truth, bringing peace and not war and I for one am thrilled with how you are using your presidential candidate platform to call on anyone and everyone.

[Balzac]

Thank you so much, Sen. Gravel for being a voice for peace and sanity.

[Lisette]

Senator--first of all I want you to know I respect you very much.

Re: Hillary--some one must have told her and Bill to laugh at everything--because that is what the 2 of them have been doing all week on the airwaves--cackle--I tell you it is most annoying and not a legitimate response. I just can't immagine how much lower the Clinton's can sink.

[Nutroute]

Their (Clintons) laughter is sooo strangely out of place and there's something eerie about it.

[PADDYWHACK]

MG I admire you but feel you are a voice in a wilderness filled with venal politicians like HRC and most of both parties.When the smoke clears after Iran many more pockets will have been lined but most of us will be out of work.

[bethinCary]

Wellspoken Sen Gravel.

And why Hil is branding Iran an extremist country for supposed "connectiosn" for IEDs from Iran-which has nOT been proven---

maybe Hil could explain why we are not naming ourselves as terrorists when American guns are being used by terroorist organizations in Turkey like PKK?