| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| US senators seek regime change in Iran |
| 2010-02-18 |
| Two Republican senators have once again introduced a draft bill in the US Congress seeking full support for the Iranian opposition and the overthrow of the Islamic Republic government in Iran. Senators John Cornyn and Sam Brownback introduced the so-called "Iran Democratic Transition Act" bill on February 11, coinciding with the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, in which unprecedented tens of millions of Iranians poured into the streets to rally and celebrate the 31st anniversary. An 'extraordinarily' high number of people marched across different cities in the country, throwing their lot with a revolution which toppled a US-backed monarchy in Iran. The bill repeats the old rhetoric about human rights violations in Iran, its nuclear energy program, and alleged support for terrorism, fully advocating a "regime change" in the country. It would authorize non-military assistance to Iranian opposition groups to remove the current government, whose popularity was well-demonstrated in a massive show of force during rallies held throughout Iran. "Never has the cause of freedom in Iran been more urgent," Cornyn boasted. He urged Majority Leader Reid and his colleagues to quickly take up this legislation to help the 'Iranian people pave the way for freedom and democracy' in Iran. "The biggest problem with Iran is not weapons or terrorism but the regime itself," Brownback said. "This legislation would put the United States firmly and unequivocally on the side of the Iranian people." Observers point to the fact that both conservative Senators Brownback of Oklahoma and Cornyn of Texas have been on the payroll of pro-Israeli lobby groups in the United States and have regularly submitted anti-Iran measures in congress to satisfy the influential pro-Israeli lobby. American Israel Public Affair Committee (AIPAC) is the major Israeli lobby group that organizes such efforts by US Senators and Representatives. It, in fact, boasts its unlimited influence among both Republican and the Democratic parties and officials and openly announces its role in preparing the draft of such anti-Iran bills. The bill was introduced as US President Barack Obama insists on pursuing diplomatic means to persuade Iran to suspend its nuclear activities. On the same day, a group of US senators introduced another bill calling for sanctions on Iranians who 'violate the human rights of other Iranians.' Earlier this week, US National Security Advisor James Jones said Washington is pressing the United Nations to impose new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. "We're going through the UN this month to present sanctions and achieve solidarity," Jones said. The top advisor underlined that Washington was not actively seeking to destabilize Iran but made clear that tougher sanctions ultimately could help lead to a "regime change" in Iran. "We know that internally there is a very serious problem," he claimed. Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), says its nuclear work is entirely peaceful and within the framework of the NPT and US allegations against its nuclear program are politically-motivated. Iran's nuclear program was launched in the 1950's with the help of the US as part of the 'Atoms for Peace' program. After the 1979 Revolution, Western companies working on Iran's program refused to fulfill their obligations even though they had been paid in full. Since the victory of the 1979 Revolution, economic sanctions have been the key strategy in Washington's approach towards the Islamic Republic. However, Iranian officials have had no qualms about the prospect of tougher US economic measures, saying that while sanctions have hurt the Iranian people in part, they have also helped the country achieve independence and self-sufficiency in various fields of economy, science and technology. |
| Posted by:Fred |