Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007

Press Release

IRAN COUNTER-PROLIFERATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 25, 2007)

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Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the history of the 20th century tells us that genocidal dictators say what they will do and then do what they said. Hitler told us in his writings that he would murder Jews. And he did. Stalin said that he would liquidate the Kulaks, Russia's small farmers. And he did. Pol Pot said he would eliminate the middle class and intellectuals. And he did. Now the President of Iran said he will wipe Israel off the face of the Earth. And he will.

Now, we Americans promised in 1945, never again. Ahmadinejad says that one Jewish holocaust is not enough, that he would wish to commit a second genocide, and he would deny that that would happen because he already denies that the holocaust happened.

Now, our options with regard to Iran are poor. Option one is to leave this to the United Nations alone. But that appears to lead to the Iranians having the bomb. Option two is to let Israel's armed forces remove the threat. But that mission is dangerous and uncertain.

Thanks to Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, we in Congress are developing a better and third option. Sanctions against Iran can work. This bill strengthens such sanctions. We can do more. We should bankrupt Bank Melli, a funder of terror. And we should quarantine gasoline sales to Iran. These measures could cripple Iran. Like the Yugoslav dictatorship, we can bring effective pressure to bear to achieve our objectives without military action.

The new President of France sees the growing danger and says the international community and Europe should act. The new French President is right. This bill takes us in the direction of a safer world and one in cooperation with our allies.

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