Franks Introduces Amendment to Prevent Iran from Obtaining Nuclear Weapons

Statement

Today, in the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) introduced an amendment to the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act that would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a "National Military Strategic Plan to Counter Iran," in order to address Iran's ongoing pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. Franks issued the following statement:

"According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has already manufactured enough uranium to ultimately produce at least 20 nuclear warheads. Even one functional nuclear weapon in the hands of the Iranian regime, which is the world's largest state-sponsor of terrorism, would fundamentally change the world as we know it.

"Though the Obama Administration insists that it will take 'no options off the table' in dealing with Iran, the President's continued wavering and refusal to deal decisively with Iran makes it clear that the Administration simply hasn't put any clear options on the table.

"Instead, President Obama seems resigned to the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, perhaps naively believing that the United States will be able to contain Iranian nuclear weapons, once they are constructed. Confirming the suspicion of a complete lack of direction within the Administration is Secretary Gates' classified memo to the White House from January of this year, in which he specifically discussed the lack of a military strategy to deal with Iran's nuclear aspirations.

"To be clear: under no circumstances must Iran be allowed to construct even a single nuclear weapon, and by refusing to resolutely determine a course of action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, President Obama continues to shirk his sacred duty to protect the American people. To this end, I have introduced an amendment that would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a specific, comprehensive plan outlining precisely how the Administration intends to deal with Iran's defiant, dangerous determination to become a nuclear power"

After introduction today in the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Franks' amendment was accepted en bloc.

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