Impeachment as a way to stop the attack on Iran?

[AZBlue]

This is a very interesting article - a little long, but a good read that points out all the build-up and "reasoning" for an attack on Iran. It puts all the pieces in place. At the end of the article is this part that I've posted - about the possibility of impeachment stopping the attack. Now, as some of you may already realize, I haven't' been supportive of an attempted impeachment because it won't happen and it can only hurt the Dems in 08. However, after reading this, I wondered if it wasn't worth the risk if we can stop what I fear will be a very deadly and costly attack.

Take a look and give me your thoughts on it - thanks! And please: DON'T HIJACK THIS THREAD REHASHING OLD ARGUMENTS ON IMPEACHMENT - I'm looking for a new discussion on a new viewpoint. Thank you very much!! :hi:


It is up to U.S.

Air strikes on Iran seem inevitable, unless grassroots America can arrange a backbone transplant for Congress. The House needs to begin impeachment proceedings without delay. Why? Well, there's the Constitution of the United States, for one thing. For another, the initiation of impeachment proceedings might well give our senior military leaders pause. Do they really want to precipitate a wider war and risk destroying much of what is left of our armed forces for the likes of Bush and Cheney? Is another star on the shoulder worth THAT?

The deterioration of the U.S. position in Iraq, the perceived need for a scapegoat, the knee-jerk deference given to Israel's myopic and ultimately self-defeating security policy, and the fact that time is running out for the Bush/Cheney administration to end Iran's nuclear program together make for a very volatile mix.

So, on Tuesday let's put away the lawn chairs and roll up our sleeves. Let's remember all that has already happened since Labor Day five years ago.

There is very little time to exercise our rights as citizens and stop this madness. At a similarly critical juncture, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was typically direct. I find his words a challenge to us today:

"There is such a thing as being too late. ... Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with lost opportunity. ... Over the bleached bones of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.'"

"Do We Have the Courage to Stop War with Iran?"
by Ray McGovern, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/audits/61328/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Impeachment as a "Hail Mary Pass" is still a pass versus watching

from the benches.

[onenote]

2. I don't see anything in the article to suggest why impeachment would make a difference

There is a throwaway line that impeachment might cause military leaders to pause. But that assumes that the same military leaders that would be in favor of an attack on iran would suddenly change their position because impeachment proceedings were underway? I simply don't see it. Military leaders ultimately are going to resign or follow orders whether or not there is an impeachment process under way.

Indeed, I think a case could be made that the commencement of impeachment proceedings could tip chimpy and gang over the edge into hitting Iran. They would argue that Iran has been fomenting the insurgency in iraq and causing the deaths of US troops and that iran's nuclear ambitions are intolerable. A lot of people will buy that argument and they will not want to purse an impeachment against a president who is trying to "protect" them. Bullshit? Of course, but bullshit sells in case yhou haven't noticed.


Remember, Bill Clinton ordered strikes against Iraq in December 1998, while his impeachment process was underway. The reason that is relevant: because it provides the repubs with a talking point to defend chimpy's taking military action even while impeachment is being considered.

[Rageneau]

3. Exactly! Impeachment is not a punishment;-- it is an arrest.

We have to get this murderous maniac off the streets. First step is to bring him in. After that we can build our case and present it to the jury.

NOT impeaching Bush is like not arresting OJ because he'd just get off anyway.

[MonkeyFunk]

8. Huh?

Impeachment does absolutely nothing to curtail a President's powers. Until and unless he's convicted and removed by the Senate, he's still the President and has all the powers he's always had.

I don't understand how impeaching would do anything to stop an attack on Iran.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Impeachment as a way to save OUR Country

[kimmerspixelated]

5. Impeachment is a necessity!

The constitution is truly our main leader, and it says Bush is a criminal and must vacate. Also, I believe in order to save what little face the US still has in the world, we must at least start the proceedings, just so the world would maybe think, we, the people, might have some gumption about our own country. This is also important because if we did strike Iran, as much as their leader Armenijihad would like to bomb us back, he might think twice about doing it here on the mainland, if he thought Bush might be outed soon in a most publicly humiliating way. They are not mad at we, the people. It's Bush-Cheney they hate, and can you blame them?

[TreasonousBastard]

6. I can't imagine how impeachment could...

stop an attack on Iran if one is planed. For one thing, it takes a while to organize an impeachment even under the best of circumstances, and it wouldn't happen until long after the attack is under way.

Even a real threat that impeachemnt is waiting if an attack happens wouldn't work without other legislation forbidding it. And that won't be easy, either.

This looks like yet another straw being grabbed at.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Impeaching Cheney makes sense as a tactic top Stop War with Iran

He is the real force behind the push for war with Iran and if anything he is less popular than Bush. There are some people in this nation who still think that Bush means well but almost everyone dislikes Cheney for one or more reasons, and he has his fingerprints on every disasterous action taken by this Administration. Not to mention the whole Scooter Libby fiasco at his door step. Tying up Cheney in having to defend himself while presenting evidence to the public of what a disaster he and his adivice has been to our nation might derail some of Cheney's ability to orchestrate the threshold support level for an attack on Iran that he is shooting for (pun intended) which is about 35 to 40% public support from what I read.

Reports coming out of Washington suggest that Cheney's influence over Bush has increased with Gonzales and Rove no longer in the White House with Bush's ear. Our best chance to stop war with Iran might be to make Cheney completely politically toxic while distracting him from his war lobbying efforts.