Rand Paul Flys the Iranian Flag

[cmmeur01]

By blocking S2101 from being passed Rand Paul has prevented thousands of terrorism victims from being compensated.

S2101 would allow the $1.7billion of frozen money from Iran's central bank to released and compensation paid to victims of the 1983 Beirut bombing attacks (in which my uncle who I never got to meet was killed) along with numerous other victims of terrorism.

The bill was introduced into the senate with a strict "no attachments" policy. Rand Paul is insisting he be allowed an attachment and making himself look like a 5 year old instead. He gets up on his soapbox and waxes poetic about the constitution and debating before "boots are on the ground", well guess what jackass this is a bill of ECONOMIC SANCTIONS DESIGNED TO NOT HAVE TO SEND TROOPS OVER THERE.

This bill has support from both parties and this makes me sick to have him "representing" me.

[Tyler]

I like Rand, but this seems strange. More details?

Both parties supported Tarp and the Patriot Act, so the fact that they support this doesn't help me to want it passed.

[BIGC]

more details please?

Blocked New Iran Sanctions

This week in the Senate I halted a new round of sanctions against Iran by objecting to a call for unanimous consent. I introduced an amendment that would ensure that nothing in the act shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of the use of force against Iran or Syria, and that any such use of force must be authorized by Congress.

Many in this Congress cannot get boots on ground fast enough in a variety of places, from Syria to Libya to Iran. But we don't just send boots to war. We send our young Americans to war. Our young men and women, our soldiers, deserve thoughtful debate.

I urged that we not begin a new war without a full debate, without a vote, without careful consideration of the ramifications of a third or even a fourth war in this past decade.

[BIGC]

From what I can find and read, Rand is standing against a bill leveling more sanctions on Iran until it be added that this is not a declaration of war against them...

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked an effort Tuesday to quickly pass a bipartisan bill imposing tough sanctions on Iran, demanding that Congress make clear that the United States is not rushing into another war.

"Our young men and women, our soldiers, deserve thoughtful debate," Paul, the tea party freshman with libertarian leanings, said on the floor. "Before sending our young men and women into combat, we should have a mature and thoughtful debate over the ramifications of war, over the advisability of war and over the objectives of war."

Paul wants Senate Democrats to allow a vote on his amendment that says that nothing in the measure "shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of use of force against Iran or Syria."

The bill at issue sailed through the Senate Banking Committee last month and the House has already passed its version of Iran sanctions legislation. It would give the administration new authority to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, including by requiring firms traded on the U.S. stock exchanges to disclose any Iran-related activities and penalize U.S. parent companies whose subsidiaries have ties to the country.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who tried to quickly pass the measure on Tuesday, protested Paul's decision to stand in the way.

"I really am terribly disappointed," Reid said on the floor. "There's nothing in the resolution that talks about war. In fact, it's quite to the contrary. ... I read the Constitution a few times. My friend says he wants to restate the Constitution. That's a strange version he just stated."

Reid now can decide to file cloture to overcome the senator's objection with 60 votes, or he can cut a deal and allow the Paul amendment to be considered by the body.

[Frailer]

Sounds like a reasonable objection to me. We've already transferred more than enough power to the executive branch.

[BIGC]

Here is the summary of the bill I can find. I do not see anything in there about 1.7 billion being handed out as compensation to anyone. From what I can read he is also trying to keep us out of war with Iran..

And yes, I like Rand Paul......

2/13/2012--Introduced.

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Human Rights Act of 2012 - Urges the President to initiate diplomatic efforts to expand the multilateral sanctions regime regarding Iran. Amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to impose specified sanctions on a person that knowingly: (1) participates in certain petroleum resource development joint ventures outside of Iran if the Iranian government is a substantial partner or investor in the joint venture, or if Iran could, through such joint venture, receive new technology or equipment that could significantly contribute to its development of petroleum resources in Iran; (2) sells, leases, or provides to Iran certain petroleum development-related resources goods, services, technology, or support whose market values exceed specified ceilings; and (3) participates in certain joint ventures with Iran's government, Iranian firms, or persons acting for or on behalf of Iran in the mining, production, or transportation of uranium. Authorizes: (1) exclusion from the United States of an alien who is a corporate officer, principal, or controlling shareholder in a sanctioned firm; and (2) sanctions against the principal executive officer or other principal executive officers of a sanctioned firm. Blocks the property of a person that knowingly provides ships, insurance or reinsurance, or other shipping services for transportation of goods that materially contribute to Iran's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program or its terrorism-related activities. Prohibits an entity owned or controlled by a U.S. person and established or maintained outside the United States from engaging in any transaction with Iran that would be prohibited if the transaction were engaged in by a U.S. person or in the United States. Requires the imposition of civil penalties for violations of such prohibition. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to disclose in their mandatory annual or quarterly reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whether they or their affiliates have: (1) engaged in certain activities relating to Iran, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; (2) knowingly engaged in specified activities, or knowingly violated certain regulations prescribed under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010; (3) knowingly conducted any transaction or dealing with a person whose property and interests in property are blocked by certain Executive Orders; or (4) knowingly conducted a transaction or dealing with any person listed in the Iranian Transactions Regulations. Directs the President to publish a list of senior Iranian officials (and family members) involved in Iran's: (1) illicit nuclear activities or WMD proliferation, (2) support for international terrorism, or (3) human rights abuses against Iranian citizens. Prohibits such persons from being granted U.S. immigration status for admission. Sets forth reporting requirements regarding: (1) financial communications services to the Central Bank of Iran; (2) foreign entities investing in Iran's energy sector; (3) petroleum imports to, and exports from, Iran; and (4) Iranian membership in, and U.S. contributions to, international organizations. Directs the President to identify and designate for sanctions, exclusion from the United States, and freezing of assets officials, affiliates, and agents of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Sets forth mandatory and discretionary measures to be taken against a foreign person or entity that provides the IRGC with material support. Requires certification by prospective U.S. government contractors that neither they nor their subsidiaries have engaged in significant economic transactions with designated IRGC officials, agents or affiliates. Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to determine whether the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) or the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) is an IRGC agent or affiliate and submit such determination to Congress. Directs the President to identify and: (1) freeze the assets of a person that has knowingly transferred to Iran goods or technologies, or provided post-transfer services that are likely to be used to commit human rights abuses; and (2) impose specified sanctions against individuals and firms that have engaged in censorship or repression of the rights of freedom of expression or assembly of Iran's citizens. Requires the Office of Foreign Assets Control to expedite processing of Iran-related humanitarian, human rights and democratization aid by entities receiving funds from the Department of State, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and other U.S. agencies. Directs the President to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress regarding the promotion of Internet freedom and information access in Iran. Denies admission to, or excludes from, the United States an Iranian citizen seeking to enter the United States to study at an institution of higher education to prepare for a career in Iran's energy or nuclear sectors. Subjects certain Iranian assets to U.S. court jurisdiction. Prohibits anything in this Act from applying to authorized U.S. intelligence activities. Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 - Directs the President to identify and impose specified sanctions on: (1) Syrian government officials or persons acting on behalf of that government who are responsible for or complicit in the commission of serious human rights abuses against Syrian citizens or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Syria; (2) persons who knowingly transfer or facilitate the transfer of goods or technologies (weapons, surveillance technology, or sensitive technology) that are likely to be used by Syria to commit human rights abuses against the Syrian people; and (3) persons who engage in censorship that prohibits, limits, or penalizes freedom of expression by Syrian citizens.

[ChopperDoc]

Sounds like a reasonable objection to me. We've already transferred more than enough power to the executive branch.

Yup

[son of liberty]

I love Rand Paul,I think his request is reasonable.

[325MOUTguru]

I love Rand Paul,I think his request is reasonable.

THIS

[wash]

Rand rocks.

[Brother of Liberty]

I dont think its our right to give away this money.

As far as nukes Im not concerned. Sure I would rather no one have them, but if Iran wants to play, just one Ohio class sub can nuke every target worth hitting in Iran.

[BIGC]

judging from the OP's statement and what I am actually reading in the bill, his info is totally backwards. It looks as if Rand is trying to keep us from war and putting our boys back in another shithole. I see nothing in the bill about any reparations being paid to victims of the Beirut bombing but it does look like the bill is trying to hand BHO yet more power which I dont agree with.

Rand is awesome and I will definitely keep voting for him..