As I was catching up on new events in the world this wonderful saturday morning I came across a Bill, H.R. 6198, that snuck in through the bathroom window. Its name is the Iran Freedom Support Act. This bill did not exist before Wednesday morning/afternoon according to its legislative history on Thomas.loc.gov. I'm going to include it and links to the bill itself and a news article discussing it below the fold.
This bill provides for sanctions against any country that works to help Iran develop WMD's. It also serves as a renewal of the Iran Libya Sactions Act of 1996 which expired yesterday but is now extended to 2011. Thankfully it also says although I don't think it means anything that nothing in the bill authorizes the use of force against Iran. But this bill does set the stage rather nicely for continued saber rattling against them.
I was shocked when I read that this bill with a name like
H.R. 6198 Iran Freedom Support Act would get passed in the Senate by
Unanimous Consent with out Amendment on a
Saturday Morning. I found it very creepy indeed.
Lets look at the legislative history of this bill from Thomas. Which is in the grey box below.
History from Thomas of HR 6198
9/27/2006:
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
9/27/2006:
Referred to House International Relations
9/27/2006:
Referred to House Financial Services
9/28/2006 1:02pm:
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
9/28/2006 1:03pm:
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7695-7706)
9/28/2006 1:51pm:
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7695-7697)
9/28/2006 1:51pm:
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
9/28/2006:
Received in the Senate, read twice.
9/30/2006:
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
9/30/2006:
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
You might notice that this bill spent only Three Days going through any kind of process. This bill moved quickly through both houses and I still can't get over the fact that the Senate passed it without debate on a Saturday morning by Unanimous Consent.
This was obviously something the Administration really wanted to just get it slid through without so much as even a modicum of debate in the Senate.
This to me seems like yet another step upon the now increasingly short road to conflict with Iran. It really looks to me like they are trying to provoke them but I don't think it will work and that something else will fire off this crisis. Or at least that is what I hope will happen because we could always be the one to throw the first punch and God or your deity of choice help us all if that happens.