H. Con. Res. 362 is an AIPAC-driven resolution introduced on May 22, 2008 by Reps Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Mike Pence (R-IN). It contains a clause that would appear to give the president license to pursue a naval blockade against Iran. Carah Ong, a foreign policy analyst at the Iran Policy Analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, provides this analysis:
Here is the specific language under the "Resolved" section in the resolution that has many concerned:
(3) demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program;
The current status of the bill can be tracked here. A related Senate bill, S. Res. 580, can be tracked here.
While the sponsors bill claim that this is not the intent of the bill, it concerns me that anyone is proposing legislation that would give cover for the Bush administration to raise tensions with Iran further.
I'm curious to hear the thoughts of the community on this one.