On the recordDecember 13, 2011
Again, I would like to repeat that this crisis only ends one of three ways. Iran gets a nuclear weapons capability, and don't listen to straw man arguments. No one is saying Iran today has a nuclear bomb, but the IAEA has made it perfectly clear they are pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. Once they have that capability, they throw out the inspectors; they shut off the cameras; and they get the bomb. Either we stop them from getting the bomb; we have a military confrontation; or we have a diplomatic resolution where they end their nuclear weapons program through diplomacy. The provision the gentleman cited does not prohibit diplomacy by the President or his emissaries. Time will not permit me to read the statute, itself, right now, but I would be happy to show any of my members why diplomacy is still allowed. This is not a unilateral effort. This administration and this Congress, in working with them, have pursued a multilateral effort with the international community to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and we will continue to do that. I yield back the balance of my time.
Source
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