Rob Andrews: “I believe that it is in the interest of freedom-loving people around the world to deny the present regime in Tehran…”

“I believe that it is in the interest of freedom-loving people around the world to deny the present regime in Tehran access to a nuclear weapon. The amendment that I submit does not raise the issue of the propriety of Iran having a nuclear weapon. The amendment I submit raises the issue of the propriety of this coequal branch of our government asserting its proper constitutional authority. My amendment contemplates, Mr. Chairman, the following circumstances, and I want to be very clear about this. If our troops in Iraq become involved in a fight that requires them to in some way engage, in order to defend themselves, Iranian personnel in a given situation, they have the right and power and authority to do so. Mr. Chairman, if our planners on the military side, as part of their normal planning exercises, as they do throughout the world and around the globe, find it necessary to game out and analyze the circumstances under which we would prepare for conflict with Iran, they have the authority to do so. Any American soldier or servicemember under any circumstances has the authority to defend himself or herself, and the President has the authority to act under emergency or self-defense circumstances. However, in those circumstances under which the President would wish to initiate a major contingency operation in Iran, this amendment says he may not use funds which we have authorized and appropriated to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”