Saturday, September 26, 2009

Skelton Calls For Sanctions

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton is calling for new international sanctions against Iran, in the wake of revelations that the country has been operating a secret nuclear facility.

"The news that we got, of course, is very troubling. France and Great Britain are alongside of us in trying to do something, and I think they should move ahead with the sanctions they've been talking about," Skelton told MSNBC. "It's really troubling that, being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, they choose to hide and withhold information from the [International Atomic Energy Association], and I think we need to push those sanctions as best we can," he added.

"I think we need -- regardless of what they try to do -- we need to push those sanctions," Skelton added. "If they were really trying to do this for peaceful purposes, they would [not hide] the fact they're enriching this uranium. They have to know it's a painful choice that they have made in hiding facilities that enrich uranium."
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Legislation before Congress is aimed at cutting off Iran's gasoline and other petroleum imports. Skelton dismissed concerns that Iran might retaliate. "I don't know what they would do, but I think we need, regardless what they try to do, we need to push those sanctions," Skelton said.


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