QUOTES FROM CO-SIGNERS OF GARRETT’S IRAN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH

Walter Jones ● Authored A Letter With Democrat Rep. Keith Ellison Encouraging Negotiations With Iran In 2012, Jones Signed A Letter With Democrat Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) Encouraging Negotiations With Iran. “We strongly encourage your Administration to pursue bilateral and multilateral engagement with Iran. While we acknowledge that progress will be difficult, we believe that robust, sustained diplomacy is the best option to resolve our serious concerns about Iran's nuclear program, and to prevent a costly war that would be devastating for the United States and our allies in the region.” (Walter B. Jones and Keith Ellison, Letter, 3/2/12) ● Extreme Minority Of House Members To Vote Against Additional Sanctions On Iran In 2012, The House Passed Additional Sanctions Against Iran's Energy, Shipping, and Insurance Sectors. “Both houses of Congress approved legislation on Wednesday that would significantly tighten sanctions against Iran's energy, shipping and insurance sectors. The bill is the latest attempt by Congress to starve Iran of the hard currency it needs to fund what most members agree is Iran's ongoing attempt to develop a nuclear weapons program.” (Pete Kasperowicz, “House, Senate Approve Tougher Sanctions Against Iran, Syria,” The Hill's Floor Action, 8/1/12) One Of Only Six House Members To Vote Against The 2012 Sanctions Bill. “The sanctions bill was approved in the form of a resolution making changes to prior legislation, H.R. 1905, on which the House and Senate agreed — it passed in an 421-6 vote, and was opposed by just five Republicans and one Democrat. Members voting against the bill were Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), John Duncan (R-Tenn.), Tim Johnson (R-Ill.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and Ron Paul (R- Texas).” (Pete Kasperowicz, “House, Senate Approve Tougher Sanctions Against Iran, Syria,” The Hill, 8/1/12)

Ron Paul ● “We have learned and been conditioned to distrust and hate the Persians, and that they’re gonna kill us,” said Paul. “But there’s no history to show that Iran are aggressive people. When’s the last time they invaded a country? Over 200 years ago!”

“We’re the ones who are all around the world, and yet everybody won’t pay much attention to that,” he continued, adding Iran’s support of terrorist groups is comparable “to what our CIA does.”

“If you compare what they’re doing, and their involvement — and I would say ours is probably 99% of the interventions around the world,” Paul argued, “we’re in 160 countries, and Iran is, you know, involved with Hezbollah and the others, trying to protect their interests.” https://www.buzzfeed.com/ilanbenmeir/ron-paul-backs-iran-nuclear-deal-its-to-the- benefit-of-world?utm_term=.tcGVAy7Px#.wvz1Xq9gN

● "I think we're looking for trouble because we put these horrendous sanctions on Iran," Paul told a midday audience at the Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa. He said the Iranians are "planning to be bombed" and understandably would like to have a nuclear weapon, even though there is "no evidence whatsoever" that they have "enriched" uranium. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/29/news/la-pn-ron-paul-sanctions-act-of- war20111229

Wayne Gilchrest • Gilchrest currently sits on the Board of the National Iranian American Council http://www.niacouncil.org/about-niac/staff-board/the-honorable-wayne-gilchrest/