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Letter from Rep. Baird on Iran policy dated February 20, 2007
(sent to Genny Kortes, but probably sent to anyone that was calling/writing about that issue at that time)

Dear Ms. Kortes :

Thank you for contacting me regarding Iran . I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

I share your concerns over the United States becoming engaged in a military conflict with Iran . I believe that military action should always be a last resort. As you may know, I strongly opposed President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq because I believed-and continue to believe-that the decision to launch a ground invasion was made prematurely and at a time when many credible diplomatic options remained open. Like you, I believe that we must continue to employ diplomacy toward Iran .

I am gravely concerned by Iran 's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and recognize the need to keep Iran from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. Allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear arsenal will further destabilize the Middle East and directly threaten the United States . In addition, many of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad' s recent statements give serious cause for concern. He has denied the existence of the Holocaust, threatened to "wipe Israel off the map", and has also threatened the United States with "harm and pain". This troubling track record demonstrates the danger of allowing Iran to possess nuclear weapons.

I have strongly supported political and diplomatic efforts to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons around the world. In the 109 th Congress I was a cosponsor of legislation that would support nonproliferation efforts, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty Enhancement Resolution of 2005 which reaffirmed congressional support for the objectives of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and expresses support for appropriate measures to strengthen the NPT. I was also a cosponsor of H.Con.Res.158, which calls for the adoption of a Sensible, Multilateral American Response to Terrorism (SMART) security platform. The goals of this platform include reducing the threat and stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction and reducing the proliferation of conventional weapons.

I believe we must take a strong stand against any country that develops nuclear weapons while threatening other nations and shunning the international community. As always, it is my sincere hope that diplomacy will prevail in this situation.