Senator Lindsey Graham

The U.S. Senate agreed with Senator Lindsey Graham that the National Guard should be part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Senator Lindsey Graham says the Senate’s approval on his amendment to give the National Guard a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff was long overdue. Graham says the amendment is recognition and a fitting tribute for our citizen-soldiers and the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our nation.” Graham says guardsmen and reservists are citizen-soldiers and they deserve and have earned a seat at the table. Graham’s amendment was added by a voice vote to the Defense Authorization Bill. The Senate will continue debating the measure and final approval is expected later this week.

Graham says The Guard and Reserve “is indispensable to fighting the War on Terror and protecting the homeland.” His legislation was endorsed by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Convention Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Adjutants General Association of the United States, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (File)

Officials in the U.S. and Europe are greatly concerned that Iran is planning on building nuclear weapons. However, Iranian leaders say they are only working to develop a nuclear program to generate electricity and provide fuel for medical reactors.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said he is wary about Iran’s motives, “In a closed dictatorship, you really don’t know and I’m afraid time is not on our side,” Graham told Fox News Tuesday, “I think it’s universally believed that they are trying to develop a nuclear weapon, not nuclear power. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) report was chilling. They are further down the road than I thought.”

“The (Obama) Administration needs to get the Chinese and the Russians on board quickly and if that doesn’t work, Israel has to make a decision. It would be better for the United States to use military force, if it were ever used.”

Iranian leaders say generating nuclear power will allow them to refrain from dipping into their oil supply which they prefer to sell abroad.

Graham said if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, the Middle East would be thrown into chaos and that is why the U.S. and its allies have to act to make sure that such a development does not happen.

 ”The Iranian theocracy, the ayatollahs with a nuclear weapon, they may give it to a terrorist. They may use it against Israel. They would blackmail the region,” he said, “I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind that is a non-starter. Sanctions could work. You would have to cut off their refined petroleum. The Russians and the Chinese would have to play harder than they are today. I’m willing to try another round of sanctions”.

Graham said he views military intervention as a last resort, “I would use military force as a last option. Not relish it, but resolved to do it, because it they do get a nuclear weapon the whole Middle East goes into a nuclear arms race. The Israelis will never know freedom and security if Iran has a nuclear weapon.”