Click to play videoNew Delhi: Democrats are branding US President George W Bush as a failed President especially over his handling of Iraq and his war on terror against al-Queda chief Osama bin Laden.
Senator Jim Webb sent a letter to President Bush on Friday warning against any military action against Iran that lacks the explicit approval of Congress.
The letter, signed by 30 Democratic senators, emphasises that a Senate amendment passed last month designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force as a terrorist organisation-- ``should in no way be interpreted as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran."
Webb, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, has sought legislation that would prohibit funding for any military strike against Iran with limited exceptions-- unless Bush obtains the explicit approval of Congress.
The letter comes at a time when the Bush administration has sharpened its rhetoric on Iran and imposed economic sanctions on the Iranian government.
Bush has warned publicly of risking ``World War III" if Iran gains the knowledge required to build a nuclear bomb.
``These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy," the senators wrote in their letter. ``We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran."
American policy toward Iran has been a contentious issue in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and others have faulted Sen Hillary Clinton, D-NY ., for voting for the Senate amendment last month designating an arm of the Iranian government as a terrorist group. Critics warned the amendment could clear the way for a military strike. Clinton has defended her vote, saying it does nothing to authorize war.
Among the Democratic senators running for president, Clinton and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., signed Webb's letter. Obama and Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., did not, according to a statement from Webb's office.
The US President also slammed the Democrats in his speech at the Heritage Foundation. Bush accused the Democrats of being more interested in politics than terror threats.
"bin Laden and his terrorist allies have made their intentions as clear as Lenin and Hitler before them. And the question is: Will we listen? America and our coalition partners are listening. We have made our choice. We take the words of the enemy seriously,” said Bush.
"Some in Washington should spend more time responding to the warnings of terrorists like Osama bin Laden and less time responding to the demands of MoveOn.org bloggers and Code Pink protesters,” he added.
(With agency inputs)
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