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The Bruin Democrats and Bruin Republicans discussed national and international concerns Tuesday n

In a sometimes heated discussion with witty rebuttals, the Bruin Democrats and the Bruin Republicans on Tuesday night debated topics relevant to current national and international politics, including security threats from Iran, filibusters in the U.S. Senate and an individual’s right to die.

Representatives from each student group offered varying approaches to address the proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran.

Jessica Quintero, a third-year political science and Middle Eastern and North African studies student who was on the Bruin Democrats panel, said the United States needs to focus on diplomatic measures to end proliferation.

Quintero said the United States should not engage in a war with Iran, and suggested offering incentives to end proliferation.

Matt Knee, a fourth-year political science student and president of the Bruin Republicans, said invading and occupying Iran was not a feasible option, but the United States should consider limited air strikes to destroy facilities where nuclear weapons are produced.

Both panels also debated the viability of filibusters – extended speeches delivered in the Senate to prevent continuation of the agenda.

In recent weeks, the filibuster has become an issue of national debate as a group of Republican senators, led by Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., proposed modifying filibuster rules, and Democrats conducted filibusters to prevent the appointment of some of President Bush’s judicial nominees.

Eric Garthoffener, a fourth-year computer science student on the Bruin Republicans panel, said the Democrats in Congress want to maintain the filibuster option because with their minority position in the Senate, it is the only tool they have to legislate.

But Kyle Kleckner, a first-year political science student on the Bruin Democrats panel, said the Senate is using the filibuster to prevent the appointment of extreme right judges who will use their positions to legislate.

“The filibuster is there to prevent the tyranny of the majority and that is the way it should be,” he said.

On Monday, a group of senators reached a compromise in which Democrats agreed to go forward with three nominees while continuing to filibuster two nominees.

Tuesday’s debate was the last of three hosted this year by both groups.

Members who participated in the debate believe it is important to provide UCLA with an informative discussion that represents different views.

Gabriel Rose, a first-year political science student on the Bruin Democrats panel, said he felt the debate could help students form educated opinions on the addressed topics.