President Obama would like to pretend that anyone who opposes the nuclear deal with Iran that he is in the process of striking must be a warmonger—because war is the (supposed) consequence of not doing a deal. But that charge is hard to level against some of the high-profile critics who had spoken out in recent days.
–In the Wall Street Journal, former secretaries of State George Shultz (architect of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty with the Soviet Union) and Henry Kissinger (architect of the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement with the USSR and the “opening” to China) blast Obama’s deal-making. They warn that not only will the agreement be extremely difficult to enforce, it is unlikely sanctions will be reimposed even if Iran is caught cheating: “Iran is in a position to violate the agreement by executive decision. Restoring the most effective sanctions will require coordinated international action.”
The result of these talks, they warn, will be an increase in Iran’s regional power and a nuclear arms race in the Middle East: “For the U.S., a decade-long restriction on Iran’s nuclear capacity is a possibly hopeful interlude. For Iran’s neighbors—who perceive their imperatives in terms of millennial rivalries—it is a dangerous prelude to an even more dangerous permanent fact of life. Some of the chief actors in the Middle East are likely to view the U.S. as willing to concede a nuclear military capability to the country they consider their principal threat. Several will insist on at least an equivalent capability. Saudi Arabia has signaled that it will enter the lists; others are likely to follow. In that sense, the implications of the negotiation are irreversible.”
–On the Journal’s website, Aaron David Miller (one of Bill Clinton’s chief negotiators in the 1990s working on a deal between Israel and the Palestinians) is even more stark—“what we know now,” he writes, “suggests that the mullahs got the better end of the deal.” “The U.S. went from seeking to dismantle a putative nuclear weapons program to trying to impose limitations on one,” he explains. “Score one for the mullahs. By the time a final agreement is reached, Iran’s right to enrich uranium and its nuclear infrastructure may be validated in a U.N. Security Council resolution. That would be another win for the mullahs.” Finally Miller notes: “it’s stunning that the president of the United States is protesting Mr. Netanyahu’s terrible statements about Israeli Arabs and not blasting Tehran for its human rights abuses.”
–Also in the Journal, William Galston (another former Bill Clinton aide and a veteran Democratic thinker) doesn’t come out completely against the agreement but he advocates greatly strengthening it, in ways that, among others, the Israeli government has advocated—and that Obama is certain to reject. He also writes: “Many of our traditional allies in the Middle East fear that they are being sacrificed to Mr. Obama’s aspiration to achieve a historic breakthrough with the Islamic Republic. He should reassure them by strengthening U.S. security guarantees, pledging the long-term presence of U.S. military assets, and by acting far more forcefully against Iranian meddling in the internal affairs of other countries.…. And finally, the Obama administration should relax its opposition to meaningful congressional involvement in vetting a final agreement.”
Asked about the Kissinger-Shultz op-ed, the best that the State Department spokesman could do was to describe it as a “lot of big words and big thoughts,” as if that’s a criticism. (Does this administration favor small words and small thoughts?) Wonder what the White House thinks about what Shultz, Kissinger, Miller, and Galston have said? Are they neocon warmongers too? Or is it just possible that they are reasonable centrists who have grave reservations about the unprecedented concessions that the president is making to a regime whose animating slogan is “Death to America”?
The children HAD, until recently, been given a half credit in high school as to civics, how government runs, Soooo poorly done that none of them had a concept of what it takes to keep a nation free. NOW, there will be no more teaching of civics in the classrooms at all, to my recent knowledge. The evil is at leat two fold now.Common Core, and grants from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to our universities and colleges.Give us you youth and I will…. These are cults. AND our leaders are allowing this and accepting this. They are not applying the laws of the land to protect us from without and within.
The comments and rationales are given for the benefit of the people. The leaders KNOW, no one among them is fooled. To allow this nuclear proliferation to begin across the world; to allow the enemy with in your gates all evidence ignored, there has to be a reason. I read a book once wherein at the ending, the author said he lives his life by three rules. Who rules the rulers. How much is it going to cost me. And what will they do to us next. The odd part for me, is that the people are acting as though they have no choices; that Congress is making itself irrelevant
Topaz Said:
@ bernard ross:
Thank you for the link. when it comes to Obama I have never believed anything that comes out of his mouth.
Deception and lies is nothing new. It does not surprise me.
What really surprises me is having the gall to create a document with false statements and deliver it to an international prestigious organization involved in the nuclear negotiations. Does he really thinks he is so smart he can deceive the international community. As a country we have not the respect of any of the international leaders of other countries whether lefties or not. Obama’s words and his cabinet have lost all credibility in the international community. In the US still there are people who are still blind enough to believe every lie proclaimed by Obama.
People have the governments they deserve. How did we get to this point? During many decades the school systems all over the country kept lowering expectations and requirements from our children. Now we are at the point where university students do not even know who their representatives are in Congress. Basic questions that a fourth or six grader in the past knew are a total mystery for many students even those of prestigious universities.We, as a country are in trouble. These youngsters vote.
An ignoramus as President who thinks he can outsmart
people with real knowledge. It is shameful,
The worse is the realization that we are living difficult times. World War III is already starting. The only bright light in the horizon is ISRAEL. I have faith in our Creator
that a miracle will save us. Until then more and more deceit, intrigue and false alliances among our enemies and more danger to Israel. I fear for the generations to come.
Hopefully the end also means a new and better beginning.
Thank G-d they keep fighting among themselves until their
total destruction relieve the world of their evil faith.
Seems the Hot Shots are NOW speaking out, perhaps they want to be seen as having been on the side of the angels. Seems a tad late, to me. Hmmm…
The fix is in. We keep talking and the nuclear work is continuing apace, complete with delivery systems. The decision is wanted by Europe and the US. 100 $ billion made available to Iran. WE must question to what purpose? And, why is it that oil-soaked, major oil-exporting nation NEEDS nuclear power for peaceful purposes. The democracies are lining up for the “cheap” oil, and for the business of supplying weapons etc. The fact that our entire planet is now at risk seems to mean nothing. What will be left of our planet when this is done?
Opposition to the deal is coalescing.
Add to that Iran’s expectations and the mountain to climb to finalize it by June 30 has gotten steeper.