Top Dems, Republicans Blast Obama's Nuke Deal With Iran by Jongsstraw

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Top Dems, Republicans Blast Obama's Nuke Deal With Iran

POSTED BY: JONGSSTRAW
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 5, 2022 11:45
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Monday, November 25, 2013 1:58 PM

"Top lawmakers on both side of the aisle on Sunday voiced skepticism about the newly struck agreement with Iran, and vowed to keep up the pressure with sanctions.

Senior members in both chambers said that, at first glance, Iran got the better end of the deal with western powers, China and Russia – effectively exchanging looser sanctions for very little progress in impeding Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

Some powerful lawmakers have said they’re willing to seek new sanctions now, but delay their implementation until after the six months covered by the current deal. But others weren’t even willing to go that far.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), the No. 3 Democrat in the chamber, called the deal disproportionately good for Iran, and that it was only strong sanctions that gave the U.S. and its allies any leverage over Tehran.

“This disproportionality of this agreement makes it more likely that Democrats and Republicans will join together and pass additional sanctions when we return in December,” Schumer said in a Sunday statement.

In fact, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s office pointed out Sunday that the Virginia Republican and Schumer – rarely allies on any issue – had sounded similar concernsabout the deal, and the impact sanctions have had on Iran.

President Obama and top members of his administration, like Secretary of State John Kerry, have stressed that the pressure has been successful – but that pressing ahead with further sanctions could “derail” the new deal.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are among the lawmakers to say they’d be open to putting sanctions in place for six months down the line.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had vowed last week to move ahead with sanctions legislation, but has yet to comment on the agreement finalized this weekend in Geneva.

Menendez added Sunday that he expected any Senate deal on sanctions to allow the U.S. to immediately restart sanctions if Iran fails to live up to its part of the deal.

“Given Iran's history of duplicity, it will demand ongoing, on-the-ground verification,” Menendez said. “Until Iran has verifiably terminated its illicit nuclear program, we should vigorously enforce existing sanctions.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/middle-eastnorth-africa/191286
-bipartisan-skepticism-meets-iran-deal

Peace in our time!

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Monday, November 25, 2013 3:29 PM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I guess the article didn't say ENOUGH of what Jong wanted, he had to post it three times in a row. Okay.

Sure, everyone has an opinion, a lot of people are suspicious, and there's no question that nobody trusts Iran and they'd better be watched real close and return to sanctions if they screw up. But it's the first even tiny step anyone's taken in how long?

But of course, the right refuses to acknowledge any possible positives in the agreement. As far as they are concerned, anything that happens with President Obama’s blessing is tantamount to declaring that America is dead.

First out the gate in the race to look stupidest was Senator John Cornyn (R-TX):

John Bolton took a swing at the deal and, of course, the President in the Weekly Standard blog:

Quote:
This is not, as the Obama administration leaked before the deal became public, a “compromise” on Iran’s claimed “right” to enrichment. This is abject surrender by the United States. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/abject-surrender-united-states_768
140.html]

Jennifer Rubin alluded to communism in her Right Turn blog:

Quote:
We are in essence paying Iran $5 billion to $10 billion, which it can use to continue enriching and of course sponsoring terrorists. The communist adage that capitalists would sell them the rope to hang the capitalist is turned on its head; we are now paying our enemies to manufacture the rope. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2013/11/24/the-iran-
deal-makes-clear-it-pays-to-enrich/]

Conservative blowhard and radio talker Mark Levin posted on his Facebook page:

Ben Shapiro of Breitbart compared President Obama to Neville Chamberlain, a favorite allusion:

Quote:
The easy comparison is to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler in Munich in 1938, when he signed allowed Hitler to consolidate his gains in the Sudetenland on the bare promise of no further aggression in Europe. http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/11/24/Obama-worse-than-Munich]

Daniel Pipes posted on the National Review Online:

Quote:
This wretched deal offers one of those rare occasions when comparison with Neville Chamberlain in Munich in 1938 is valid. An overeager Western government, blind to the evil cunning of the regime it so much wants to work with, appeases it with concessions that will come back to haunt it. Geneva and Nov. 24 will be remembered along with Munich and Sept. 29. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/364712/foreign-policy-disaster-da
niel-pipes]

Erick Erickson carried things to the absurd extreme, as is his wont:

And George Will, who should really know better, whined on Fox News Sunday that the deal will lead to nuclear proliferation in the Middle East:

Quote:
“… the president said he’s not going to contain a nuclear Iran. I think that will be our policy, containing them, because they’re going to get the bomb… the big question is what will Israel, abetted by Saudi Arabia, which is terrified of Iran, do at this point… will the final reaction be the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East as the Saudis seek their own arsenal? http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/364722/wills-take-iran-will-go-nu
clear-nro-staff

My gosh, they are just so predictable, aren’t they? John Kerry has managed to make the Middle East just a bit safer for everyone, including Israel. According to the agreement, Iran cannot try to make a nuclear bomb now without being detected. They cannot install any new centrifuges, a necessary tool for enriching uranium. They agreed to stop work on a heavy-water reactor. They accepted daily monitoring from nuclear inspectors. That all sounds pretty good, don’t you think? It’s a start. But hey, it's got the Dread Obama name on it....must be ARMAGEDDON!!!

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Monday, November 25, 2013 3:44 PM

JONGSSTRAW

Not sure how paragraphs got duplicated. Fixed it for ya.
I think it's great that Iran will have nuclear payloads for their long range missiles. But I don't see Saudi Arabia and Israel allowing it to get to that. And Iran will soon be able to threaten Europe as well. Like 1938 Czechoslovakia, that'll be a shame.

Peace in our time!

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Monday, November 25, 2013 3:57 PM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.

Got to judge these things by their results. If Iran acquires the bomb within a year or two, this will undoubtedly reflect terribly on Obama. But if that doesn't happen, and the result of this is that military showdown with Iran is averted (let's all remember how disastrous that would be) - then Obama will deserve great credit. Not that many conservatives will give it to him.

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 4:12 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!

Quote:
Originally posted by kpo:
Got to judge these things by their results. If Iran acquires the bomb within a year or two, this will undoubtedly reflect terribly on Obama. But if that doesn't happen, and the result of this is that military showdown with Iran is averted (let's all remember how disastrous that would be) - then Obama will deserve great credit. Not that many conservatives will give it to him.

It's not personal. It's just war.

In the end if Congress does not go along with this and tighten sactions even more there is no reason for Iran to stop developing a nuclear weapon. In fact the threat of military action may work to speed up their work. Once they have that capablity military action pretty much gets taken off the table.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 4:29 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

They have to take Israel into account. Our country doesn't run their military. And while the US and Israel worked together on Stuxnet (so the rumor goes), Israel does go it alone on raiding Iranian facilities (so the rumor goes). And Israel already has 400 nukes, all within easy reach of Iran (so the rumor goes).

Also, you assume that China and Russia act idiodically. Neither one is true.

You seem to think the US is the only player in this game.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 4:55 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

I'm guessing those Democrats who are speaking out against the deal are up for re-election ?

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Monday, November 25, 2013 5:08 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

The headline said 'blast' The article at most claimed 'skepticism'.

You really need to learn how to read.

As evidence of "rape mentality"

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 8:11 PM
MAL4PREZ
And just remember, according to Rappy, the term befitting a women who wants the insurance she pays for to cover medications affecting her reproductive organs is

whore

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 4:23 PM
little rappy
The term applies.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 5:15 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki: And Israel already has 400 nukes, all within easy reach of Iran (so the rumor goes).

Also, you assume that China and Russia act idiodically. Neither one is true.

You seem to think the US is the only player in this game.

Gee, has Israel vowed to wipe Iran off the map? Help me out here.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Monday, November 25, 2013 5:20 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

Do you think an Iranian politician's words on the campaign trail trump facing down 400 nukes? Yes or no will do.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 5:28 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
Do you think an Iranian politician's words on the campaign trail trump facing down 400 nukes? Yes or no will do.

Didn't think Israel had. Thanks.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Monday, November 25, 2013 5:35 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

I take it that's a 'no'.

Thanks.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 5:51 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

I asked you a simple, direct question. Your " response " was to ask a totally irrelevant and off topic question of your own.

To answer YOUR inane question, I can confidently affirm " YES ". Because you actually believe that what's said on a campaign trail ( assuming you think Iran HAS legitimate campaigns ) some how dismisses the significance of what is said.

Kinda like - 'If you like your plan, you can keep it. Period. ' ? OH, I see, you have been convinced that EVERYTHING someone says on the campaign trail is lying. I see where you are coming from now.

Also, it wasn't merely 'campaign jargon ' which Ahmadinejad was using. He's spoken out against Israel numerous times, over the years.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Monday, November 25, 2013 6:16 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

The Facts

The firestorm started when Nazila Fathi, then the Tehran correspondent of The New York Times, reported a story ... that was headlined: “Wipe Israel ‘off the map’ Iranian says.” The article attributed newly elected Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remarks to a report by the ISNA press agency.

The article sparked outrage around the globe, with then-President George W. Bush and other world leaders condemning Ahmadinejad’s statement. The original New York Times article noted that Ahmadinejad said he was quoting Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic revolution, but that aspect was largely overlooked.

Then, specialists such as Juan Cole of the University of Michigan and Arash Norouzi of the Mossadegh Project pointed out that the original statement in Persian did not say that Israel should be wiped from the map, but instead that it would collapse.

Cole said this week that in the 1980s Khomeini gave a speech in which he said in Persian “Een rezhim-i eshghalgar-i Quds bayad az sahneh-i ruzgar mahv shaved.” This means, “This occupation regime over Jerusalem must vanish from the arena of time.” But then anonymous wire service translators rendered Khomeini as saying that Israel “must be wiped off the face of the map,” which Cole and Nourouzi say is inaccurate.

Ahmadinejad slightly misquoted Khomeini, substituting “safheh-i ruzgar,” or “page of time" for "sahneh-i ruzgar" or “arena of time.” But in any case, the old translation was dug up and used again by the Iranian news agency, Cole says. In fact, that’s how it was presented for years on Ahmadinejad’s English-language Web site, as the Times noted in a somewhat defensive article on the translation debate.

But the story doesn’t end there. Karim Sadjadpour, an Iranian specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, notes that Iranian government entities began to erect billboards and signs with the “wipe off” phrase in English. Joshua Teitelbaum of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs compiled an interesting collection of photographs of these banners, such as one on the building that houses reserve military forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “Israel should be wiped out of the face of the world,” the sign reads in English.

So, the original reported statement was a mis-translation into English of a badly-quoted quote by Ahmadinejad originating with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that originally said Israel would collapse.

The answer is, neither did Iran.

Meanwhile Khomeini passed away nearly 25 years ago, and Ahmadinejad is no longer president.

Oh, the timely, relevant facts you could learn, if only you would read.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 6:35 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

I can read just find. Better than you, obviously.

And I know when NOT to fall for clear, obvious State sponsored propaganda either.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Monday, November 25, 2013 6:51 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

"I can read just find. Better than you, obviously."

What is it you claim to be able to read? Since you have no quotes, or links, or topic, all I have is something that looks like your unfounded assertion that you can read ... something.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 8:23 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
I can read just find.

Better, we hope, than you can write and/or spell.

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Monday, November 25, 2013 9:10 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Oh noes, no senseless bloodshed, no sending poor americans to be needlessly slaughtered for political points, no welfare for the war machine, waah wahh wahhhh, such a goddamn TRAGEDY....

Tell me again about incubator babies and curveball and mushroom clouds and nigerian yellowcake and the bali bombing and the gulf of tonkin and remember the maine and all the other lies and excuses and bullshit, rightwingnuts...
Seriously, the entire american populace is sick of you, your psychotic and sociopathic malice, and your inexcuseable, profound and deliberate STUPIDITY, and happens to be measuring a rope.

Appropros of naught else, I hear the weather in Bora Bora is quite nice this time of year, HINT HINT.
Gettin while the gettin is good is perhaps wise.

-Frem

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013 10:00 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Hmmm... who are these people who are objecting?

John Bolton.... infamous neocon, who helped get us into that useless war with Iraq,

Jennifer Rubin.. let me guess... Jewish? And a neocon.

Mark Levin.... Huh. Also Jewish neocon.

Ben Shapiro .... well, whaddya think? Jewish neoncon?

Daniel Pipes. Hey, guess what! Not a Jew! But a neconocn.

Erick Erickson... Also not a Jew! But a pro-Netanyahu neocon nonetheless!

So instead of Kristol and Wurmser and Feith and Abrams and Perle, we have Schumer and Bolton and Rubin and Levin and Shapiro et al. Haven't we been thru this before? Didn't we learn anything?

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013 10:27 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

I posted this under REAL NEWS, but I guess the importance didn't sink in:

-------------------

Hmmm.... the petrodollar is dead in all but name. Just think of all of those alignments based solely on that filthy lucre.... the USA-Saudi Arabia (al Qaeda)-Israeli axis. The USA-China-Taiwan axis. The USA-Venzeula axis. Yanno, I'll bet that Bandar "Bush" bin Sultan is beginning to regret all those threats he made to Putin (and to Obama for all we know).

Which is why it appears that the sanctions are being lifted off of IRAN. The USA may have "pivoted" away from Saudi Arabia and towards Iran. I'm sure Netanyahu is fit to be tied, as are the Saudis. Yanno, it's occurred to me that perhaps Obama isn't as stupid as people think he is. The "all of the above" concept of energy development, which put the USA into a better position in terms of fossils fuels, coincidentally (and possibly deliberately) untied our strings to Saudi Arabia. Obama has "bobbled" many Saudi and Israeli operations in the ME. Whether on purpose or by accident, that it s good direction to be heading in. That makes us uneasy allies with Putin, but better Putin than Netanyahu or the Saudi Royal family.

=------------------

I stand by that analysis. If we compare Iran to Saudi Arabia, Iran is the far more moderate nation.

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013 1:06 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

To the point, great analysis of an important topic, bears bumping.

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:30 AM

SHINYGOODGUY

I've watched the reaction and opinion from Foreign Relations experts praise
the move by the president. This is an unprecedented move towards peaceful
negotiations and shows what can be done in terms of governance.

The stupid house now wants to fuck up the deal, the quiet diplomacy, by opting to tighten sanctions even further. Go ahead you numbnuts, screw up
a perfectly great plan. The war mongers are not happy, well, I say, suit up.

SGG

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013 9:24 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Then people should rise up, as they did with Syria.

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Monday, March 28, 2022 9:08 AM