There are few issues more important to the security of the United States than the potential spread of nuclear weapons, or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East. Thats why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place.
The reality is clear. The JCPOA is working that is a view shared by our European allies, independent experts, and the current U.S. Secretary of Defense. The JCPOA is in Americas interest it has significantly rolled back Irans nuclear program. And the JCPOA is a model for what diplomacy can accomplish its inspections and verification regime is precisely what the United States should be working to put in place with North Korea. Indeed, at a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes with Iran the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans.
That is why todays announcement is so misguided. Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on Americas closest allies, and an agreement that our countrys leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. In a democracy, there will always be changes in policies and priorities from one Administration to the next. But the consistent flouting of agreements that our country is a party to risks eroding Americas credibility, and puts us at odds with the worlds major powers.
Debates in our country should be informed by facts, especially debates that have proven to be divisive. So its important to review several facts about the JCPOA.
First, the JCPOA was not just an agreement between my Administration and the Iranian government. After years of building an international coalition that could impose crippling sanctions on Iran, we reached the JCPOA together with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Union, Russia, China, and Iran. It is a multilateral arms control deal, unanimously endorsed by a United Nations Security Council Resolution.
Second, the JCPOA has worked in rolling back Irans nuclear program. For decades, Iran had steadily advanced its nuclear program, approaching the point where they could rapidly produce enough fissile material to build a bomb. The JCPOA put a lid on that breakout capacity. Since the JCPOA was implemented, Iran has destroyed the core of a reactor that could have produced weapons-grade plutonium; removed two-thirds of its centrifuges (over 13,000) and placed them under international monitoring; and eliminated 97 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium the raw materials necessary for a bomb. So by any measure, the JCPOA has imposed strict limitations on Iran's nuclear program and achieved real results.
Third, the JCPOA does not rely on trust it is rooted in the most far-reaching inspections and verification regime ever negotiated in an arms control deal. Irans nuclear facilities are strictly monitored. International monitors also have access to Irans entire nuclear supply chain, so that we can catch them if they cheat. Without the JCPOA, this monitoring and inspections regime would go away.
Fourth, Iran is complying with the JCPOA. That was not simply the view of my Administration. The United States intelligence community has continued to find that Iran is meeting its responsibilities under the deal, and has reported as much to Congress. So have our closest allies, and the international agency responsible for verifying Iranian compliance the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Fifth, the JCPOA does not expire. The prohibition on Iran ever obtaining a nuclear weapon is permanent. Some of the most important and intrusive inspections codified by the JCPOA are permanent. Even as some of the provisions in the JCPOA do become less strict with time, this wont happen until ten, fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five years into the deal, so there is little reason to put those restrictions at risk today.
Finally, the JCPOA was never intended to solve all of our problems with Iran. We were clear-eyed that Iran engages in destabilizing behavior including support for terrorism, and threats toward Israel and its neighbors. But thats precisely why it was so important that we prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Every aspect of Iranian behavior that is troubling is far more dangerous if their nuclear program is unconstrained. Our ability to confront Irans destabilizing behavior and to sustain a unity of purpose with our allies is strengthened with the JCPOA, and weakened without it.
Because of these facts, I believe that the decision to put the JCPOA at risk without any Iranian violation of the deal is a serious mistake. Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East. We all know the dangers of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. It could embolden an already dangerous regime; threaten our friends with destruction; pose unacceptable dangers to Americas own security; and trigger an arms race in the worlds most dangerous region. If the constraints on Irans nuclear program under the JCPOA are lost, we could be hastening the day when we are faced with the choice between living with that threat, or going to war to prevent it.
In a dangerous world, America must be able to rely in part on strong, principled diplomacy to secure our country. We have been safer in the years since we achieved the JCPOA, thanks in part to the work of our diplomats, many members of Congress, and our allies. Going forward, I hope that Americans continue to speak out in support of the kind of strong, principled, fact-based, and unifying leadership that can best secure our country and uphold our responsibilities around the globe.
-- Edited by PowerStroker on Tuesday 8th of May 2018 08:15:40 PM
I even bumped the old thread on the Iran deal that implies that such a deal, where $1.5 BILLION in cash was funneled to Iran by airplane in the dark of the night, may have been treason!
Democrats back then tried to imply that we were being sued by Iran and that such a payment was a "settlement", however that was absolute bull$hit because the arms purchase they made
was done on bad faith, meaning once they made the purchase they shifted back to the radical arm of government making delivery impossible.
Trump has now pulled out of the Iran deal, and already there has been a strike inside Syria - with Israel saying they are going to flat out kill Assad for allowing Iran to set up camp inside Syria.
It could get messy...
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
I don't want it to get messy, although from the way Iran talked about us prior, during and after the Iran deal it was obvious that was going to be the end result.
Do I think we will get the money back? No. I don't think we will get the cash back, and by the time we get sanctions in place any money that can be appropriated will have
already been spent, moved or both.
The real question here PowerStroker, why did Obama give them all that money!? Why didn't Obama seek congressional approval? Why did Obama and Kerry just take it upon
themselves to make such a massive CASH transaction like this with Americans money!? You think it's okay for any President to send $1.5 billion in cash to any country without
congressional approval?
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
At some point congress must have allocated the funds, otherwise Obama wouldn't have had access to them. They may not have known how it would be spent, but Obama didn't do anything illegal unless he broke in to the Treasury, and he didn't.
Don't feel bad, your side spends all kinds of money on things I don't like, you'll get used to it.
"Treasury Department spokeswoman Dawn Selak said in a statement late Tuesday that the cash payments were necessary because of the "effectiveness of U.S. and international sanctions," which isolated Iran from the international finance system."
"The $1.7 billion was the settlement of a decades-old arbitration claim between the U.S. and Iran."
"The money came from a little-known fund administered by the Treasury Department for settling litigation claims. The so-called Judgment Fund is taxpayer money Congress has permanently approved in the event it's needed, allowing the president to bypass direct congressional approval to make a settlement."
That's just the problem PowerStroker! WHO SAID "WE OWED IT ANYWAY"?
OBAMA AND KERRY!?
Iran put in place a peaceful and democratic government to be able to buy weapons... soon and they bought them they switched to a hostile government thinking they could
circumvent long standing US policy NOT to sell weapons to hostile and radical nations.
The bottom line is neither Kerry, nor Obama had the right to make that determination all on their own! That should have been left up to congress who would have almost
certainly elected to keep fighting it in court. We had the moral high ground, and in essence Obama and Kerry paid for the peace agreement that was $hit anyway!
If you ask me this may very well come to be the biggest scam in the history of the United States!
$1.5 billion cash... Pffft... For fu@ks sake PowerStroker! At least acknowledge it!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
An arbitration process set up during the Reagan Administration and ratified by Congress determined we owed the money, not Obama. Congress had plenty of time to fight it in the courts - decades even.
How can you say we have the moral high ground when Iran was in compliance with the agreement, Trump violated the agreement. If you don't believe me you should watch Fox News, because Sheppard Smith admitted as much.
-- Edited by PowerStroker on Thursday 10th of May 2018 09:53:00 AM
"The Tribunal has ordered payments by Iran to US nationals totaling over USD 2.5 billion. As of 2014, almost all private claims had been resolved, while several intergovernmental claims were still before the Tribunal. [2]"
Are you sure you want to dissolve Reagan's tribunal? It seems we've gotten some money from it too.
-- Edited by PowerStroker on Thursday 10th of May 2018 10:00:34 AM
Everyone knows that we've been "secretly" selling arms to the Middle East for more decades than I care to count lol ! And there's no point in having them, if you're not going to use them hey ?...
A little war is great for the economy isn't it ?...There's no point in having the largest US-of-A military base ( outside of the US-of-A ) in Iraq & not utilizing it...
Rastus
NB. Freedom isn't cheap....( Nor is oil )...
-- Edited by Rastus on Saturday 12th of May 2018 12:00:11 AM
-- Edited by Rastus on Saturday 12th of May 2018 12:01:06 AM
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
No, but we might pay them $1.5 Billion every 10 years if the tribunal created back in Reagans day, and ratified by Congress determines we owe it.
... Or they may pay us, depending on the ruling in any disputes that may arise.
I wouldn't hold your breath that anyone in Iran will be as ignorant as Obama and it seems quite clear that Obama's raiding the fund of ALL it's escrow money means this Tribunal is now bankrupt and without any funds. The Tribunal stoped accepting private claims in January of 1982, while the Tribunal itself was only created in 1981... If you read closer it says that "almost all private claims had been resolved. So I guess some people and several intergovernmental claims will be paid by who? Out of what fund now that the escrow account has been drained?
Looks to me like Obama raided the account set up for people affected by the Iran Contra situation... Seems to me Obama and Kerry both stood to gain financially from this deal, at the expense of US taxpayers. Was this reimbursement for Iran buying millions of Obama's books over the years? Because I have never once seen an Obama book in the flesh, yet many claim that's how he made all his money! You know, the money he used to buy a new mansion in DC and the money he is using to fly around and vacation with.. I am sure Obama and his family don't have to worry about health insurance on account of their lifetime Cadillac plans...
The Tribunal closed to new claims by private individuals on January 19, 1982. In total, it received approximately 4,700 private US claims. The Tribunal has ordered payments by Iran to US nationals totaling over USD 2.5 billion. As of 2014, almost all private claims had been resolved, while several intergovernmental claims were still before the Tribunal. [2]
I don't know about that PowerStroker... But it sure does bother me that I am down under 400 post count...
This must be punishment for luring half the DH CE&P members here...
I am literally less than 2000 post from the "Certified post whore" status! And yet it's such a PITA to switch between SELLC, Stellar007 and Administrator - which by the way I have to do right now to check for any lost members with less than verifiable email address... Apparently I forgot to check the back door for a few days, there could be people camping out there.
We may have gotten a receipt, you just never know!
You know, I share the sentiment all the time PowerStroker! For example, every time I wonder about Obama's real birth certificate or Osama's death certificate.
You just never know!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
I guess we'll just have to take their word for it... Except for Osama though, he's too busy being fish food to speak, thanks in no small part to Obama, the nonpartisan professionals of the intelligence community, Seal team 6, and the U.S. Taxpayers that are willing to pay more than other countries without whining, in order to fund our abilities to reach out and touch somebody anywhere - anytime.
-- Edited by PowerStroker on Monday 21st of May 2018 07:54:28 PM
Notice how Trump never has anything bad to say about Putin?
You think Trump would cow-toe to Putin over a video of him with a squirter!? Naw.. For a guy who likes to grab a pussy and mingle with porn starts I doubt any pee-pee squirter whore is going to give Putin any real leverage... Hell Trump is probably anxiously awaiting the footage himself! LOL
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
When it comes out that Obama and his administration were corrupt and abused their authority and colluded with one another to cheat the election will you still support them PowerStroker?
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
There is a bit of difference with what Trump is accused of doing (fake steele pee tapes) and what Obama DID do. (treason) It's all going to come out, stock up on popcorn.
The Constitution narrowly defines treason and establishes a high bar for conviction. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort, Article Three states. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court." It is also generally interpreted that an "enemy" is defined as a nation state that the U.S. Congress has declared war against, though helping an agent of such a nation would likely qualify.
1. I don't recall Iran presently being a country that Congress has declared war against.
2. The payment authorized by the Obama Administration was ordered by a court who's authority was ratified by Congress and president Reagan.
3. The funds were authorized by Congress to be used at the presidents discretion and paid out of a fund set up specifically for this purpose.
Let us not misuse the word treason anymore please, because one could just as easily attribute it to Trump for alleged collusion, which would also be wrong because Congress hasn't declared war against Russia either (though it seems Russia has an undeclared war against our democracy).
Espionage, and blatant violations of the Emoluments Clause and Logan Act would be a better description of Trump's issues, to say nothing of his issues with women.
I'm not presently aware of any actual laws broken by Obama, but I'm willing to hear any case made in unbiased facts.
Giving an established state sponsor of terror $1.6 billion dollars IN CASH, without any congressional approval isn't what you would consider to be giving our enemies aid and comfort?
At the time the Iran deal was being made and finalized, Iran was holding US military hostages.
I think Obama and Kerry are guilty of Treason as it pertains to the Iran deal.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
1. I don't recall Iran presently being a country that Congress has declared war against.
2. The payment authorized by the Obama Administration was ordered by a court who's authority was ratified by Congress and president Reagan.
3. The funds were authorized by Congress to be used at the presidents discretion and paid out of a fund set up specifically for this purpose.
There you go again, making excuses!
Regardless how Obama got the money, it doesn't change the fact that he committed an act of treason! If you got caught buying something illegal it wouldn't matter if the money you purchased it with was yours to spend!
The fact Kerry and Obama rammed this thru without seeking any congressional blessings means the entire thing falls in their lap! They did this! They are responsible!
The fact a nearly two decade old congress and President set up an emergency fund that Obama and Kerry decided to use is irrelevant. Just because they had authorization to access and spend the money doesn't mean they can use it to fund terror! What kind of ridiculousness is that PowerStroker!?
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Everyone knows that we've been "secretly" selling arms to the Middle East for more decades than I care to count lol ! And there's no point in having them, if you're not going to use them hey ?...
A little war is great for the economy isn't it ?...There's no point in having the largest US-of-A military base ( outside of the US-of-A ) in Iraq & not utilizing it...
Rastus
NB. Freedom isn't cheap....( Nor is oil )...
The Democrat Governor of Michigan wants to instate a .50 cent tax on gasoline to "fix the roads" so that the state can start using the current gas tax they collect for the intended purpose originally, which was education. Never mind that all lottery proceeds and taxes are supposed to cover education and schools, now we need another .50 cent tax. Just bugging crazy!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Well, based on what I've seen here, Michigan could certainly justify increasing their education budget.
Yes it's very clear that the vast majority of voters who elected all these Democrats here in Michigan are not very educated, especially since a Democrat mayor has been convicted of corruption and drove the city into bankruptcy! Yet they keep voting Democrat! LOL! This is just another attempt by a Democrat to buy the election with tax payer money by making promises to teachers and their unions to further indoctrinate the children so they never have another reality check like Trump 2016! But I got news for you, much like the current electoral college, Trump will get Michigans electoral votes, just like last time!
Thank goodness for that Republican Governor Rick Snyder and his emergency manager Kevin Orr! Otherwise Detroit might have never even seen what a turn around looked like before the Democrats run it back into the ground!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
At some point congress must have allocated the funds, otherwise Obama wouldn't have had access to them. They may not have known how it would be spent, but Obama didn't do anything illegal unless he broke in to the Treasury, and he didn't.
Don't feel bad, your side spends all kinds of money on things I don't like, you'll get used to it.
It was not tax dollars collected from American people...
It was assets seized in the late 1970's.
The money that is being used in false media (and it is) and spread all over the internet is not tax dollars....it is not America's money so to speak...
It is in fact assets that the US seized from Iran after the hostage situation. It was for contracts that we immediately cancelled and never delivered on, and the money in truth that belongs to Iran.
but the reason it could be done without a direct approval from congress is it was not US funds to appropriate...it was Iranian funds...a simple yet CLEAR distinction.
While I do not think this particular issue was anything where Obama broke the law or committed treason...
I do think hindsight looking back most everything he did in his second term was to aid Muslims and against Israel and deliberately...and not with the concession of the American people behind it...
while you may find treason in that, it has nothing to do with the actual money that was returned to Iran.
-- Edited by Nuffan on Tuesday 18th of June 2019 12:47:52 PM
That judgement is NOT for you to make Nuffan, nor was it for Obama!
There was a reason we appropriated that money, probably the exact same reason we are having to send 1000's of extra troops to the Gulf of Oman right now!
What Obama did is akin to a US President giving El Chappo or any other criminal back their appropriated funds!
There was a trial in progress and we had the moral high ground to justify our actions both then and now! You pussies tried to buy a nuclear agreement from a state sponsor of terror when we could have just as easily WON that lawsuit and kept it!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl