Let us count the ways the deal with Iran over nuclear weapons is a horrible deal.
First, it means the “unfreezing” of $150 billion in Iranian assets that were frozen as punishment for Iran’s support of terrorism and pursuit of nuclear weapons. What do you think Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of international terrorism, will do with that extra $150 billion?
Second, the deal includes “managed inspections” in which Iran dictates the when, where and how of any inspections of its nuclear facilities, including a “24-day notice of inspections,” meaning Iran is to be notified 24 days prior to an inspection of a particular facility. Does anyone think that, given a 24-day advance notice, Iran can’t make that facility squeaky clean?
Third, President Obama repeatedly stated that lifting sanctions against Iran was conditional upon two things: Iran halting its nuclear weapons program and halting its support of international terrorism. This deal makes the lifting of sanctions conditional only on halting the nukes. No mention of Iran’s sponsorship of global terrorism.
Further, this deal will not halt Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. Even if Iran was to abide by its terms — and its history of cheating says it won’t — it only postpones Iran’s nuclear program by eight years, as Obama later inadvertently admitted. “With this deal we shut off every single one of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear program, a nuclear weapons program,” Obama said, and later added, “And Iran’s nuclear program will be under severe limits for many years.”
Well, which is it? No pathway to nukes, or no nukes “for many (eight) years”?
Fourth, not once in any of the negotiations about Iran’s nuclear weapons program was mention made of Iran’s massive missile-development program, which includes intercontinental ballistic missiles. Why would Iran build missiles if not to put nuclear warheads on them?
Fifth, Iran is a Persian state that practices the Shiite version of the Islamic religion. Its neighbors include the Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which practice the Sunni version of Islam, and Sunnis and Shiites have been enemies for eons. Does anyone think those Arab states will allow Iran to be the only nation in the Middle East with nuclear weapons? With their trillions in petro-dollars they will instantly fast-track their own nuclear weapons program, meaning a nuclear arms race in the most unstable part of the planet, and the one that produces most of the world’s energy.
Finally, “This deal is not contingent on Iran changing its behavior.” President Obama actually said that at his press conference defending the deal. Does he not realize that he openly admitted Iran gets the terms it has long sought without having to alter its behavior one bit?
