Reuters
Eli Lake & Josh Rogin, Bloomberg: Congress Alarmed by Iran Pact's Secret Understandings
As the White House campaign to persuade Congress about the wisdom of its Iran nuclear deal moves into its second week, important components of the complex agreement are emerging that will be shrouded from the public and in some cases from the U.S. government itself.
The existence of these secret clauses and interpretations could undermine the public's trust in the Barack Obama administration's presentations about the nuclear pact. Already Republicans and other critics of the deal have seized on the side agreements between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency as a weakness in the deal closed last week in Vienna.
The controversy began on Wednesday when Secretary of State John Kerry told House lawmakers behind closed doors that he neither possessed nor had read a copy of two secret side deals between the IAEA and Iran, according to Representative Mike Pompeo, a Republican member of the House Intelligence Committee who was inside the session. Congress hasn't seen those side agreements either.
WNU Editor: The U.S. Congress are not the only ones who are alarmed .... add in Israel and many of the Sunni Arab states who must exist alongside Iran .... there are many who are wondering what exactly was agreed upon, and what are those "secret understandings".
1 comment:
While I can understand why the US would want to make this deal, it is troubling that so many affected parties from the Israelis, the Gulf Arab States, and Congress are all screaming STOP! From experience, I've learned if I have an idea that looks good or I think is good but a number of those around me who would be affected by it are screaming STOP it is a VERY good idea to STOP and LISTEN!!
Bottom line, deal or no deal, the sanctions were going to be lifted against Iran sooner rather than later as were all weapons embargos. There really was nothing we could do to prevent this. Additionally Iran's path to nuclear weapons would be unimpeded by inspections or anything else. As such, I can understand why POTUS felt we needed to make a deal but again with this many traditional partners screaming "STOP" I can't help but be concerned and am thinking we should not have made this deal.
More troubling is there does not seem to a plan B if this deal fails. What happens in 10 years when the terms are over? What if Iran violates the terms? We aren't allowed to inspect anything and, as such, how do we ensure Iranian compliance? When Iran acquires nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them how do we counter this?
In summary, all eggs seemed to be being placed in the basket of a deal that has questionable value without a backup plan if it does not work!! If I were POTUS, I'd work under the assumption Iran is going to have nuclear weapons and how do we deal with this.
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