Is President Obama's Iran Nuclear Treaty Comparable To President Bush And 'His Iraq Surge'?

President Bush is seen here in 2008 with Democrat candidate Barack Obama. The Telegraph

James F. Jeffrey, Washington Post: The Iran nuclear deal is President Obama’s Iraq troop surge

George W. Bush's foreign policy gamble might help predict the fate of Obama's

The drama is breathtaking. A decisive president makes a crucial decision on the Middle East issue that defines his tenure, a decision that could transform not just the specific situation but regional security. Yet he has just lost both houses of Congress, opinion polls on the decision are heading south, lawmakers are up in arms, and even some in his administration have doubts. But rather than hesitate, he drives ahead.

Barack Obama, 2015, with Iran? No, George W. Bush, 2006-07, with the Iraq troop surge to save his effort in the country he ordered the U.S. military to invade. Both presidents, at the same point in their tenures, pushed major initiatives against very strong domestic opposition. Given the similarities, the fate of Bush’s surge could provide insight into the fate of the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action with Iran.

WNU Editor: I have trouble seeing how the two can be compared. President Bush was focused on Iraq with the intent of establishing a tolerant and viable Baghdad government/country in the heart of the Arab world .... a project that spectacularly failed once the U.S. left and was no longer engaged with the Baghdad government. President Obama's policy is focused on Iran .... in the hope that a moderate Iran would bring peace to the region. This is a bigger gamble (and risk) than President Bush's surge .... but to achieve this objective President Obama has swept America's traditional allies in the region (Israel/Saudi Arabia/etc.), and he is banking on the hope that the mullahs in Tehran will moderate their views. Unfortunately .... I also see this failing. The Middle East is now engulfed in a brutal sectarian/religious conflict .... a deal that gives Iran essentially everything that it wants is not going to de-escalate the wars that are breaking out now ... in fact .... it will only escalate these conflicts .... and as for the U.S. role .... America's allies are no longer marching to Washington's beat.