US Senate Calls Out Iran and US about Agreement

Secretary of State Kerry has expressed outrage over the recent open letter from 47 US Senators to Iran regarding the lack of standing of an "executive agreement" that Kerry and President Obama are trying to negotiate with Iran. 

A few Simple Facts:

• The stated purpose of the agreement is to contain and limit Iran's capacity to construct a nuclear weapon.
• Iran has been a major antagonist to the US and its allies in the Middle East and throughout the world. (Leaders of Iran have called for "death to America". Iran recently has been known as a source of many American deaths in Iraq and also discovered to be in direct support of Osama Bin Laden.)
• Iran has been processing nuclear fuel for years. Iraq has amassed significant nuclear processing equipment. Many believe that the only purpose of this capacity is to create many nuclear weapons. Iran has rejected proposals for being supplied nuclear fuel by other countries for domestic energy production (i.e. power plants)
• President Obama has not disclosed many details about the agreement. He has stated that he does not intend to ask the Senate to ratify a possible agreement. The constitution is clear that "a treaty" must be ratified by the Senate to be binding on the US beyond the term of the current President (less that two years).

Here is the Simple Truth

Iran has a long record of attempts to undermine US interests in the world. Many report Iran as a major supporter of terrorist activities throughout the world. They have proven over and over to be untruthful and unreliable as a foreign state. These negotiations have went on for years and been extended several times.

As with most major treaties, the Senate is called on to ratify treaties. If is not a treaty, then a negotiated agreement has little lasting effect as defined in the US Constitution.

If Iran is not restrained in constructing nuclear weapons, it is an "existential threat" to the US and its allies. The President has acknowledged as much. Yet, an "executive agreement" is meaningless without Senate ratification. The "Simple Truth" is that if "advice and consent" and ratification of the Senate was sought, the effect would be:

i.) build political support for negotiated agreements,
ii.) improve the terms of the agreement,
iii.) increase negotiating leverage with Iran, and,
iv.) the result being a meaningful and long standing agreement.

Otherwise the executive agreement is meaningless and the protests from supporters of the President are SPECIOUS!