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!

Are the Terrorists Winning?

The terrororists are winning. They are winning if they in fact have turned popular opinion against the idea of introducing democracy in the middle east. Not that anyone has denounced the virtues of democracy.

What has become "mainstream" thinking is that the price of democracy is not worth the cost.

Perhaps when we started to bring democracy to the middle east, some favored the goals. Now that the price is more clear and expensive (i.e. lives, injuries, money and world condemnation), the "groupthink" in the US has determined it is no longer worth the price.

The real issue should not be either the goal, or, whether the cost is too high. The real issue should be the competence of the administration and military leaders that keep saying "stay the course" nd add a few more troops.

In a democracy, public support is essential.
The breakdown of support may be partially due to media spin and bias. Yet, the important source of public dismay is results. We are clearly a "results oriented society". The results must be timely and proportionate to the costs. When this equation breaks down, public support wanes.

Win, Lose or Draw in Iraq?

The buzzards are circling because the elite are sure they can overwhelm Bush about Iraq. Should we admit defeat? Should we withdraw? Should we allow one more American soldier to die?

Kerry, Kennedy & Pellozi (K^2 & P; and the list of Dummiecrat candidates for President) have it all figured out. Bush lied. Bush is stupid. Anything he says is untrue. The only solution is for Bush to simply admit he is an idiot and withdraw. Only then will all of the worlds problems be over.

Simple Facts -
It is deeply regrettable to lose one American life in combat.
War is hell. There is nothing good about it.
Every war has been full of uncertainty, doubt and remorse.
Iraq has made many political advances including several popular elections, an elected parliament and leadership in less than four years.
The Iraqi Prime Minister has been in office six months.
Al Queda, Iran & Syria, and other foreign fighters, are formenting much (not all) of the violence in Iraq.

The Democrat leaders have no serious policy ideas about what to do in Iraq other than to withdraw and capitulate. Ask and listen to their tortured answers.

Simple Truth -
The K^2P crowd and other leftist liberal Bush hating Dummiecrats hate anything to do with Bush. Their are genetically incapable of considering policy issues that he has proposed or trying to manage. They have no implementable ideas unless you suspend knowledge as to the effects or consequences of their ideas. If we pulled back or out of Iraq based upon any arbitrary timetable, we could be certain of a resurgence of anarchy, autocracy and a new home for state sponsored terrorism. The Simple Truth is that many in the middle east or intent on denying the people of the Middle East democracy.

The Simple Truth is that while we may need to stay committed to our goals and objectives, we could benefit from a healthy debate about tactics and effectiveness. It is truly a travesty to our democracy that the Dummiecrats have chosen not to participate.