Both sides in the debate over the Iran nuclear deal are in full campaign mode, counting heads in Congress for the vote in mid-September, and making contingency plans. The hashtag #IranDeal is being used to promote arguments pro and con. The White House praised last week’s endorsement by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat from New York, who is Jewish. Deal opponents point to Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, who is also Jewish. Republicans are reportedly preparing legislation to sanction Iran if the deal is rejected by vote – or Obama invokes his right to veto.
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Debate over Iran Nuke Deal Intensifies
Posted August 26th, 2015 at 2:12 pm (UTC-5)
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American Jewish Lobby a Crucial Player in Iran Nuke Deal
Posted August 20th, 2015 at 4:33 pm (UTC-5)
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‘When it comes to Iran’s nuclear capability, this [deal] is the best option,” wrote retired Israeli Admiral Ami Ayalon, former head of Israel’s secret service agency Shin Bet, in a full-page ad in The New York Times newspaper. The ad, signed by more than two dozen leaders in the American Jewish community, directly opposes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu’s very public criticism of the accord. A Congressional vote on the pact will take place next month. In the meantime, members of the American Jewish lobby find themselves split over a deal that everyone agrees will have long-term consequences.
Syria’s Assad Doubles Down on War Crimes
Posted August 18th, 2015 at 2:53 pm (UTC-5)
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By Barbara Slavin Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may hobble on in office for a while, but his place in history is already indelibly fixed as one of the most brutal and incompetent leaders of his era. Now in control of at most a third of Syria after four years of failing to quell a multi-sided […]
The High Price of Rejecting the Iran Deal
Posted August 14th, 2015 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
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The simple fact is that, after two years of testing Iran in negotiations, the international community does not believe that ramping up sanctions will persuade Iran to eradicate all traces of its hard-won civil nuclear program or sever its ties to its armed proxies in the region.
Iran Nuclear Deal: Inviting War or Securing Global Safety?
Posted August 12th, 2015 at 10:16 am (UTC-5)
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The arguments for and against the nuclear accord between Iran and the United States and the rest of the P+5 countries have ramped up per the open letter signed by three dozen retired generals and admirals supporting the pact and urging Congress to do the same. Others are decrying one of President Obama’s main justifications for the pact: there exists no other alternative – except war.
Obama: My Way — Or You’re a Traitor
Posted August 11th, 2015 at 8:42 am (UTC-5)
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On Wednesday, at American University, Obama said the genocidal fascist freaks in Iran who chant “Death to America” are “making common cause with the Republican caucus” for opposing the deal.
Forget Congress. Can Rouhani Sell the Nuclear Deal in Iran?
Posted August 7th, 2015 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
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Iran’s president is riding a wave of popularity, but hard-liners may have the ear of the supreme leader.
Making the Case For (and Against) Historic Nuclear Pact with Iran
Posted August 5th, 2015 at 4:44 pm (UTC-5)
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With a September deadline hanging over the US Congress to vote on the accord, stakeholders are out in force, either selling or debunking the deal. President Obama said the choice is between diplomacy or “some form of war” during remarks in Washington. Opponents in turn burned up the web, arguing Tehran can never be trusted.
Why the Iran Deal’s Critics Will Probably Lose
Posted August 5th, 2015 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
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None of them, from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “historic mistake” Netanyahu to U.S. Senator Lindsey “it’s a declaration of war on Israel” Graham, has yet risen to the challenge of offering a better real-world alternative
Israel’s Netanyahu Keeps Up Attacks on Iran Nuke Deal
Posted August 5th, 2015 at 10:42 am (UTC-5)
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By Barbara Slavin The speech started late and the live feed from Jerusalem was full of glitches, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s message came through loud and clear. “Oppose this bad deal,” Netanyahu exhorted the more than 16,000 people who signed up to hear a webcast Tuesday sponsored by prominent U.S. Jewish organizations about the […]
The Iran Deal’s Dangerous Precedent
Posted August 3rd, 2015 at 8:31 am (UTC-5)
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Had anyone believed President Obama’s mantra that “all options are on the table” to deal with Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the Vienna agreement might have emerged less advantageously for Tehran. But no one took Mr. Obama’s threat of military force seriously…
Iran Nuclear Deal: The Alternatives
Posted July 30th, 2015 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
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Ever since the US-led nuclear deal with Iran was announced, the Obama administration has answered critics by arguing there is no better alternative. Here we present the views of several columnists and their proposed alternatives to the landmark agreement, which still must be approved by the US Congress.
Are There Really Only Two Options on Iran?
Posted July 29th, 2015 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
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Plenty of conservatives have proposed alternatives to Obama’s Iran deal — and not just war.
John Kerry and Ernest Moniz: The Case for the Nuclear Deal with Iran
Posted July 23rd, 2015 at 9:16 am (UTC-5)
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Without this deal, Iran could double its capacity to enrich uranium in a short time. With it, it must reduce that capacity immediately and sharply.
Not Nuclear, but No Matter
Posted July 22nd, 2015 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Lost in the debate over the fine print of the Iran nuclear agreement is another, potentially more destabilizing near-term consequence: a newly energized conventional arms race in the Middle East.