US Opinion and Commentary

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Iran Deal Features Defense Backstop

Posted September 7th, 2015 at 11:21 am (UTC-4)
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By US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter   Today, the Iran deal provides the opportunity to address an even greater nuclear threat. Congress should support it because, once implemented, the deal will remove a critical source of risk and uncertainty in a vitally important but tumultuous region.

Enforcing the Iran Deal: Another Gaping Hole

Posted August 26th, 2015 at 4:33 pm (UTC-4)
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Americans have debated whether the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) gives inspectors sufficient visibility into suspected, undisclosed Iranian activities, and whether, in the event of Iranian breach, sanctions will snapback.  But there’s a bigger problem: the Joint Plan grants Iran and friends grounds to exclude from snapback sanctions long-term sales of Iranian oil and gas, […]

Debate over Iran Nuke Deal Intensifies

Posted August 26th, 2015 at 2:12 pm (UTC-4)
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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.

Forget Congress. Can Rouhani Sell the Nuclear Deal in Iran?

Posted August 7th, 2015 at 10:00 am (UTC-4)
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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-4)
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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.