As more details about the nuclear deal with Iran continue to trickle in, it is becoming alarmingly clear that we have been boxed in, with no attractive ways out.
The outcome will be the same, whether Congress goes along, or doesn’t.
Our negotiating partners China, Russia, Germany, France and the UK, have all given the agreement the green light. Along with our government, they have gone before the UN to request the lifting of all sanctions on Iran, including the sanctions on ballistic missiles and all non-nuclear weaponry.
Politics is like a game of chess, whoever can anticipate the final move will win. We have only the president, the state department, and their advisors to blame for the final outcome of our negotiations with Iran. Obviously, they didn’t see this coming.
An interesting question is whether strategically, diplomatically, short term or long term will we be better off being outside of the deal, or inside. In other words, should Congress approve the deal, or not.
If we decide to be outside, could we potentially sanction companies (Russian, Chinese, European) who do business with Iran? I think not.
We will be isolating ourselves from the rest of the world, which could be very damaging to us economically.
On Friday, two prominent democrats, Chuck Schumer and Eliot Engle, declared their intention not to support the Iran deal. Did they do that thinking that the deal will pass in congress without their support, or do they really want congress to nullify it? I believe it is the former.
Others that are still contemplating a “no” vote are democrats Robert Menendez and Ted Deutch.
As bad news about the deal dominate the headlines, it could potentially hurt democrats in the upcoming elections. Many democrats, traditionally ones that are loyal to the president, may feel compelled to flip to save their congressional seat.
We could be seeing an avalanche of “no” votes.
What is interesting is that as Hillary is still processing the Keystone XL pipeline deal after seven years, it only took her a couple of days, without even having read the final wording of the deal, to endorse it. She may now be too late to realize that supporting the Agreement with Iran, might cost her the general election. We shall see.
Karsten Malmos
