The literary Captain America (created in 1941 by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for Timely/Marvel Comics) is Steve Rogers – the frail World War II teenager who voluntarily took a top secret serum which transformed him into a super-soldier. The theatrical Captain America is actor Chris Evans – who perfectly portrays Cap’s superhuman physique, tactical brilliance, fighting prowess, and indefatigable patriotism. I humbly submit to you that in reality, Captain America is none other than President Barack Hussein Obama.
At 7:00am sharp this past Tuesday morning, President Obama announced that the Iran nuclear deal he and his administration had been relentlessly pursuing for nearly two years had been both agreed to and signed by all parties. I’m not sure you’re aware of how huge this is. The president has struck again. Making history is who Obama as Cap is. Making history is what Obama as Cap does.
Please allow me to emphasize these words of clarity from page one of the 100 page deal: “Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop, or acquire any nuclear weapons.” Ponder those words. Breathe them in. Let them sink into your mind. Repeat as needed.
Here’s what POTUS said on Tuesday: “After two years of negotiations, the United States, together with our international partners, has achieved something that decades of animosity has not: a comprehensive long term deal with Iran that will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This deal demonstrates that American diplomacy can bring about real and meaningful change – change that makes our country and the world safer and more secure. This deal is also in line with a tradition of American leadership.
“Today, because America negotiated from a position of strength and principle, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in this region. Because of this deal, the international community will be able to verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon.
“This deal meets every single one of the bottom lines that we established when we achieved a framework earlier this spring. Every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off. In the inspection and transparency regime necessary to verify that objective will be put in place. Because of this deal Iran will not produce the highly enriched uranium weapons grade plutonium that form the raw materials necessary for a nuclear bomb. Because of this deal Iran will remove two-thirds of its installed centrifuges, the machines necessary to produce highly enriched uranium for a bomb, and store them under constant international supervision. Iran will not use its advanced centrifuges to produce enriched uranium for the next decade. Iran will also get rid of 98 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium.
“To put that in perspective Iran currently has a stockpile that can produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. Because of this deal, that stockpile will be reduced to a fraction of what would be required for a single weapon. This stockpile limitation will last for 15 years. Because of this deal we will for the first time be in a position to verify all of these commitments. That means this deal is not built on trust. It is built on verification. Inspectors will have 24/7 access to Iran’s key nuclear facilities.
“Put simply, the organization responsible for the inspections, the IAEA, will have access where necessary, when necessary. That arrangement is permanent. Finally, Iran is permanently prohibited from pursuing a nuclear weapon under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, which provided the basis for the international community’s efforts to apply pressure on Iran. As Iran takes steps to implement this deal, it will receive relief from the sanctions that we put in place because of Iran’s nuclear program – both Americans’ own sanctions and sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. This relief will be phased in.
“Moreover, we give nothing up by testing whether or not this problem can be solved peacefully. If, in the worst-case scenario, Iran violates the deal, the same options that are available to me today will be available to any U.S. president in the future.”
Be honest. There are only two American politicians who could have pulled off this massive, diplomatic feat: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Mr. Obama is our 44th president. Ms. Clinton will be our 45th president. Both are Democrats. Deal with it.
The easiest thing in the world for Republicans to do is to demonize a deal that [1] they could never make happen, and [2] they would never make happen. Dick Cheney and his legion of doomsayers despise the Iran nuclear deal. To them, if Obama says it’s good, it must be evil. Which is breathtaking when you consider that when George W. Bush took office, Iran only had 15-20 centrifuges. By the time W. left the White House, Iran had several thousand nuclear centrifuges.
POTUS led the charge to end America’s imminent war with Iran in advance. No missile was launched, no bullet was fired, no sortie was flown, and no American boots touched Iranian soil. That’s what I call a superhuman effort.
Of course, even Captain America needs help to keep the peace. A special recognition is required for Secretary of State John Kerry – who negotiated when critics thought he would fail, negotiated when critics told him to give up, and negotiated when critics openly mocked his courageous efforts. Robust appreciation is also due for all the members of the negotiation team – including the nuclear physicists who served as consultants/advisors for Team America. Well done, thy good and faithful servants!
Congress has 60 days to review Iran’s nuclear deal before they vote to approve it or not. The weeping and gnashing of teeth therein has already begun.
The GOP wanted war with Iran. America needed peace. The president and his team of negotiators managed to place a mighty shield over the USA and the Middle East. Decades from now, students and scholars alike will read the history books and discover what I already know. Barack Obama is the real-life Captain America.
