Senator Menendez: bull in a china shop
For those of you who feel that my status as a registered Democrat somehow makes me less inclined to take the Democratic Party to task, you’re in for a treat with this column.
There is foolishness afoot, ladies and gentlemen; and I am quite perplexed by it. I need somebody to explain to me precisely why a contingent of United States Senators are actively courting war with Iran. And I need to understand why 15 Democratic Senators are openly defying the President and working alongside Republicans to torpedo the delicate agreement currently in place which has frozen Iran’s nuclear program.
What in blue blazes is going on?
Two weeks ago, Iranian officials said if the Senate moved forward with its sanctions bill, the current nuclear deal would die. Well, they are moving ahead and the deal could die.
Here’s a roll call. Those aforementioned Democratic Senators in alphabetic order are: Mark Begich (AK), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Cory Booker (NJ), Ben Cardin (MD), Bob Casey (PA), Chris Coons (DE), Joe Donnelly (IN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Kay Hagan (NC), Mary Landrieu (LA), Joe Manchin (WV), Mark Pryor (AR), Charles Schumer (NY), and Mark Warner (VA). Robert Menendez (NJ) is the sponsor of proposed legislation he hopes will be acted upon in January.
If Mr. Menendez and his colleagues have their way, America may be relegated to military options in stopping Iran’s nuclear program. We all know what that means. That calls for airstrikes. That calls for boots on the ground. That could easily mean more casualties and more fatalities for the brave men and women of America’s armed forces.
Consider all the blood and treasure America lost in Iraq. Contemplate all the blood and treasure America has lost thus far in Afghanistan. After the Obama administration avoided the loss of blood and treasure in Syria, here we are again. It’s the new normal: moving backwards instead of continuing to move forward.
The burning question isn’t who. I totally understand the enthusiasm of Republican Senators to deep-six the November 24th agreement negotiated in Geneva, Switzerland, between six global powers (the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia) and Iran. The GOP Senators don’t like President Obama, don’t trust him, and seize upon every opportunity to refuse working with him.
Even if they wanted to work with the President, they cannot do so for fear of reprisal against themselves by their own constituents. Their base wouldn’t have that. Democrats have historically viewed this nation’s war powers as something to be utilized when it’s absolutely necessary; and purposefully even then. Democrats don’t actively seek out war. Democrats don’t discard diplomacy; especially when diplomatic efforts have been successful.
Since when do American Senators arbitrarily decide not to honor an agreement a President’s administration has negotiated in good faith? I get why Republican Senators are on the warpath. I do not get why certain Democratic Senators have joined them there.
The only leader I can think of who is pleased about this American made legislative mess is Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. In his position, he’s supposed to watch Iran like a hawk. Make no mistake about it: Mr. Netanyahu would love to take out Iran. He’s made that crystal clear on countless occasions.
He openly opposed the nuclear agreement reached with Iran which temporarily and partially lifted crippling economic sanctions again it in exchange for halting its nuclear program for six months. He doesn’t care if Iran complies or not. Mr. Netanyahu wants to hit Iran – hard and soon. How ironic that our Senators are backing him rather than the American President.
Mr. Menendez’s proposed Senate bill has 19 Republican co-sponsors. It intends to levy draconian new sanctions on Iran unless that country’s leaders formally agree to abandon all uranium enrichment. That goal is a pipe dream. Iran will never comply with such a request. The United Nations currently has inspectors in Iran with full unfettered access to every one of their nuclear power plants.
Those inspectors have the expertise and the hardware to quickly determine if Iran is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons development. If they are, we could slap even more devastating sanctions on Iran. If they are, the civilized world would join Israel and the U.S. in preventing Iran from constructing an A-bomb; even by force. The Geneva agreement – however delicate – is working, though.
Why not wait and give peace a chance, Senators?
