There are numerous problems with the tentative deal that the Obama administration has reached with Iran over its nuclear weapons program.
Despite the effectiveness of the economic sanctions placed on Iran by the West, the Obama Administration suddenly and naively believes that Iran has changed its decade’s long desire to obtain a nuclear weapon.
The next few months will be critical in having an honest and factual debate on the merits of entering into an agreement — not a treaty — with the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.
Iran appears to be responsible for 24 West Virginian Iraq military deaths, nine of which were caused by improvised explosive devices supplied, funded and deployed by the Iranian Quds Force.
The Quds Force is the Islamic Revolutionary guard. Its commander, General Qassem Soleimani, is under sanctions. He will be rewarded financially and politically when these economic sanctions against him and his banks are lifted.
Here are some of the more compelling factors Senator Manchin and other U.S. senators need to consider before making a critical vote on the future of the United States, Israel and the Middle East.
Igniting a regional nuclear arms race
There is nothing in this agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining weapons grade enrichment given the inspection protocol side deals that relies on Iranian inspectors to monitor themselves. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey have already entered into talks with Pakistan and North Korea on providing nuclear technology to build their own nuclear weapons to counter what they feel is the certainty of an Iranian nuclear bomb.
The world’s largest sponsor of terror is Iran
Iran’s involvement in training, funding, arming and developing the deadliest type of roadside bombs, as well as its overwhelming support of Hamas Terror network, is well documented. Does any reasonable person not believe the Iranians will use the financial windfall provided by this agreement to further fund these terror networks?
As history and present actions prove, we cannot trust Iran
Iran has called for the destruction of Israel and death of all Jews and Americans. They now come to the world bodies saying they are seeking a peaceful accord but in the same breath chant “Death to America”, “Death to Israel” and produce recruitment videos showing Iranian Quds Force fighters looking over the nuclear destruction of Jerusalem.
Iranian missiles
This agreement will lift the conventional arms embargo on Iran in five years and the even more ominous embargo on missile development and purchases. Iran and North Korea have long been partners in weapons development. Can you imagine a world where two unstable enemies can launch intercontinental ballistics missile systems at us and our allies throughout the world?
Any-time, any-place inspections
Agreement supporters say no other nuclear agreement allows for such provisions. But South Africa had a robust nuclear arms program, and Libya had weaponse of mass destruction. Both agreed to “any-time any-place” inspections.
Under Qaddafi, Libya gave up highly advanced WMDs to for the lifting of the crippling economic sanctions. The success of this program kept WMD’s out of evil hands when ISIS took over.
Under the final Iran agreement, inspectors wanting to visit an Iranian nuclear site must first submit a request to Iran. Iran then would have 14 days to grant it. If it refused, a joint commission including the U.S. and its five allies, as well as Iran itself would have 10 days to determine the outcome.
Snap back sanctions
President Obama and supporters of this agreement love to say economic sanctions would “snap back” if the associated countries, the P5+1, conclude Iran is in violation of this agreement. But with Russia and China chomping at the bit to start selling Iran advance weaponry, a snap back would be almost impossible.
Failure to sign agreement means war
Ratify the agreement or go to war is a false argument. Israel has destroyed and crippled two nuclear weapons programs already in Iraq and in Syria, yet no war resulted. Even if the U.S. were to conduct an airstrike or missile strike on Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities, that is not necessarily war.
Senator Manchin is pivotal to this discussion. His vote will shape the stability of the world.
This so called agreement should have been presented to the U.S. Senate as a treaty. I implore Senator Manchin to vote no on this agreement and press for a verifiable agreement, and not reward a regime that has killed many of our nation’s heroes, a number of whom hail from West Virginia.
Rick Clay of Charleston is an Iraq war veteran and member of West Virginia Veterans Against the Deal.