Washington – Senate Leader McConnell: Obama’s Choice On Iran Deal ‘absurd’

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    Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (C) speaks during a news conference accompanied by (L-R) Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senator John Thune (R-SD), Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX),  following party policy lunch meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington August 4, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Barria -Washington – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday rejected President Barack Obama’s pitch for the Iran nuclear deal, saying it was “absurd” to argue that lawmakers must essentially choose between the agreement or going to war.

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    Obama made a “huge mistake” with that argument, McConnell, a Republican, told reporters in response to a speech by Obama on Wednesday.

    “It’s not this deal versus war. That’s the argument they’ve been making during the whole negotiation. It’s either this deal or a better deal, or more sanctions.”

    Obama defended the July 14 U.S.-led international deal against a furious lobbying effort by political opponents and Israel, and said abandoning the agreement would open up the prospect of war.

    The president said if the Republican-controlled Congress blocked the deal, it would accelerate Tehran’s path to a nuclear bomb.

    “Let’s not mince words. The choice we face is ultimately between diplomacy or some form of war. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not three months from now, but soon,” Obama, a Democrat, said.

    But McConnell was not buying it. “That’s an absurd argument,” he said.

    Obama’s speech was part of a push to promote the accord negotiated over 18 months between Iran and six world powers. The six agreed to lift economic sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, which Tehran said was for peaceful energy purposes only.

    Opponents of the agreement have said the deal does not go far enough to ensure Iran will never be able to develop a nuclear weapon. They have cited the length of time between notifications and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency and their objections to doing anything that might help Iran because of its backing for Islamist militant groups.

    Obama urgently needs his fellow Democrats’ support in Congress, but only a few dozen have come out so far as strongly in favor.

    The White House has pressured Congress to support the deal as lawmakers head home for an August recess. Congress has until Sept. 17 to vote on it.

    A resolution rejecting it would cripple the agreement by eliminating Obama’s ability to waive many sanctions – if the resolution survives a presidential veto.

    Senate leaders have agreed to start the Iran debate as soon as they return to Washington on Sept. 8. McConnell said the Senate would deal with the issue “with dignity and respect,” but he was very critical of what he called the president’s “incendiary rhetoric” on Iran.


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    8 years ago

    And even no deal at all is better than this. Look – If Iran will move forward on its intent to nuke Israel, and then Washington, perhaps it cannot be stopped. But to do so with the express consent of the goon in the White House is the extreme of immorality and political stupidity. We should not be negotiating with the terror regime of Iran, and we should not lessen sanctions at all. If they cripple the country, so be it. The Iranian government deserves to be crippled.

    What we are all missing here (mostly not missing – just avoiding saying the obvious) is that Obama has represented the interests and the passions of the radical Muslim world. He responds to Muslim terror by excusing it, and by reaching out with consolation, money, and all forms of support. If not for Congress, Israel would have been denied everything, aid, military equipment purchases, even those already paid for. He has made himself into the anti-Israel terror-supporting president, and he richly deserves to take his co-conspirators and vanish into oblivion. All of the Obama supporters should be denied re-election. If we are not yet nuked, maybe some damage can be reversed.

    8 years ago

    Don’t get excited the alter kaker will give in as always