Members of the US House of Representatives and US Senate sent letters to President Obama detailing principles for any deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
Essentially, the the letters amount to a rejection of Obama’s policy approach to Iran’s nuclear program as it stands now.
The letters are especially significant in that they are signed by an overwhelming bipartisan roster of Congressman and Senators.
In the House, 395 of the 435 members signed and in the Senate 83 members of 100 signed, including 41 Democrats.
Perhaps just as significant is who did NOT sign the letter. Rumored GOP presidential candidate Rand Paul refused to sign:
“…if one ever needed evidence that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is the odd man out on foreign policy in his party and in the country at large, this is it. He did not sign the Senate letter nor did he sign onto the most recent sanctions legislation; he’s made clear previously he wants to give Obama room to negotiate. That is Hillary Clinton’s position, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s. It is not “Reaganesque” any more than is his interest in a containment strategy. Reagan’s Cold War philosophy was: “We win, they lose.” Rand Paul’s philosophy seems to be: Obama’s got it handled. That puts him in sync with not a single 2016 GOP contender. On the most important national security issue of our time, he’s got it exactly wrong on the president and the mullahs.”
Paul stood with Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Jay Rockefeller and Bernie Sanders in refusing to sign the letter.
Filed under: nuclear program, nuclear talks, Obama, sanctions, U.S. Congress, Useful Idiots | Tagged: #randpaulweakonnationalsecurity, Iran, RandPaul | 1 Comment »
Iran Bulletin 