Even Stevie Wonder Saw This Coming
Remember that Iranian Nuclear Deal? You know, the one that would convince Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions via the “Kumbaya Principle”? That agreement that was so good it had to remain classified so that the American public wouldn’t know what their leadership was signing up to do?
Well, the German domestic Intelligence agency recently released a report concerning Iran. Here’s the BLUF:
. . . . Iran has a “clandestine” effort to seek illicit nuclear technology and equipment from German companies “at what is, even by international standards, a quantitatively high level.” The findings by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s equivalent of the FBI, were issued in a 317-page report last week.
So much for “give up its nuclear ambitions”. I guess the gang of rank, naïve amateurs and idiots in DC current Administration never got the memo explaining that the “Kumbaya Principle” is a religious and/or fantasy concept not generally applicable to foreign relations.
In other “good news”, the same German report indicated that over 1,000 associates of terrorist groups backed by Iran are also living in Germany. It further goes on to opine that some may be “working on behalf of Iran and other terror-sponsoring states.”
Gee – ya think?
So how is Iran funding this effort, you ask? Well, the nuclear agreement released $100 billion in financial assets that had been frozen after the Iranian Revolution to Iranian control.
Money is fungible. You can probably figure it out from there.
At least Esau got dinner (the proverbial “mess of pottage”) when he sold out. All the current Administration seems to have gotten when it sold out US security is an “agreement” that even Stevie Wonder could see was worthless and would soon be broken.
And the American public still doesn’t know what else in in that agreement.
Wonderful. Just freaking wonderful.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Foreign Policy, Government Incompetence
The had to sign the agreement to see what was in the agreement.
Just suppose that Trump is elected and goes all Hollywood on us and treats the government like a reality TV show. In my opinion, that will be less dangerous for the country as a whole and for each of us as individuals than letting the democratic party continue in power.
This “treaty” (and it is a treaty, regardless of the bullshit that the President told the press and Congress) is like children playing with matches and gasoline in the basement.
When the Persians threaten or launch on Israel or Riyadh, the democrats will say, “How could we have known? It’s all Bush’s fault!”
If it hasn’t been formally approved by a 2/3 vote in the Senate, it is not a treaty. See Article 2, Section 2 of the US Constitution.
Treaties are binding law. It is not clear that international agreements that were never approved by the Senate have such status. And in point of fact, this agreement arguably violates multiple provisions of existing Federal law.
Quick question: Has the $100 billion been released back to the Iranians in spite of the lack of legislative approval?
(I only ask because I haven’t been following this issue much, but am aware the president violated the Constitution by his unilateral action.)
It is not a ratified treaty. That doesn’t change its nature or effect. After all, we returned $100 billion dollars to Iran based on … what?
So what do you call a treaty before it is ratified?
Has another administration negotiated an agreement with a foreign power then acted on its terms before it is ratified by the Senate – before it became law? I’m wondering about Roosevelt and the agreement with Great Britain about ships before December 7th. Did he Senate ratify that before he sent ships?
Is that sort of thing common? I recall a lot of noise in the news about The Resident acting on this whatever-it-is before submitting it for ratification, in fact with no intention of submitting it for ratification.
Very common, actually. And of dubious legality, IMO.
This article may be instructive:
https://www.asil.org/insights/volume/2/issue/5/international-agreements-and-us-law
Short version: Under international law, any agreement between nations is a “treaty”. However, the US Constitution requires a treaty to have approval of 2/3 of the Senate, then be formally placed into effect (“ratified”) by the POTUS, prior to becoming effective. Agreements that don’t go through this full process fall in the category of “Executive Agreements”. Some are approved by Congress; some never are. Arguably, these Executive Agreements (particularly those that are never approved by Congress) perform an unlawful “end run” around the Constitutional requirement for Senate advice and consent.
Per the Constitution, Treaties that have been approved by 2/3 vote of the Senate and ratified by the POTUS have force of law (though they may require implementing legislation by Congress in order to allow domestic provisions to take effect). The Constitution is silent regarding whether agreements negotiated by the POTUS but never approved by 2/3 vote of the Senate are indeed binding law.
According to the US Treasury, 1/16/2016 was Implementation Day for the “joint comprehensive plan of action” or JCPOA.
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/iran.aspx
There are a LOT of links on that page, I did not read any of them.
According to various news outlets, Implementation Day is also the day when Iranian banks could open wire transfer routes with Western banks and when their embargoed funds became available to the Iranian government. Many news stories said that they left some of the money in foreign banks to avoid a spike of inflation in Iran.
So, they got the money and their people are not blocked from international travel and they can buy stuff on the world markets and they can sell their oil on world markets. Based on that I think that whether the adopted and implemented JCPOA is a treaty or not is a moot point.
Why would the Republican controlled congress not act against Mr. Obama? Obviously political danger and I think that it could be really simple. They want a card that they can play when a Republican president wants to do the same thing. Politics as usual – screw the voters and screw national security – keep the game going.
I read the article at the link. Speaking as a citizen and nothing else – the situation described is heinous. the president can negotiate an agreement that overrides state and local laws, the Senate does not have to consent, and the US courts will treat it as the law of the land unless overridden by an act of congress. Just fucking great.
Oh… And I am surprised… When???
Obama isn’t worried. He has a rabbit hole with a suit case of cash and a .45 handgun in a rabbit hole in the backyard of his house in Kenya to hide in.
Obuma with a .45 Cal handgun. Now that is a laugh! I can hear it now.
“The shattering recoil bruised my shoulder. The flashes of so many empty bullet holders spinning through my vision made me dizzy. Hundreds of pointed bullet things spinning through the bullet clip. The overwhelming smell of match heads. Oh, so emotional. It all brought back memories of my most intimate times… Say, is that a goat I smell?
The next president that is worth a damn ( I say this in case Hilldabeast is elected) is going to have to spend the first 4 years rebuilding the military that the current administration has tried to destroy.
We are getting danger close. How is that those that follow the left can’t see it?
Even Putin publicly stated he thinks that US elections are rigged. Coming from an ex-KGB kingpin, I find it kinda disturbing.
https://agrdailynews.com/2016/07/05/putin-explains-russian-prudent-says-the-us-elections-are-rigged-its-not-a-democracy/
Y’know, I’m old enough to remember when Christians were mocked for their “blind faith” despite the Scriptures claim that what we believe is “true and rational” – a disprovable assertion that opens up Christianity to rational examination.
This group of criminals rejects all rationality.
Who has “blind faith”?
Please don’t knock Blind Faith. They were quite talented.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTJYkjrg594
Okay, back on topic.
“Talented?” Hardly. Bunch of second-tier wannabes.
I mean, really: they only had Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and Ginger Baker. Whatta ya mean, “talented”?
(smile)
Why is anyone – any rational human being – even remotely surprised at this?
How long have we got?
Not long.
I think the Iranian thread is overstated.
Why?
#1 the President that made those strong suggestions that Israel must be removed from the map is no longer in power. Also, that relationship is more complicated than most realize. The U.S. works with Iran from time to time. Opposes them on other matters. Depends on the day of the week.
Oh pleez. Every iranian and his monkey wants to destroy israel and putsch the colonist jewish crusaders into the sea.
Not true at all.
Okay, anyone ranked at or higher than a local police sergeant – ya happy now?
!!??
“I think the Iranian thread(sic) is overstated.”
Let’s see, 1979, the Iranian leadership holding to the Doctrine of the 13th Imam since then, nukes and missiles to deliver them … how is the Iranian threat overstated?
There is a power struggle going on in Iran. The Mullahs do not like us. The conservatives do not like us. I meet Iranians who say otherwise. It’s a mixed bag.
The Twits that voted for, and support, Obama will do it all over again this fall, when they vote for the Vagina. They wanted a black president and were willing to settle for a Mulatto. Now they want a Vagina, and will settle for something so rank and skanky that it cannot top an inept teen aged DC Intern. We are so screwed.
I’m afraid you’re right, but pray that you’re wrong
What could go wrong with a bunch of Islamists having nuclear weapons?
– Obama
Well, if they’re as dumb as I think they are, they’d stick around and watch it detonate and get caught in the heat and shock wave. 🙂 But I’m an optimist, so I just have these funny ideas about things.
Clinton got North Korea started with their nuclear program, Ohbutthedumbass has been doing all he can to help out Iran.
Parking lots. Two big parking lots…I see a future in parking lots.
There,,, or here?
That is the question.
The next war will feature Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Israel will play a role as well. Russia and USA by proxy.
Wasn’t there some obnoxious critter here some time ago that said we could trust Iran? If I remember correctly it was the same toad apple that screeched we had nothing to fear about communism and/or communists. Oh well, I’ve been enjoying the peace and civility that accompnies his absence.
Luckily, the Israelis won’t sit around waiting for Iranian rags to figure out what they can get away with, especially with the Left in the US professing to the world that Iran is just a misunderstood nation of peaceful types. Before Obama-san or Hitllary can decide to fling another email at them or condemn the sh!+ out of them, the IDF will have it wrapped up.
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