Netanyahu Attacks Iran Deal
April 3, 2015

Opponents to the Iran Deal said it would fail because Iran is not trustworthy.   In his speech before a Joint Session of Congress, Prime Minister Netanyahu listed a plethora of Iranian misdeeds.   Beginning with Mosaddegh (who failed to stop the CIA from overthrowing his democratic government), and winding all the way to Iranian support of Hezbollah, Mr. Netanyahu attempted to strengthen his position by citing support of several Sunni Gulf States, including Saudi Arabia (a county that has funded Wahhabism and terrorist groups).

Now, however, the arguments of Netanyahu and other Iran deal opponents (Boehner, et al) are shown to be empty, resting as they do on the inability to trust Iran, a country that they view as inherently evil.   Despite their focus on trust, however, it is not the foundation of the deal.   Instead, verification is the foundation. Verification in this case includes inspectors going anywhere at any time and surveillance of any supply chain that Iran would use to acquire fissionable material.   Moreover, while this proposed deal lasts only for 15 years, circumstances (“on the ground”) will change and may permit reconsideration by the US, Israel, Iran, the Sunni Gulf States, or other nations.  

What are the alternatives to the current deal?  Some opponents openly argue for continual bombing of Iran to delay developing a nuclear weapon for two to three years at a time.   But, according to some military experts, “mowing the grass” every two or three years would be ineffective because Iran has hidden some of its nuclear facilities in mountains that are virtually inaccessible to air strikes.  These opponents do not say, but surely realize that military elimination of Iran’s nuclear facilities would require the invasion and occupation of that country.  While invasion and occupation of Iran would guarantee  that it has no nuclear capability, the likely cost in blood and treasure would be many times higher than the US paid to ensure the absence of a nuclear capability in Iraq.