More than 120 sign a letter supporting the deal, which is opposed by Israel and some pro-Israel groups.
Advertisement
Considering the seemingly contradictory way that Americans feel about Iran’s threat to the US, the difference may simply be in the way that the question is framed. Charles Schumer and Rep. Eliot Engel, who are Jewish themselves and have large Jewish constituencies skeptical of the deal, remain undecided amid intense pressure from the White House.
“But then at least, the American people and others around the world will recognize that we did everything possible to avoid war”, he said. “Senator hides from Post’s Iran questions”. “We will do everything in our power to stop an accord that so utterly fails to shut down Iran’s nuclear program”.
And President Obama is also reminding Democrats of the Iraq war to drum up liberal support for the Iran deal in the face of overwhelming GOP criticism.
The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee announced tepid support for the proposed nuclear deal with Iran, joining a small list of top party officials who have so far been willing to publicly get behind the agreement as it sinks in the polls. Of this, 10% said they tended to oppose it and 3% said they strongly opposed it. “I’m briefing later”, Moniz told Hoyer in a hallway. Sadly, the ayatollahs know the Europeans better than Mr. Obama does.
Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), an early supporter of the Iran deal and an opponent of the invasion in Iraq. I don’t think these countries have made a decision to move forward on their own nuclear issues, so it is important that we work with them to counter Iran’s activities.
Obama confidently states that the “Death to America, Death to Israel” slogans are mere political strategies to soothe Iranian hardliners. The Europeans (among others) will have been suckered back into economic relationships that will cause as much pain to them as to Iran if they are abandoned.
According to the newspaper, those who have spoken with Schumer say the pressure campaign is having an effect.
Schiff, in our conversation this weekend, did not seem wildly enthusiastic about many aspects of the deal. “What concerns me most is the size of the enrichment program that Iran will have in 15 years”.
But, I asked him, Israeli concerns are not enough to keep you from voting in favor of the deal? But one of the subtexts of the misleading way they have been conducting their end of this debate is their effort to distract both Congress and the public from the broader goals of the pact.
Lawmakers can vote to approve, disapprove or take no action on the deal.
Advertisement
Most alarming is the secret agreement negotiated by Iran and the worldwide Atomic Energy Agency regarding the scope and depth of inspections including that of the Parchin military complex – a highly secretive facility long-suspected of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development restricted from access by nuclear inspectors.
