News Americas, LOS ANGELES, CA, Fri. Nov. 8, 2013: After 144 long weeks…..
it appears I finally have something to compliment Barack Obama and his Administration for. Some sanity in the Middle East. The U.S. is about to make a sensible deal with Iran. This speaks to the even larger issue of the reality in that region and where America’s interest actually lie.
The control that the unholy alliance between the Saudis and the Israelis has had over U.S. Middle East policy for decades may be receding and everyone will be the better for it. Even as Saudi Arabia and Israel shutter at the thought that the U.S. may finally have a sane policy.
Of course this brings up the very legitimate concern that Netanyahu, and whatever is the name of that phony king who rules Saudi Arabia, have and are trying to come up with some plan to a derail a deal with Iran. And they have plenty of bought and paid for members of Congress who will do whatever they can to assist that nefarious cause.
The Saudis, the Israelis and many members of Congress will only be happy if the U.S. bombs Iran back to the Stone Age – their idea of foreign policy.
Concern about Iran developing a nuclear weapon has never been the issue why Iran deserved far more drastic treatment than any of the many other unfriendly regimes we deal with far better all the time. If Iran is an existential threat to Israel ( notice how frightful words can be used to define realities ) how many more times is Israel an existential threat to Iran when Iran has zero nuclear weapons and Israel has hundreds the third largest nuclear arsenal on Earth after the United States and Russia, with no international inspection at all, and with land based, air based, submarine based, and intercontinental missile ready nuclear weapons to annihilate anyone who threatens Israel’s existence.
The entire discussion is preposterous.
It is all about power pure and simple. Saudi Arabia and Israel are allied in their impossible goal to see that Iran does not have any power and to use American power not their own resources to insure that outcome.
It looks like Barack Obama FINALLY woke up.
Praise the Lord. The Christian Lord. The Jewish Lord, the Muslim Lord, all the Lords everywhere. The Lords being the sensible ones.
Absolutely Iran should not have nuclear weapons. As neither should Israel and the entire Middle East needs to be nuclear weapons free.
So what appears to be happening right now. We are on the cusp of a deal between the U.S. and others with Iran over its nuclear program.
This is how The Wall Street Journal is explaining it on its Website ….
“Iran and world powers expect to announce an initial deal as early as Friday to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for an easing of sanctions, a step that would mark the first breakthrough in a decade to blunt the threat of Tehran developing nuclear weapons.”
“U.S. officials view the agreement as the “first phase” in a broader diplomatic process that aims, over the next six months, to reach a permanent deal on reining in Iran’s nuclear activities.”
“Iran, under this initial deal, would freeze the most advanced aspects of its nuclear program, including its production of near-weapons grade fuel, in return for steps by the U.S. and Europe to ease some of the crippling financial sanctions they’ve imposed over the past five years, according to diplomats involved in the process.”
And of course this ….
“Still, the Obama administration is already facing major opposition both from its allies in the Middle East and members of Congress. Israel, in particular, has been deeply skeptical of Washington’s diplomacy with Tehran and the terms of the agreement being discussed.”
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding a complete dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure and a ratcheting up of sanctions until this achieved.”
“The movement is also likely to unsettle U.S. lawmakers, who have been preparing to adopt new sanctions against Iran’s oil exports and financial sector. The Obama administration has urged lawmakers to wait, and Sen. Tim Johnson, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said Thursday that no decision would be made until after this week’s talks in Geneva.”
Which brings us back to President Barack Obama.
Is he going to show the kind of courage he never has in the past and stand up to the Saudis, the Israelis, and the whacky hawks in Congress? Again those who will only be satisfied if the U.S. bombs Iran back to the Stone Age or possibly further back no matter the cost in U.S. lives, resources or clout.
Right now it seems like Obama is going to go ahead and engage the Iranians in a temporary deal that could lead to a more permanent agreement. Then again check the news in the morning. The pressure is on.
As to the wider issues beyond Iran’s nuclear program …
The fact if the Middle East is that Iran is the dominant country in the region with the largest, youngest and most educated population in that Muslim world, and what the Saudis and the Israelis fear is that if Iran becomes more democratic and God forbid the U.S. establishes normal relations with Iran and cooperation and joint agreements follow that the power and influence of Saudi Arabia and Israel will decrease. Fr the U.S. it is the best possible outcome a sane Middle East where the U.S. is appreciated.
It is both amazing and not amazing at all that all the Talking Heads beginning with Charlie Rose REFUSE to address the realities but instead only repeat the propaganda coming out of Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
There is a fundamental difference between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Israel should and will prosper in the Middle East regardless and I will make the case once they FINALLY admit to reality a robust free market Iran can and will become a major asset for Israel creating stable Middle East.
As for the Saudi rulers they are nothing but goons in sheets who stole the oil who do not deserve to survive. The sooner the Saudi people rid themselves of that trash the better for them, the Middle East and the entire world.
Everyone starting with Obama should read “After the Sheikhs.”
About The Writer: Arthur Piccolo is a professional writer and commentator and often writes about Latin America for New Americas.
