This just in: Yesterday, Trump pulled the United States out of the Iranian Nuclear Deal. On a completely unrelated note; Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, took in millions of dollars from Russia, AT&T and a Pharmaceutical company. He took it in through a shell company and speculation is that he was selling influence and access to Trump.
Getting out of the Iranian deal basically tells the world that the United States does not feel obligated to hold up its end of the bargain. I’m sure North Korea is watching this carefully.
I would like to make three points.
- First, Iran has been in complete agreement with the accord. They have been off the nuclear threat map since the deal was cut.
- Getting out of the deal is not the United States breaking a deal with Iran. We are breaking a deal with all of the participants of the deal which includes the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia. All of these countries told the United States to stay in the agreement.
- The deal was cut with Iranian moderates. That is to say, we were able to sit at a table with the less-crazy people from Iran and eventually cut a deal. Now, we will be dealing with hardliners who would just as soon nuke Israel as not. Getting out of the deal has strengthened the position of these hardliners who have said all along, “The United States cannot be trusted.”
There is virtually no support for this move. It hurts U.S. credibility abroad. It hurts U.S. relations with its allies. It allows Iran to once again become a nuclear threat to the world.
Furthermore…there is no Plan B. We have no plan on how to deal with Iran outside of the agreement.
So…why did Trump do this?
Two reasons: First, his National Security Advisor and fellow draft dodger, John Bolton, has always wanted to go to war with Iran. Secondly, If we are looking at Iran, we might not notice that the Mueller Probe is starting to look like it will result in Trump dying in prison.
So, for no clear reason, Trump has made the world a more dangerous place.
Why? Who knows. It could be a distraction. It could be that he is just not that smart.
I suspect both.
Time to save the world.
Up, up and away…
Jim
