Subject: Re: Everybody knew that Iran wanted nukes
...except some here and anybody who though the "Iran deal" that Obama signed was smart policy.
It wasn't.

Remember “the very best people” that Trump appointed to his cabinet?

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson : He was part of an "axis of adults" who reportedly wanted Trump to remain in the deal.

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster: Similar to Tillerson, he was seen as a relatively sober adviser who favored remaining in the deal.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis: He was also reportedly among the advisors who encouraged caution and staying within the agreement. Mattis was considered the most influential of these "adults".

There were others, including lots of prominent Republicans who begged Trump not to withdraw from the agreement, which was largely being followed by Iran. Other Republicans were trying to sell the “We can negotiate a better one”, which like their plan to “repeal and replace” Obamacare came to nothing:


Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that the Iran deal “was flawed from the beginning” and that he looks forward to working with the president on the next steps. [There were no “next steps - Goofy] “My own view is it’s a flawed deal and we can do better,” he said. “Clearly there’s a next step beyond this and we’ll look forward to seeing what he recommends.”

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who opposed the deal negotiated by President Barack Obama’s administration and world powers in 2015, said the Trump White House appears to have a slogan but no plan.

The administration — and even Trump himself — briefed leaders ahead of Tuesday’s announcement. One top Republican, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also spoke with European leaders and said he looks forward to negotiating better terms of the deal. [There was no better deal even proposed, much less negotiated - Goofy]

“It is disappointing that the administration was unable to reach an agreement with our allies,” Corker said. “However, based on conversations I have had in recent days, it is my sense that the administration will move quickly to work toward a better deal.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said he hopes during the sanctions implementation period — 90 days for some, 180 days for others — the U.S. will “work with our allies to achieve consensus on addressing a range of destabilizing Iranian behavior_both nuclear and non-nuclear.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called the withdrawal “a mistake of historic proportions.” Trump’s action “isolates the United States from the world at a time when we need our allies to come together to address nuclear threats elsewhere, particularly in Korea,” said Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate.

It’s a view shared by some Republicans who opposed the deal.

Arizona GOP Sen. Jeff Flake says allowing Iran to skirt the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program “would be foolhardy.” Pulling out of the accord is a mistake, he said, and sends a poor message to U.S. allies.

“We’re having enough problems around the world in terms of our reliability,” Flake said. “If you’re our allies, you’ve got to be scratching your head, whether it’s a trade deal or security arrangements. Is America reliable anymore?” [Note to Senator Flake: “No.” - Goofy]