Well,
the time has passed to disapprove the pact that the President made
with Iran. Actually that deadline was last week, and I should have
commented then, but [insert your favorite excuse here]. It
wouldn't really have mattered though because Europe was rushing to
make deals with the the Ayatollah, and they didn't wait for Congress
to weigh in. There was too much at stake – a lot of money to be
made, and it was important to be fast in dealing with Iran. (Yes,
Switzerland was in there early. When it comes to money – or
anything else – they don't play favorites. Switzerland is expert
in matters of time, and now's a good time to get Rials.) In view of
the fact that Iran is building missiles that will make it possible
for it to target Europe with nuclear devices – and the agreement
doesn't restrict their production – it is surprising that Europe
sanctions the deal. But it does. Actually it favors the removal of
prior sanctions against Iran.
But
Congress does not approve of our largesse. It is simply powerless to
stop it. The President's take is clear. “This vote is a victory
for diplomacy ...” He clearly views it as a personal victory as
well and in a way it is, though in reality it is simply the avoidance
of a defeat. The President and his minority party have won a
(procedural) victory over the Senate by threatening a filibuster and
preventing a vote on a resolution opposing the deal with Iran – a
resolution that would surely have passed. By terming this treaty an
“agreement,” he has won a victory over the Constitution by
denying the Senate the right to advise and consent in regard to its
contents. The President waged a fearsome battle and didn't relax
until he had the votes to assure his triumph.
Additionally,
there were secret side letters and agreements for which we are
responsible, but because they are secret we'll never know if Iran is
keeping up its part of the deal or not. Nor will we know if any
deviations from what we believe to be the agreement were permitted by
our President and his negotiators. We'll hold Iran to every word of
the agreement, but we don't know what those words are. (Actually we
do know part of the “secret.” Iran will be permitted to take
some of the samples that will be tested for radioactivity and
international inspectors will not have free entry to all of the sites
they are responsible for inspecting. But if you can't trust Iran,
whom can you trust?) Initial legislation, signed by the President,
guaranteed Congress the right to see all documents that were part of
the “agreement.” Thus he has won a victory over Congress by
ignoring the requirement to reveal all parts of that agreement prior
to the vote. Actually there is no reason to expect him to reveal
them at all, notwithstanding his obligation to do so.
And
he has won a victory over the American People, who overwhelmingly
oppose his treaty, viewing it as a threat to America. But the
President, in the belief that he knows what is good for us, has
signed onto an arrangement that will eventuate in nuclear weapons for
Iran, and, in far less time, a windfall that can be used to increase
instability in the Middle East. The castor oil the President
administers, however, is good for us. We're sure to forget about it
by the time the next national election is held. And even if we don't
it's not his problem since he won't be running for re-election.
The
President has declared one victory but, in fact, he has won several.
By extracting support from party members, he has stymied and won a
victory over the Senate; by terming his deal with Iran an
“agreement” rather than the treaty it is he is victorious over
the Constitution; by withholding side letters with Iran from
Congress despite his having signed legislation requiring their
disclosure he has won another victory – this one over Congress.
Additionally, with an American public that overwhelmingly opposes the
treaty with Iran, he has won a victory over them too.
And
in all likelihood, if judicial relief is sought, the Court will
probably decide for the President rather than becoming embroiled in a
Constitutional crisis. But the argument for reining in a runaway
Presidency is clear.
In
the meantime, though, it's a victory for the President and the
Democrats. Unfortunately, however, it is a loss for democracy.
[By
the way, in case you're interested, the title of this essay is a
quotation from “Royal Assassin” by Robin Hobb.]
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