A statement released by “the joint command operation center of Syrian allies,” a group that includes Russia and Iran, warned the U.S. against further military actions in the war-torn country, following a missile strike on a Syrian air base last week.
Referring to its defense of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad‘s regime, the group warned that they would support Syria and its people “with all means that we have.”
“The United States crossed red lines by attacking Syria, from now on we will respond to anyone, including America if it attacks Syria and crosses the red lines,” the statement read. “America knows very well our ability and capabilities to respond well to them, [and] we will respond without taking into consideration any reaction and consequences.”
The statement did not include critical details like what kind of military operation would cross such a red line, or what kind of response would be made on the part of Syria and its allies, but noted that they would work to “liberate” Syria from occupation.
“Rest assured that we will liberate Syria from all kinds of occupying forces, it does not matter from where they came to the occupied part of Syria,” the statement warned. “Russia and Iran will not allow the United States to be the only superpower in world.”
Montel Williams, often a critic of President Obama, turned the critical table around and aimed his criticisms squarely at the Republican presidential candidates last weekend, as they all hammered the president for negotiating a deal that freed five Americans held prisoners in Iran.
Instead of putting his dumb politics to the side just for a brief moment, Marco Rubio couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hit President Obama. “Governments are taking Americans hostage because they believe they can gain concessions from this government under Barack Obama,” Rubio said. “It’s an incentive for more people to do this in the future.”
Under a Chris Christie administration, there would be no negotiating to free the captured Americans. Christie would just wait and hope for their freedom. “We shouldn’t have to swap prisoners,” Christie said. “These folks were taken illegally in violation of international law and they should have been released without condition.”
Montel lashed out on Facebook;
It’s beyond irresponsible that some of the Republican candidates criticized the swap that will bring our hostages home this morning – beyond terrifying that they seem to so profoundly misunderstand the delicacy of these that they did so PRIOR to the hostages actually leaving Iran – so incompetent that it borders on disqualifying.
It’s beyond irresponsible that some of the Republican candidates criticized the swap that will bring our hostages home…
You know it was only a matter of time before Trump pats himself on the back for what the Obama administration accomplished in Iran. You know it was eventually going to happen, Donald Trump taking full credit for the release of Americans held as prisoners in Iran.
At a rally in South Carolina, Trump addressed the audience, telling his followers that because he’s been on the case, things are happening.
“So I’ve been hitting them hard and I think I might have had something to do with it,” Trump told a crowd of activists at the South Carolina Tea Party Convention. “You want to know the truth? It’s a part of my staple thing, I mean, I go crazy when I hear about this, you go absolutely wild because how is it possible?”
Trump has castigated the Iran nuclear deal for months – making it a significant portion of his stump speech. At many campaign rallies, Trump receives a loud cheer from the crowd as he calls Secretary of State John Kerry an incompetent negotiator.
Even though he believed he was due some credit for the prisoner exchange, Trump made clear that he didn’t think that the deal was fair to the United States.
“First of all, it should have taken place three or four weeks ago, whenever the hell they started,” Trump said. “Did you ever see an agreement take so long as this agreement? How long has this thing been going on? Years and years.”
Former U.S. Congressman Allen West attends the Faith and Freedom Coalition Road to Majority Conference in Washington, June 14, 2013. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION HEADSHOT) - RTX10NUH
Allen West echoed the common Republican thinking when he took to his blog and expressed his disappointment with the fact that 10 US soldiers were captured, fed and then released by Iranian National Guards. As far as West is concerned, America should declare war against Iran and the two nations should duke it out ’till the last man falls!
“The result of two U.S. Navy vessels being boarded and seized by an enemy — which is what the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy is — is disturbing,” he wrote on his blog.
“The images and video they took depicting our soldiers on their knees in the position of surrender is damning,” West continued. “This, folks, is an act of war, and our soldiers were captured. Our honor calls upon us to fight, to resist, not surrender.
“The ramifications of not doing so means our honor is now being mocked and we’re seen as nothing more than cowards on our knees. Say what you wish, but that’s the perception in the Middle East, especially to our enemies.”
No surprise here folks. War is the Republicans’ only language. It’s all they know. And although every single soldier was apparently fed and released hours later, West and the Republicans cannot accept that sometimes, war should not be the answer. Bring the guns, shoot bullets, drop bombs, kill tens or even hundreds of thousands of people in the process.
Fight! Fight! Fight! Kill! Kill! Kill! And shed the blood of out troops too!
Former vice president Dick Cheney is a liar. He is so good at lying, that an entire party believes the things he say, especially the things he say about President Obama. Often times, Fox News will parrot these lies as truths, but not on Sunday when Dick Cheney encountered Fox News host, Chris Wallace.
Talking about the Iran Deal, Cheney bagged his usual talking point, that the deal is a travesty which will result in Iran getting nuclear weapons and becoming even more stronger than before. Then Chris Wallace asked him about his 8 years in the White House and why the Bush/Cheney administration did nothing to stop Iran from trying to get a nuclear weapon.
“You and President Bush, the Bush-Cheney administration, dealt with Iran for eight years, and I think it was fair to say that there was never any real, serious military threat,” Wallace noted. “Iran went from zero known centrifuges in operation to more than 5,000.”
“So in fairness, didn’t you leave — the Bush-Cheney administration — leave President Obama with a mess?” the Fox News host asked.
“I don’t think of it that way,” Cheney replied. “There was military action that had an impact on the Iranians, it was when we took down Saddam Hussein. There was a period of time when they stopped their program because they were scared that what we did to Saddam, we were going to do to them next.”
“But the centrifuges went from zero to 5,000,” Wallace pressed.
“Well, they may have well have gone but that happened on Obama’s watch, not on our watch,” Cheney wrongly insisted.
“No, no, no,” Wallace fired back. “By 2009, they were at 5,000.”
“Right,” Cheney grumbled. “But I think we did a lot to deal with the arms control problem in the Middle East.”
Another breakthrough for the Obama administration. Despite all the naysayers, and it comes as no surprise to learn that they are all mostly in the Republican party, President Obama announced a deal between the United States and other countries including Russia and China, to curb Iran’s nuclear ambition.
According to a new poll by Quinnipiac University, 58% of Americans stand with the president on the new Iran nuclear plan.
According to the new poll released earlier this week, a majority of Americans believe the new plan should get the approval of Congress, with 33% rejecting the plan altogether.
But 77% say they want to plan to succeed instead of a military intervention, as proposed by Congressional Republicans.
“Americans are worried about Iran, but not enough to send in the troops,” said Tim Malloy of Quinnipiac.
The poll was taken between April 16 and 21 and surveyed 1,353 registered voters.
President Obama made his announcement today from the Rose Garden and he spoke about a framework of the new Iran deal, a deal the President said will be finalized in June.
In his announcement, the president warned that any “backsliding” from the deal by Iran, would lead to a collapse of the deal and increased sanctions on Iran. And the president also used the opportunity to quashed some of the Republican lies about him not backing Israel, by pledging his continued support for that country.
We’re going to need our mucking boots today because we’re going to wade into the Middle East. Until now, I have assiduously avoided all mention of the region because it’s messy and confusing and controversial and, quite frankly, my ideas have, shall we say, evolved over time. But the events of the day are far too important and compelling for me to stay away from the issues, so I am now going to opine. With FEEling.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a first and world-class jerk who has no business actually running a government. His comments last week on the eve of the Israeli elections regarding a two state solution with the Palestinians and his warnings about Israeli Arabs voting in droves have only widened the differences between Israel and both the US government and many American Jews. His speech in front of Congress, orchestrated by the House Republican leadership and done without consulting or notifying the Obama Administration, was a new low in political gaming and rogue foreign policy. That the speech almost ended up actually costing Netanyahu his election, and thus his need to play the racist, far-right card, told us that he would do anything to win votes (not a bad thing in and of itself, mind you). His persistent warnings about Iran’s intentions to build a bomb and use it on Israel are complicating the nuclear talks between the US and Iran, and his approval of new Israeli settlements is angering our allies around the world.
And yet…
Netanyahu and his right wing government, is the only institution that is standing between Israel’s future existence and radical, terrorist, anti-Semitic entities that want to destroy it. His focus on Israel’s security is a prerequisite for winning and holding national office and, along with the economy, is the main issue for both domestic and foreign consumption. He’s a strong leader and has been able to navigate his way through the thickets of his country’s political system en route to 4 national election victories.
I support Israel and believe that it must survive and thrive as a testament to its Jewish roots, its democracy, its vibrant culture and its place as an island of hope in a hostile world. I also believe that there should be a state for the Palestinians because the present political and social arrangement is unsustainable and in some cases, inhuman. But now we are stuck because the current state of world affairs is so polarized and unforgiving that any compromise seems impossible. Radical Islamic groups would like nothing more than to see Israel destroyed. Israel needs to confront its adversaries and deserves the right to defend itself against attacks from both rockets and words.
What to do? The easy thing is to say that the Arab and Islamic states need to formally recognize that Israel exists and will continue to exist, and that the Israelis need to recognize that they will have to give up some land that they won in the six-day war of 1967. Militant groups will need to give up their weapons and stop using them against Israel, and Israel will need to loosen some of the border restrictions so that the Palestinians can freely conduct commerce and make their economy grow. Sounds easy, right?
Of course it isn’t and Netanyahu isn’t going to help. He’s going to hold a hard line now and wait to see who the next US president is going to be, hoping it’s someone he can work with, since his relationship with Obama is probably irreparable. I’m sure he’d love to see a more aggressive neo-conservative Republican, but I think Hillary Clinton would fit the bill too.
In the meantime, he’ll continue to oppose anything that might threaten Israel and will oppose any agreement with the Iranians. And there will be an agreement with the Iranians because deep down I think the Iranians want an agreement on their nuclear program. The Iranian economy is in shambles because of sanctions and the middle class (yes, there is a middle class) is demanding a place in the larger world. A nuclear agreement would also hold the Iranians to specific actions and inspections that, while there are many who say they will ultimately ignore any limits, will require Iran to play by the world’s rules if it wants to be taken seriously. I could be utterly misreading the politics, but I don’t think so. Attacking Israel with a nuclear weapon will only invite Iran’s destruction. They clearly don’t want that.
The prospects for genuine peace in the region look about as bleak as they ever have, and it will probably take a new generation of leadership to improve them. Of course, weren’t we saying the same thing in the 1970s?
It’s Saturday, so I’m going to do what I can to upset a few Republicans. Here’s one story that is sure to achieve that goal – according to US Secretary of State, there is “substantial progress” being made in the Iran nuclear talks. Watch Republicans flip out on this good news!
The United States and Iran reported significant progress Saturday toward a nuclear agreement, with the Iranian president declaring a deal within reach. America’s top diplomat was more reserved, leaving open whether world powers and Tehran would meet a March 31 deadline.
Speaking after a week of nuclear negotiations in Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry challenged Iran to make “fundamental decisions” that prove to the world it has no interest in atomic weapons. Amid conflicting statement by officials about how close the sides were, Kerry said, “We have an opportunity to try to get this right.”
The talks “have made substantial progress,” Kerry told reporters, “though important gaps remain.” Talks with Iran resume next week.
In Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was more optimistic. “Achieving a deal is possible,” he said. “There is nothing that can’t be resolved.”
In a preview for his Vice News interview, President Obama was asked about the recent backlash to the 47 Republican Senators who took it upon themselves to send a letter to Iran, urging the nation not to negotiate with President Obama because any nuclear agreement between the two parties may not last. Since making that ghastly mistake, Republicans have endured a national and international ridicule for their foolish decision.
The President was asked and weighed in.
“I’m embarrassed for them,” Mr. Obama said. “For them to address a letter to the Ayatollah, who they claim is our mortal enemy, and their basic argument is ‘don’t deal with our president because you can’t trust him to follow through on an agreement. That’s close to unprecedented.”
One by one, the signers to the letter have tried to distance themselves from the letter, but the damage has already been done as the Republican party is not only seen as a disappointment here in America, but a mockery worldwide.
If you haven’t signed the petition yet, well here’s your chance. The petition is here, just click on this link.
The petition is accusing the 47 Republicans who sent a letter to Iran, with treason.
The petition, created on Monday, accuses these Republicans of violating the Logan Act (which, if you’ve been following the news at all this week, you’ve heard about at least once). The Logan Act forbids unauthorized American citizens from “carr[ying] on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof.”
The petition reads, “This is a clear violation of federal law. In attempting to undermine our own nation, these 47 senators have committed treason.”
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