Steve Forbes
THE NEGOTIATIONS over Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear
weapons are about to be completed. This will trigger one of the most important
congressional debates in American history. From all that we now know the
agreement will set off a chain reaction of nuclear proliferation in the most
unstable region of the world; enable Iran both to become a major nuclear
power—with ballistic missiles capable of hitting any part of the U.S.—and to
dominate the Middle East’s oil fields; and give Iran more than $50 billion
that could be used to finance its global terrorist activities. Under
current law the Senate can reject the lifting of sanctions against Iran. The
Senate will do so. This rejection will then be vetoed by President Obama. Can
his veto be overridden?
The answer
to that question will decide whether we can overcome the most
dangerous threat to the world’s safety since the Cuban missile crisis.
Even
if Iran lives up to the agreement—which everyone knows it won’t, since the
enforcement mechanisms are a farce and the murderous mullahs have never honored
past commitments—it will be allowed the means to build hundreds of nuclear
bombs at the end of ten years. Ponder that!
Even
more incredibly, the deal doesn’t cover Iran’s ongoing efforts to develop
intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads to
the U.S.
Who
knows what’s motivating President Obama to push such a ghastly deal. Will party
loyalty enable the White House to sustain a veto? The Republican majority in
the Senate is nowhere near the two-thirds level necessary to override one.
Democratic votes will be needed. Current law requires that the Senate override
a veto within 30 days of an agreement’s completion. That means there will be a
very short period of time to mobilize American public opinion to pressure
Democrats. The President is counting on keeping enough Democrats in line by
declaring that, as bad as this agreement may be, it’s the only alternative to
war. He apparently thinks that because it’s summer this will make it difficult
for opponents to focus American attention on the dangers of this deadly deal.
I
recently visited Israel, which rightly regards this about-to-be-done deal as an
existential threat. Most of Israel’s Arab neighbors are also appalled by what
is unfolding.
Although
time will be short to stop this agreement when it’s completed—likely, this
week—we must make the effort. One organization that’s ready to make the case
against Obama’s horrible brainchild is SecureAmericaNow. You can learn more
about it by going to secureamericanow.org.
I
will be supporting their efforts. You should, too.
