By Capt Joseph R. John, September 23, 2015

In the below listed policy statement, an endorsed Combat Veteran For Congress, Cong Jeff Denham, SSgt-USAF(R-CA-10), expresses his firm opposition to the very dangerous International Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement; according to provisions of the US Constitution that Agreement is in fact an International Treaty, not an bill passed in Congress.  Cong Denham stated. “If sanctions are going to be removed, they should only be removed after Iran has earned our trust, with a gradual phasing out of sanctions. We should be able to have our own inspectors and a guarantee that Iran has no intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons. Any deal must be verifiable, enforceable, and accountable.” 

Cong Denham went on to say, “Our nation faces greater danger than ever before, because the threat of a nuclear Iran remains all too real.  Iran has been the chief sponsor of terrorism across the globe.  The safety of the American people is not a partisan priority; it is an American priority.  After closely reviewing the details of the unveiled agreement, it is clear that the plan will not adequately deter the threat of a nuclear Iran, nor will it safeguard the well-being of our citizens and the National Security interests of the United States.”

It was recently reported that there are two side provisions to the very dangerous Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement; Obama has kept those two side provisions SECRET from the US Congress and the American people.  It is getting to be standard operating procedure for Obama to keep Agreements, that should be International Treaties, SECRET and hidden from the view of the American people.  Just like the SECRET provisions in the “Unconstitutional” 800 page Fast Track Trade Legislation (TPP), which was authorized by the TPA Bill that Obama signed into law in May 2015.  Provisions in the TPP bill prevents the American people from knowing what trade deals and new immigration quotas Obama is approving for each of the 12 Pacific Rim countries (including Mexico), which will ultimately result in providing millions of new Aliens being issued work permits, with which they can compete, with unemployed Americans, for scarce jobs.      

In order to explain how the Republican leaders in Congress authorized Obama to treat the International Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement as a Congressional measure, instead of as an International Treaty, the following information is provided.  In May 2015, Sen Bob Corker (R-TN-Senate), working closely with Senate Majority Leader Mitch O’Connell (R-KY-Senate), authored a Senate bill that designated the International Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement as a Congressional bill, instead of as an International Treaty, in accordance with provisions of the US Constitution.  

After Mitch McConnell, passed the bill in the Senate, Speaker Boehner cooperated with McConnell and passed Corker’s bill in the House.  Then Obama signed the bill into law.  That bill set the stage for Boehner and McConnell to get the House and the Senate to vocally disapprove and vote against certain provisions of the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement.  Then Obama would be able to veto Republican votes against certain provisions of the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement, requiring a 2/3rd vote of the Senate to over-ride Obama’s veto.  Obama did not want the have the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement treated as a treaty, because he knew he would not be able to get 2/3rd of the Senate to vote for its passage   A major lobbying effort by the Iranian Lobby and Boeing was mounted to remove the economic sanctions the US had imposed against Iran.

Boeing had negotiated a contract to build 500 new planes for Iran Air, but could not execute the contract as long as the Iranian economic sanctions were in place by the US.  The “National Review” reported that Boeing donated $3.2 million in campaign contributions to Senators to get the Iranian sanctions lifted. The top recipients of Boeing’s cash contributions went to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), and the National Senatorial Committee. Boeing spent an additional $17 million lobbying the Congress to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the US, and the Iranian Lobby donated millions of dollars to Republican campaigns and the National Senatorial Committee to get them to remove the economic sanctions from Iran, and to pass the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement.  That Boeing contract will result in the transfer very sensitive and advanced aviation technology to the terrorist government of Iran, that advanced technology will support the development of Iran’s weapons systems.

To oppose the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement, protect the national security interests of the Republic, and safeguard future generations of Americans from nuclear weapons attack, the Republican Majority Leader in the US Senate should employ the same nuclear option, requiring only 51 votes to pass a measure in the Senate, that Senator Harry Reid employed against the Republicans in the Senate.  It would only take 51 votes to pass Senate Resolution 251 that will declare that the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement, is an International Treaty requiring a 2/3rd vote of the Senate for approval.  Please review Congressman Denham below listed Policy Statement on the dangerous Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement.

Copyright 2015, Capt. Joseph R. John. All Rights Reserved. This material can only be posted on another Web site or distributed on the Internet by giving full credit to the author.  It may not be published, broadcast, or rewritten without permission from the author.
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 Cong Denham Reflects on the Threat of a Nuclear Iran

WASHINGTON — “Members of Congress are regularly asked to make serious decisions with far-reaching implications. I’ve taken carefully-considered votes to rein in our out-of-control debt, allocate funds to ensure our veterans are cared for, help create jobs, help small businesses get ahead, and protect families from unnecessary taxes, among other things. This month I cast one of the votes that I take most seriously – a vote opposing the President’s nuclear deal with Iran.

Iran has been a chief sponsor of terrorism in the world. Their leaders have chanted “Death to America,” called for the destruction of our close ally, Israel, and are actively engaged in financing terrorism. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently commented on the proposed deal by saying, "our policy towards the arrogant U.S. government won't change at all.” They have steadily been building a stockpile of enriched uranium, completed an underground nuclear facility and repeatedly displayed their eagerness to bring destruction to our nation and others across the globe.

The sanctions Congress put in place have ensured that Iran feels the consequences of their actions. Our sanctions are designed to induce the regime to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons, to punish the Iranian government for its egregious human rights violations and deter the growth of their economy. 

Hundreds of Americans have personally felt the impact of Iranian terrorism. In the last 30 years, Americans studying abroad, teaching or traveling in the Middle East have been taken hostage, killed in suicide bombings, and gunned down by members of the Iranian led and financed Islamic Jihad. Despite the tragedy of these individual cases, the threats we have faced from Iran are a distant second to the threats faced every minute of every day by those living in the Middle East. Unfortunately, we’ve grown accustomed to turmoil in the region. An Iran capable of producing and using nuclear weapons has the power to bring that same instability and danger to the rest of the world. A nuclear Iran is a threat to everyone, everywhere. It is not just about us. It is about worldwide stability and freedom. 

If sanctions are going to be removed, they should be removed after Iran has earned our trust, with a gradual phasing out. We should be able to have our own inspectors and a guarantee that Iran has no intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons. Any deal must be verifiable, enforceable and accountable. 

I can't support a plan that endangers the well-being of the American people and our national security interests. Beyond the clear flaws in the plan, it represents yet another demonstration of the President’s  disturbing desire to go around Congress, ignore the will of the people and forge secret deals. The Administration openly acknowledges secret agreements with the International Atomic Nuclear Agency (IAEA) to give Iran the power to “self-inspect” its own nuclear sites. This is about as effective a plan as asking your teenager to “self-inspect” their own room for cleanliness before they can go out with their friends, offering zero repercussions for a false report and being barred from inspecting yourself. That wouldn’t work in my home and it certainly won’t work on this infinitely more serious matter – protecting the entire world from nuclear weapons.

I supported a series of bills to express disapproval of the agreement. I’ve also co-sponsored the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, which would bar sanctions relief until Iran pays the victims of its terrorism the millions of dollars of damages they are owed. Many Assyrians from the Valley have felt the impact of Iranian terrorism firsthand, losing their land, home and businesses, while their Christian relatives have been driven out of Iran. 

I’ve voted to ensure that Congress has a say in any nuclear deal established with Iran and to prevent the President from moving unilaterally to lift congressional sanctions. Furthermore, I co-signed a letter to State Secretary John Kerry expressing my concern over Iran's refusal to comply with nuclear inspectors from the IAEA. It is past time for Iran to comply with IAEA inspectors. Tehran should have nothing to hide.

As this Administration has said repeatedly, no deal is better than a bad deal. The threat of a nuclear Iran cannot be overstated. We must be vigilant and watchful regarding the goals and the intentions of the new administration in Iran as it addresses its newfound domestic and international responsibilities. Our safety and the safety of every nation across the globe depend on it.”

Congressman Jeff Denham has represented California’s 10th Congressional District, which includes all of Stanislaus and part of San Joaquin counties, since 2011. He is a local farmer and small business owner who served in the U.S. Air Force for a combined 16 years of active duty and reserve service.