The gathering of the knuckledraggers (my people)

I have to be careful in my choice of words with you pilgrims and assorted fellow travelers.   In my narrow world a "knuckledragger" may be heavy handed but is not necessarily without virtue.

I am more and more convinced that Trump and his crew (Kushner, etc.) are not equipped intellectually to comprehend or deal with men for whom some things are not for sale. 

Kushner and his helpers on the Deal of the Century are interested in peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis only because they see, however dimly, that Israel's long term prospects require some sort of  peace.

The peace that they want is visible now.  It is a peace in which there is no Palestinian state and in which the Palestinians accept their permanent status as a subject people at the mercy of their Israeli masters.

As LBJ used to say, "This dog won't hunt."  Some things are not for sale.  The Alamo is not for sale.  Jerusalem is not for sale.  The Iranians say that "the door of diplomacy" is closed forever.  That statement should be taken seriously

The Trumpistas and their friends believe that everything is for sale, but, in fact everything is not for sale.  Is Israel for sale?  No amount of bribe money will cause the despised Palestinians to give up their dream of nationhood.  One would think that Jews would understand that but, evidently their tribalism overcomes everything else in their heads.

Iran will not be brought to its knees with economic sanctions and stupid statements which imply that submission to the will of the "City on a Hill" will make them prosperous and well off.

The knuckledraggers are gathering on both sides in the US/Iran crisis.  War is likely.  pl

Comments

[Eric Newhill]

Walrus,
The Treaty Clause is part of Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution that empowers the President of the United States to propose and chiefly negotiate agreements between the United States and other countries, which, upon receiving the advice and consent of a two-thirds supermajority vote of the United States Senate, become binding with the force of federal law. - Wiki

If congress was doing its job, Trump could not alter what Obama did.

[fredw]

Uh, yeah. You don't seem to understand the concept of "treaty".

[fredw]

JPCOA in fact does not seem to be technically a "treaty". That does not affect its status as a "bargain". It was in fact approved by congress.

"Under U.S. law, the JCPOA is a non-binding political commitment.[147][148] According to the U.S. State Department, it specifically is not an executive agreement or a treaty.[149] There are widespread incorrect reports that it is an executive agreement.[150][151] In contrast to treaties, which require two-thirds of the Senate to consent to ratification, political commitments require no congressional approval, and are not legally binding as a matter of domestic law (although in some cases they may be binding on the U.S. as a matter of international law).[150][f]

On 22 May 2015, President Obama signed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 into law;[g] this legislation passed by the Senate in a 98-1 vote and the House in a 400-25 vote, and was approved by President Obama on 22 May 2015.[159] Under the Act, once a nuclear agreement was negotiated with Iran, Congress had sixty days in which it could pass a resolution of approval, a resolution of disapproval, or do nothing.[160] The Act also included additional time beyond the sixty days for the president to veto a resolution and for Congress to take a vote on whether to override or sustain the veto.[161] Republicans could only defeat the deal if they mustered the two-thirds of both houses of Congress needed to override an expected veto by Obama of any resolution of disapproval.[160][162]

On 19 July 2015, the State Department officially transmitted to Congress the JCPOA, its annexes, and related materials.[163] These documents included the Unclassified Verification Assessment Report on the JCPOA and the Intelligence Community's Classified Annex to the Verification Assessment Report.[163] The sixty-day review period began the next day, 20 July,[163][164][160] and ended 17 September.[165] Senator Ted Cruz introduced a resolution seeking a delay in the review period, arguing that the sixty-day congressional review under the Act should not begin until the Senate obtains a copy of all bilateral Iran-IAEA documents. This resolution did not pass.[166][167] Ultimately, a resolution of disapproval was brought to the Senate floor, but failed. A resolution of approval was brought to the House floor, but it, too, failed. As a result, the agreement went into effect following congressional review period.[168]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Comprehensive_Plan_of_Action#Signatories

[Norbert M Salamon]

The main value of Iran vis--vis Russian Federation in the present US/Iran conflict is that Iran keeps the Jihadists far from the Caspian Sea, the underbelly. Anyone who presumes that Russia will allow Regime change and or destruction of Iran must have overdosed on Kool Aid.
What is between Syria/ Hezbollah / Iran was discussed in Jerusalem by the head of the Russian Security Council with Mr. Bolton et al, and is not pertinent to Russia's concern of Caspian Sea area's security. This position regarding this area is very similar to the matter of Crimea and possible US/NATO control thereof sans reunification with Russia./

[fasteddiez]

Johnb
Abu Musa has had their defenses built up for a long time. Also, if the Iranians knew they were in a real war, the amphibs, which would have to be inside the Persian Gulf, would already have had a welcoming committee of anti ship missiles.