As with senators and congressman from other districts with large Jewish populations, how Congressman Joseph Kennedy was going to come down has been significant. Here’s his statement…
Newton, MA – Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by the P5+1 and currently under Congressional Review according to the Iran Nuclear Review Act of 2015.
“For the better part of a century, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have sought to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Despite these efforts, Iran continued to make progress on an illicit nuclear program, until a punishing regime of international sanctions forced them to the negotiating table. The diplomatic agreement reached as a result is intended to shut down that program and keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands. When this deal comes before Congress for a vote, I will support its adoption because I believe it is the most effective means we have to achieve that goal.
“Under the proposed deal, the international community has stated unequivocally that Iran will never be permitted to build a nuclear weapon—not today, not tomorrow, not in 10 or 20 or 50 years. Iran will be allowed to develop specific aspects of a peaceful nuclear program, but the deal’s restrictions paralyze progress on every single path to a bomb. Additionally, the most rigorous inspections regime ever negotiated puts us in a powerful position to ensure these paths remain closed for the lifetime of the agreement.
“Successful execution of this deal will require vigilance, verification and cooperation across the international community. If Iran cheats, they must be exposed and stopped. If Iran continues to support terrorist groups that target our allies, they, along with their proxies, need to be held accountable for any attack. And the United States must compliment enforcement of this deal with a clear and strong foreign policy throughout the region that upholds remaining arms embargoes, reinforces alliances in the Gulf States, and renews our commitment to Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge.
“Critics of the agreement have voiced valid concerns about the risks inherent in this deal. I share many of them. But the ultimate question before us is how to put the United States in the strongest possible position to stop a nuclear Iran. I believe opposing this deal outright leaves us with a weaker hand than executing it with vigorous enforcement, a clear-eyed acknowledgment of its shortcomings, and a commitment to improving it in the months to come.
“After several weeks of analysis, briefings, and extensive conversations with constituents, I support this deal not because it is perfect or without risk. I support this deal because it is rooted in science and anchored by verification. I support it because it decreases the odds we will need to use military force in Iran and strengthens our position to do so if we ever must. I support this deal because it is the best means before us today to keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands.”
Kennedy has been smoking too much medical marijuana.
This deal assures Iran not only of eventual nuclear weapons, but also the means to deliver them. It also assures them a lot of money, not just the relief of sanctions, but also the business that everyone seems anxious to do with them, and that means they’ll continue to build up their conventional military capability, which is what I think they really want, and what they are currently doing. And they’ll further support terrorism.
As crazy as they are, with messianic religious fervor, they aren’t crazy enough to test the US and Israel by using nuclear weapons. They’ll just do what ISIS is doing, but for the advancement of their Shiite Islam.
The worst thing is that, although they’ll keep all their ability to produce enriched uranium, and will secretly produce highly enriched uranium at sites we are prohibited from inspecting, they will insist that they are the good guys and that Israel must submit to inspections. They really want Israel stripped of the nuclear weapons that many people believe Israel has, but has never admitted to. Then they can barrage Israel with conventional missiles, supported by Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the west, with the rockets Iran has supplied.
Kennedy is too smart to believe what is written in this article. But, maybe not.
Very good news.
I’m glad Kennedy finally backed this deal. If anyone in Newton would like to know more about this deal from an expert, on my radio show (which I record in Waban, although it airs in Delaware) I recently interviewed former Ambassador Nicholas Burns, a career State Department diplomat who was the lead U.S. negotiator on the Iran talks back in George W. Bush’s second term. You can hear that interview here: http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/2015/08/19/aug-19-2015-ep-139-interview-with-amb-nicholas-burns/
Amb. Burns is no friend of Iran, as he made very clear in this interview, and he doesn’t even go as far as to say he would trust Iran, but he supports this deal and has testified multiple times to Congress in favor of it. He did so for two big reasons:
1. The deal is built on strong verification and enforcement mechanisms, not trust.
2. There is no better diplomatic alternative realistically available. and if the U.S. blocks this deal, the international community will part ways with us and make us the bad guy in the situation.
Scientifically the deal is also very sound. There won’t be “secret” enrichment happening — because they lack the domestic supplies and can’t acquire/import it without being caught — and they can’t build teeny-tiny nuclear bombs with the limited amount of uranium they will be permitted to keep because that’s not how nuclear weapons science works.
A war with Iran is not an option. It would be catastrophic for the Iranian people, unsuccessful in its tactical goals, and would enmesh the United States further in an already dangerously fragmented region at a time when we simply cannot afford to.
I kind of thought he would do the right thing. He did.
Shocker. Who would have thought one of our Congressional delegation would have supported the president?
Weak move on JK3’s part to support the JPCOA. His children and grandchildren will live under threat of Iran’s anti-American wrath, and will be able to hold him partially accountable. (Not too big a surprise, as Great-grandpa Joe Kennedy was known to hate Jews. Where is Kennedy’s love for America?)
Between Joe Kennedy, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Eliz Warren and Mike Capuano, I am decidedly embarrassed to associate myself with these Massachusetts Democrats
Honestly, Janet? Disagree but questioning the man’s patriotism?
Sorry to be a broken record here, but I have to ask this again. How is it that this individual is tolerated as a “leader” of the Newton Democratic City Committee?
Everyone is entitled to their views but right now I’m calling on Ward 1 leaders and City Committee officers to explain how Janet Sterman continues to hold a “leadership” position on the Newton City Democratic Committee.
Hateful remarks? Where is the tolerance by the editor of this blog who moderates every post I enter onto this “community” blog? Can you spell WITCH HUNT? We are not in Salem anymore folks…
Greg,
This is a serious business, and attacking Janet is just plain hateful.
When the dust settles on this deal, the Middle East will be more unstable than it has become under the direction of Obama and Hillary. Libya is a mess. We helped create that, killing an ambassador in the process. Iraq, which was stable, is a mess due to our withdrawal, which O is so proud of. Syria is a mess, because we threatened Assad, but never did anything. Egypt was saved from Obama’s pal Mohammed Morsi by Al-Sisi, which Obama hates, but still has serious problems. Yemen is a disaster. Prior to Obama, most of that area was stable, even if the leaders were questionable.
Now, a country bent on recreating the Persian Empire with a Muslim character has been given the keys to a nuclear weapon in a decade. To a society that looks upon history back to the Persian Empire, a decade is a moment. To a society that is short-sighted like ours, and expects results by the end of a two-hour movie, it seems like a long way out. 2005 is 10 years ago. Was that so long ago?
Israel is in the cross-hairs and no-one here cares, but that’s no surprise. However, the US will pay for it too, only it will take longer.
@Barry: If I had a chance I would have written my prior comment more clearly, although I don’t regret what I said.
My reaction had nothing to do with the Iran deal. I respect that good people disagree about this.
My reaction was in response to Janet Sterman’s audacity to question Joe Kennedy’s patriotism, while also having the audacity to drag his family into it.
Because let’s face it, while I’m sure there are other American families who’ve sacrificed as much for this country, no family in our nation has sacrificed more in service to our nation than the Kennedy family.
Janet’s comments alone would be unfortunate (and not worthy of a comment) on their own but they are egregious because she holds a position of “leadership” in our city’s Democratic party.
To be clear, I’m not calling on the other leaders to take a public stand either way on the Iran deal. To each their own. I’m calling on the members of our City Democratic Committee to say that they disagree with one of their fellow “leaders” suggesting that Joe Kennedy doesn’t love our country.
Greg, are you even a member of the NDCC. If not, what are you talking about?
While I agree, that bringing Kennedys family into the conversation is a bit much. I don’t think that questioning an elected officials patriotism is over the top. You obviously disagree. BUT, why can’t you just say you disagree and thats it? Why must you get all emotional and irrational and call for her to sitdown? The NDCC is not going to change leaders because Greg Reibman says so. Just chill, dude.
@Greg: Not sure what power you think we have. Janet is elected by her fellow Ward 1 Democratic colleagues. There are many things said or done by my fellow Dems that I disagree with – Janetś remark regarding Joe Kennedy’s ¨love for America”certainly rises to the top of the list. I’ve met Joe Kennedy and campaigned with Joe Kennedy and I believe he believes he is acting in the country’s best interest and there his love of this country should not be questioned. But Janet is entitled to her own opinion and if her Ward 1 Democratic colleagues decide she should continue her post – so be it.