On Iran Deal: Soundbites Face off Against National Security

True diplomacy - “If the U.S. rejects this landmark deal, then we get the worst of both worlds: an erosion of sanctions and also an immediate revival of the Iran nuclear program. We have a glimpse of what might happen. In 2003, Iran seemingly offered a comprehensive ‘grand bargain’ to resolve relations with the United States, but George W. Bush’s administration dismissed it. Since then, Iran has gone from a tiny number of centrifuges to 19,000, getting within two months of ‘breakout’ to a nuclear weapon.”

--“The point: Fulmination is not a substitute for policy, and a multilateral international agreement achieves far more protection than finger-wagging. Diplomacy is rarely about optimal outcomes; it is about muddling along in the dark, dodging bullets, struggling to defer war and catastrophe for the time being, nurturing opportunities for a better tomorrow. By that standard, the Iran deal succeeds. Sure, it is flawed, and yes, it makes us safer.” Full story from Nicholas Kristof for The New York Times here. http://nyti.ms/1IaUD4u

This is not child’s play - “Republicans demanded both the right to review the deal and to vote on it. Democrats accepted these demands,” writes Joel Rubin for Washington Jewish Week. “And when Congress passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act to create the current review period, there was a flicker of hope that this would lead to serious bipartisan review. But unfortunately that dynamic has not taken root.”

--“Already, a majority of House Republicans — nearly 170 — cosponsored legislation opposing the deal before it had even been provided to Congress for review. This is not serious policy review. This is serious political posturing.” Read full article here. http://bit.ly/1JTKSrV

Tweet - @TheIranDeal: Q from @SenAngusKing: Is there a way Iran could clean up any fissile material in 24 days? A: No. Here's why. http://t.co/NnRbzHQioe

No, Iran is not getting $150 billion - “There is a lot of discussion out there that Iran is going to somehow get $150 billion as soon as sanctions are lifted. That is incorrect,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said at an event on Wednesday. In reality, “Iran will receive approximately $55 billion in sanctions relief once the nuclear deal is implemented...a fraction of the $150 billion that critics of the agreement have claimed will go to the country.” Full story in the Huffington Post here. http://huff.to/1LSZ9cG

Tweet - @DoyleMcManus: Yes, there are alternatives to Obama's Iran deal other than war. But are any of them likely to work? No. http://t.co/564U5OwTxc

Discord in the ranks - Israel’s consul general in Philadelphia, Yaron Sideman, sent a classified telegram to Israel this week, warning his government that, “the American Jewish community is divided over the nuclear agreement with Iran, and does not stand united behind Israel,” reports Haaretz, which managed to obtain a copy of the message.

--“At this crucial point of the Iranian issue – which for years has been at the core of Israeli foreign policy and was described countless times by the Israeli leadership as an existential threat – the Jewish community in the United States is not standing as a united front behind Israel and important parts of it are on the fence.” Full story here. http://bit.ly/1eCV8Me

Tweet - @jstreetdotorg: Fmr Maj. Gen. @AmramMitzna: I must state loud & clear: #IranDeal is better than no agreement & must not be rejected. bit.ly/1VPpNrH

Quick Hit:

--“Carter: Successful Iran nuclear deal better than strike,” by Deb Riechmann for the AP. http://yhoo.it/1MzIYm8

Events:

--“Understanding the Iran Nuclear Deal,” featuring Brig. Gen. (ret.) Stephen Cheney, Adm. (ret.) William Fallon, Trita Parsi and Laura Rozen. Tuesday, August 4th from 12:00 - 1:30 PM at American Security Project, Seventh Floor, 1100 New York Ave, NW, West Tower, Washington, DC. http://bit.ly/1LPH3Ip

--“Global Zero’s Annual ‘Bike Around the Bomb’” allows the public to bike around the perimeter of a hypothetical ‘small’ nuclear blast while promoting peace and security. Bikes may be provided. Sunday, August 9th at 10:00 AM at Lafayette Park, in front of the White House. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1gckDWm

--“Emerging Missile Defense and SMDC Requirements,” featuring Lt. Gen. David Mann, Commander U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Wednesday, September 16th from 8:00 - 9:00 AM at Capitol Hill Club, 300 First Street, SE, Washington, DC. RSVP here. http://conta.cc/1Iu22Qe

Dessert:

--“They are too old to go to war, but that won’t stop these brave senators from trying to start one with Iran,” Funny or Die presents, “The Dealbreakers.” http://bit.ly/1I4qXZb

--And:

--Jack Black and Morgan Freeman support Iran nuclear deal for fear of becoming “super dead.” Analysis by Catherine Shoard for The Guardian. http://bit.ly/1IstAoY