Commentary

Guest Column

Faults and Flaws

Two Jews And
Three opinions

Why I voted to reject a bad deal with Iran.

E

arlier this month, the House of
Representatives brought up for
consideration H.R. 3461, "To
Approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action:' signed at Vienna on July
14, relating to the nuclear program
of Iran.
While my colleagues deliber-
ated the merits of the agreement,
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei took to Twitter to espouse
his hatred, stating that the "U.S. is the
Great Satan" and that Israel
"will not see [the] next 25
years." This is the leader in
whom we are being asked to
place our trust.
In March, I joined 346
of my Republican and
Democratic colleagues in a
letter authored by Chairman
Ed Royce and Ranking
Member Eliot Engel that out-
lined issues that needed to be
addressed by Iran in a com-
prehensive nuclear agree-
ment. The letter concluded
by stating that, "Congress must be
convinced that the agreement's terms
foreclose any pathway to a bomb and,
only then, will Congress be able to
consider permanent sanctions relief"
To foreclose any pathway to a
bomb would have necessitated that
the agreement be multiple decades
in duration; would have required the
Iranian regime to fully disclose past
efforts to build a nuclear weapon;
would have included compulsory
reduction in the number of centrifug-
es; and, most importantly, would have
been enforced through strong inspec-
tions measures.
After reading the current agreement
and listening to the analysis of various
experts as well as the opinions of my
colleagues, I am disappointed to say
that this agreement falls far short of
foreclosing any pathway to a bomb.
To the contrary, this agreement
brings Iran to the brink of becoming a
nuclear weapons state; and eight short
years from now, provides them with a
pathway to acquiring the technology
to strike Europe and beyond.
To ease the concerns of my non-
committal colleagues, the president
promised that a "military option"
remained on the table should Iran vio-
late the terms of the agreement.
I'm awestricken that my colleagues
on the left have fallen for the assur-
ances of the same administration that
promised a red line in Syria and still

allows Iran to hold four Americans
closer to having nuclear weapons,
captive. This is the same empty rheto-
allowing them to procure the means of
ric that has sustained the Syrian civil
delivering them long range and open-
war, the Libyan civil war, ISIL control-
ing their oil coffers to fund terrorist
ling Western Iraq and an imperialist
attacks, we are, in fact, securing the
Vladimir Putin that has annexed sov-
regime against societal change.
ereign Ukrainian territory.
For six long years, we have pinned
Around the world, our allies are
our foreign policy on hope instead of
shuddering in the wake of an incre-
"peace through strength"; today, the
mental American retreat from our role world is more unstable than at any
as the preeminent superpower and
point in my lifetime. It is far time
guarantor of peace. The relationship
for a change in course to a confident
between Israel and the
America, resolute in its commitment
— United States is at a his-
to peace and nonproliferation — but
toric low point at a time
through force if necessary.
of incredible regional
If the Iranian regime does not
instability.
strictly and transparently abide by
I recently visited Israel
the terms of this weak agreement, the
and met with Prime
next president must immediately take
Minister Netanyahu. I
action to prevent a nuclear Iran.
wish that I could have
A deal that enables a belligerent
state sponsor of terror to have access
told him that, irrespec-
tive of party differ-
to hundreds of billions of dollars and
nuclear weapons that will allow its
ences, the United States
atrocities to continue in perpetuity is
remained steadfastly
not a deal for security; it is a deal of
committed to the secu-
concession.
rity of Israel and the sta-
I fear concession is the path the
bility of the Middle East, but I could
president has chosen, and the world
not say that in earnest when so many
will live with the consequences.
Democrats had already supported a
nuclear agreement with Iran that is
U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, repre-
fraught with flaws.
Make no mistake: The consequences sents Michigan's 8th Congressional District,
which includes parts of northern Oakland
of this deal are grave. When enacted,
County.
the president and his supporters will
have legitimized the nuclear weapons
program of an Iranian
regime that's central tenets
are "death to America" and
"death to Israel."
HAPPY HOLIDAY
This agreement will take
Iran one-step closer to
ON OUR HOLIDAY
FLIMSY, FRAGILE, 4‘1
making that dream a real-
OF SUCCOT, WE
LEAF-COVERED
ity. Across the region and
JEWS SIT IN
HUTS . . .
throughout the world, the
reverberations of American
appeasement will be
felt. Our enemies will be
emboldened, and our allies
will seek alternative means
of defending themselves.
Many of them already are.
The Iranian regime has
A LUXURY IN NI
HURRICANES, -44
cheated its way around
THESE TIMES OF
EARTHQUAKES,
agreements for decades and
FOLKS MADE
REVOLUTION,
is sponsoring terrorist orga-
HOMELESS BY
AND WAR!
nizations like Hezbollah at
this moment.
By accepting this deal,
Democrats have settled for
a bad deal with the hope
that broad, societal change
in Iran might take place.
www.drybonesproject.com
However, by bringing Iran

❑

Dry Bones

n a more perfect world, this old joke
would be just that, a joke. However, our
ability to speak with one voice about
Israel as American Jews is but a dream. Its
absence must not become a nightmare.
Our recent behavior related to the near-
ly 50/50 split among Jews supporting or
opposing the Iranian nuclear pact deserves
some reflection and analysis.
The good news is that our institutions
and individuals brought passion and
engagement to the debate. The not-so-
good news is that a shrill and apocalyptic
tenor characterized much of the discus-
sions.
As the debate
evolved, it became
clear that dedicated,
committed and
involved Jews and
their institutions felt
strongly on both sides
of the question. Thus,
1111 I
it was impossible to
Dr. Conrad
speak with a singular
Giles
Jewish voice.
My own position's reasoning paralleled
the views articulated by U.S. Sen. Debbie
Stabanow of Michigan (JN, Sept. 3). I
joined 29 other Jewish leaders in support
of this treaty as the best of the two avail-
able options. This was spelled out in one
of the dueling full-page ads in the New
York Times where other Jewish leader-
ship equally committed to Ahavat Yisrael
were signatories to other ads opposing the
agreement.
Looking back on this public airing on
this wide split within our community, I can-
not help but wonder if a more muted, less
public "family discussion" might have been
more helpful to the future of the Jewish
people and, more importantly, to the State
of Israel and its relationship with the U.S.
To this point, David Makovsky, in his dis-
cussion at a Jewish Community Relations
Council town meeting in Detroit, pointedly
stated one thing the United States and
Israel cannot tolerate is anger between the
two countries. I fear that our conduct did
little to help the diplomatic climate.
The debate regarding this pact is now
largely behind us. History will judge which
of our deeply held beliefs was correct. I
pray that yesterday's events do not give
rise to tomorrow's headlines.
Finally, I fervently hope, when issues
arise that clearly divide the Jewish com-
munity, we promote civil and reasoned
discussion that brings credit to us as a
people.

I

❑

Dr. Conrad Giles of Bloomfield Hills
is deputy president of World ORT.

September 24 • 2015

53