Relying on a Ted talk given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the wrecker in chief Donald Trump has done something he has threatened to do for some time and withdrawn the US of A from the Obama negotiated Iranian deal.
These headline grabbing events tend to occur at the same time that Trump is facing some personal difficulty. Recent news that there was a wiretap on his lawyer Michael Cohen, and the subsequent confirmation then denial that Trump knew that Cohen had paid Stormy Daniels hush money possibly in breach of electorate financing laws have given Trump every reason to try and divert.
But throw the Middle East into turmoil for a diversion seems to be a rather extreme thing to do. But that is what has happened.
From Radio New Zealand:
US President Donald Trump has announced the US will withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions.
Mr Trump has been highly critical of the 2015 accord, under which Iran limited its nuclear activities.
EU powers see it as the best way to stop Iran developing a nuclear bomb and their officials met a senior Iranian on Tuesday without US officials present.
The president’s announcement took place around 6.15am NZT. In the announcement he called the deal “defective at its core.”
“This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made,” Mr Trump said at the White House. “It didn’t bring calm. It didn’t bring peace. And it never will.”
The president said the US will institute the “highest level” of sanctions against Iran.
The Iranian Nuclear deal was an agreement between the five permanent members of the Security Council, the European Union and Iran designed to limit Iran’s acquisition of nuclear material. It provided for the closure of facilities, limitation of the purification of nuclear materials and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tearing it up will no doubt cause Iran to restart its attempts to obtain nuclear weapons.
And Trump’s allies, even the right wing ones, are opposed to his decision. Again from Radio New Zealand:
In a statement, France, Germany and the UK – who are also signatories to the deal – have said they “regret” the American decision.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, said the EU was “determined to preserve” the deal.
…
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urged Mr Trump not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” on Monday, while his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian made clear that France, the UK and Germany would continue to honour the accord.
Israel is very happy. But this means that it may no longer be the sole nuclear power in the middle east and I think its happiness is misplaced.
The President’s superficial thinking and his utter confidence in his opinions are real worries. I hope the world survives his term relatively intact.
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress