Is it all over except Recriminations about the Iran Nuclear Deal?

Source: A March to Save America

Washington, DC, September 9, 2015

The announcement on Wednesday, September 2^nd  by  Maryland Democrat Senator Barbara Mikulski virtually clinched a possible Presidential veto override. More Democrats signed on, except one, her Maryland colleague, Sen. Benjamin Cardin.  Cardin is the ranking Senate Foreign Relations Chairman, co-author of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015.  Cardin stands with New York and New Jersey Democrat Senate colleagues, Schumer and Menendez, as the three Democrats who have declared opposition to the Iran deal. 

In quick succession just before the start of the Labor Day Holiday  New Jersey junior Senator Democrat Cory Booker, former Newark Mayor, Virginia’s Warner, North Dakota ‘s Heitkamp and Colorado’s Bennet signed on  to the deal.  The latest Senate Whip count on the looming Iran nuclear agreement vote shows five remaining Democrats, and four Republicans as undeclared. The remaining group of undeclared Democrats includes Blumenthal of Connecticut, Cantwell of Washington, Manchin of West Virginia, Peters of Michigan and Wyden of Oregon.   Republican undeclared includes Cochran of Mississippi, Collins of Maine, Enzi of Wyoming and Hatch of Utah. 

Assuming the remaining Democrats  declare in favor of the President’s position, while all the remaining Republican Senators declare with the Majority opposition position, that might prevent a cloture vote to end a possible filibuster which prevents  an up or down vote on the Iran pact.  That would fly in the face of leading US opinion polls with a majority of Americans urging their Senators and Congressional Representatives to reject the deal. 

If that occurs, President Obama may have a Pyrrhic victory, possibly costing Democrats seeking to oust the Republican Senate majority in the 2016 election.  Moreover that leaves Netanyahu and Obama at loggerheads for the remaining 16 months until a succeeding President is inaugurated in January 2017. The  issues  are what options remain for both the US and ally Israel  to assure the world  that  the Iranian Islamist regime does not cheat,  sneak out  development or acquire  nuclear weapons and their delivery means.  That could enable Iran  to carry out announced threats to overthrow Israel and even undertake war against the US.  Iranian Revolutionary Guard Brigadier General Mohsen Kazzemeini, speaking this past week in Tehran during Basij paramilitary maneuvers ,said:

They (the US and the Zionists) should know that the Islamic Revolution will continue enhancing its preparedness until it overthrows Israel and liberates Palestine.

We will continue defending not just our own country, but also all the oppressed people of the world, especially those countries that are standing on the forefront of confrontation with the Zionists.

There are hints of what might be done to forestall Iran in carrying out those threats.