Jeb Bush on Iran deal: ‘This isn’t diplomacy – it is appeasement’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Presidential candidate Jeb Bush had some thoughts about the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran:

The nuclear agreement announced by the Obama Administration today is a dangerous, deeply flawed, and short sighted deal.

A comprehensive agreement should require Iran to verifiably abandon – not simply delay – its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.

Based on initial reports and analysis, it appears this agreement does not “cut off all of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon” – in fact, over time it paves Iran’s path to a bomb. Most of the key restrictions last for only 10 to 15 years.  Even before the deal expires, it could allow Iran to develop an industrial-scale enrichment program and continue its R&D on advanced centrifuges and development of an ICBM.

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu: ‘What a stunning, historic mistake’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Obama administration’s Iran deal a “stunning, historic mistake” (see Netanyahu calls Iran deal ‘historic mistake’ by Joshua Mitnick in the Wall Street Journal):

When you are willing to make an agreement at any cost, this is the result. From the initial reports we can already conclude that this agreement is an historic mistake for the world.

Far-reaching concessions have been made in all areas that were supposed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability. In addition, Iran will receive hundreds of billions of dollars with which it can fuel its terror machine and its expansion and aggression throughout the Middle East and across the globe.

One cannot prevent an agreement when the negotiators are willing to make more and more concessions to those who, even during the talks, keep chanting: ‘Death to America.’

We knew very well that the desire to sign an agreement was stronger than anything, and therefore we did not commit to preventing an agreement.

We did commit to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and this commitment still stands.

For Israel, the Obama administration has been considered a threat to their future. Today, that threat continues.

Jennifer Rubin: WaPost’s breath of fresh air defends Israel’s Netanyahu – Updated

Benjamin Netanyahu political TV ad.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

When the Washington Post goes completely off the rails, as they have in the Benjamin Netanyahu issue, it is nice to read the rational righting-of-the-ship from “Right Turn” Post blogger Jennifer Rubin who presents a conservative perspective against a tide of liberal-think.

Amid the ongoing embarrassment of the Obama administration’s treatment of Israel in general and Netanyahu in particular for the past six years, and the unbelievable snub of not congratulating Netanyahu for his historic win on Tuesday, Rubin thumps the administration by pointing out some obvious observations (see Will Democrats follow Obema’s lead on Israel?).

Comstock’s yes vote on DHS protects borders, air travel, ports

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-10th) voted for the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, along with the majority, to see it pass in the U.S. House on Tuesday. Concerns about national security prompted her vote, as she explained in a press release afterward:

“President Obama’s misguided foreign policy that rewards our enemies and slights our allies has created an unstable world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded all of us of that today in the House.  I voted today to fund the Department of Homeland Security because we must continue to protect our borders, air travel, and ports with the dedicated employees that work tirelessly each and every day to keep America safe in this dangerous world.

“I fundamentally disagree with President Obama’s constitutional overreach on immigration.  This bill contains no funding to carry out the unilateral actions by President Obama on immigration. [emphasis added]

U.S. House schedule for Tuesday, March 3, 2015

From Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s office….

TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business and recess immediately. The House will reconvene at approximately 10:45 a.m. for a Joint Meeting of Congress to receive His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.

Eric Cantor: ‘Listen to Netanyahu on Iran nuke dangers’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Majority Leader Eric Cantor remains engages in domestic and foreign policies and wrote an op-ed in Sunday’s USA Today on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (see Eric Cantor: Listen to Netanyahu on Iran nuke dangers):

This week a joint session of Congress will hear from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The temptation for many will be to focus on the political controversy surrounding his invitation and the administration’s displeasure with his visit. We should focus instead on the substantive concerns the prime minister is expected to share about the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the increasing threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Solidarity in Paris: the world rallies against radical terrorism

By Lynn R. Mitchell

As leaders from around the world gathered in France on Sunday to show solidarity against terrorism, it was noted that the President of the United States was not there. Taking Barack Obama’s place was U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley (see Obama, Kerry absent from unity rally in Paris):

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the march in Paris on Sunday, waving both French flags and those of other nations.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were among those who attended, along with religious leaders.