Netanyahu's Speech to Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his speech to a joint session of Congress today. Netanyahu outlined the extent of Iran's support for terror around the world. And, perhaps with some intent to clarify to liberal Jews just how grave the threat of Iranian nukes can be, he said: "...listen to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Iran's chief terrorist proxy. (Quoting Nasrallah): If all the Jews gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of chasing them down around the world."

Netanyahu told us what the Supreme Leader of Iran has said about their nuclear program: "Iran plans to have 190,000 centrifuges, not 6,000 or even the 19,000 that Iran has today, but 10 times that amount - 190,000 centrifuges enriching uranium. With this massive capacity, Iran could make the fuel for an entire nuclear arsenal ...in a matter of weeks, once it makes that decision."

After the speech, Obama claimed that Netanyahu offered no new suggestions. Obama's plan is to allow Iran nuclear capability and to ultimately provide for the lifting of economic sanctions. And the entire deal sunsets after ten years, after which time there will be no restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.

Netanyahu suggested that there should be no easing of restrictions until Iran "stop its aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East." And that Iran "stop supporting terrorism around the world." And that Iran "stop threatening to annihilate my country, Israel, the one and only Jewish state."

Netanyahu also noted that the deal has no requirement that Iran abandon its intercontinental ballistic missile system. Exactly what, if anything, does this "deal" require of Iran? And a huge question remains - just why does Iran need to keep and maintain any of its uranium enriching centrifuges? Iran claims that they only seek peaceful, civilian uses of their uranium. Honestly, I cannot believe that anybody buys that. They have had hidden and underground nuclear facilities. They are developing an ICBM, which has only one purpose - the delivery of a nuclear warhead.

There are quite a few countries in the world which are not nuclear powers, but which do have nuclear reactors for civilian use. And they do not enrich their own uranium - they import it. They import low grade - not weapons grade - uranium, and have no capabilities of enriching the uranium up to weapons grade. They do not have centrifuges.

So for the Democrats who were incensed by Netanyahu's speech, I would ask why are you not incensed by a deal that appears to ask next to nothing of the Iranians. No giving up their centrifuges. No giving up their ICBM program. No commitment to stop supporting terror. No requirement to stop threatening to wipe Israel off the map, along with a commitment not to do so.

Or, are you so tied to party loyalty over the safety and security of the United States and our allies, that you will rejoice when Obama announces that the deal has achieved "peace in our time."