Just wanted to post here to say that I am so happy for today's Iran deal

[karynnj]

It was absolutely amazing how much time, effort and sheer methodological intelligence the Kerry/Moniz team put into getting a good deal. Kerry's combination of brilliance, creativity, patience and the ability to listen are incredibly rare. He would have made an awesome President, but it may be that he will have more impact through his job as Secretary of State. This and other accomplishments make him easily the best Secretary of State we have had since George Marshall.

This may well allow the world to avoid a war that could have been more catastrophic than the Iraq war -- and that was pretty bad. It could be a needed step to calm down that entire area. I suspect that Israel is in a permanent state similar to our post 911 with regards to Iran. Netanyahu's responses have not been rational - from his bizarre tweets in Farsi telling the Iranians that it was a bad deal for them to his statements that he will continue the battle on this via Congress. I suspect that this overt lobbying by a foreign country against the President can backfire -- as it did last March when Democrats actually moved AWAY from the call for sanctions.

I saw Tom Cotton this morning on Morning Joe and his comments were strange. They bore no resemblance to the deal and it was clear he had not listened to Obama (Kerry had not spoken yet.) The one who was more troubling was the ignoble Menendez, who strangely was upset that they included banning arms sales and missiles for 6 and 8 years respectively. Somehow he did not get that alternative was that they were an international sanction that would be dropped all together. I suspect it is a combination of being well paid by AIPAC and he's still angry about Cuba.

Both the President and the Secretary did a great job defining what was in the deal. It will be interesting seeing how they attempt to gain support against the neocons and people led by Netanyahu.

[Iliyah]

1. Time for more and more, absolute more, fearmongering by the GOP

backed up by corporate media.

[karynnj]

2. However, this is something that needs only slightly more than a third of either House of Congress

That is why, we should all lobby our Congressperson and Senators - even if we think they are ok on this. We KNOW the other side will be out there. I would hope that there are even some Republicans who are reachable. The country is war weary - and Iran is bigger and more unified than Iraq ever was. I have heard at least 3 Republican talking heads - sadly shake their heads and argue that it is "unfair" to call people against it pro war. In two of the cases, NO ONE had said that or anything near it. This suggests they know that it is a strong argument.

In reality, I think it is interesting that it is harder to lobby for diplomacy than attacking a country (ie Bush in 2003).

[MBS]

3. Thanks.

I'm thrilled about this agreement, achieved against all odds.
And very grateful to Sec. Kerry , Pres. Obama and Sec. Moniz., and the State Department's Wendy Sherman. The courage and persistence of Sec. Kerry has been, simply, awe-inspiring--and it's so wonderful to see the well-deserved result of his very hard work.
And, I have to say, their Iranian counterparts deserve lots of credit , too.. The involvement of Sec. Moniz and his Iranian nuclear-expert counterpart was a crucial part of this negotiation. .Chalk one up for science here.
Kerry's and Moniz' diplomatic sensitivity to the individual players in the negotiation was equally impressive. They so thoughtfully that built on the ties of the Iranian diplomatic team and the education of several of them at American universities. (If memory serves, the Iranian nuclear expert -- or was it Sharif?- was educated at MIT. .)

Anyway, wonderful, wonderful news.

[JI7]

4. US Sen. Elizabeth Warren credits Secretary of State John Kerry for reaching nuclear deal with Iran

Saying diplomacy is the best way to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren praised Secretary of State John F. Kerry for reaching a landmark deal Tuesday to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions in relief from international sanctions.

"In the coming weeks, I look forward to reviewing the details of this agreement to determine whether they are tough, verifiable and effective," the senior Democratic senator from Massachusetts said.

For now, though, Kerry, President Barack Obama and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz deserve "great credit for working with our allies to reach a negotiated solution to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran without resorting to military action," Warren said.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/us_sen_elizabeth_warren_credit.html

the comments section is full of ignorant trash

[karynnj]

5. cool -thanks for this

I hope the hearings move more Democrats to make statements like this. I suspect that the long history Kerry has with the Senate will convince many. ( I look back to how incredible he was with the START deal. I hope there will be joint hearings with him and Moniz.

[MBS]

6. Very glad to hear this. n/t

[YvonneCa]

7. Thanks for the thread, karynnj. Video...

...this group needs to see:

https://twitter.com/barbaraslavin1/status/621463448174612481

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=YmpDEFO7-oQ


Thank you, Secretary Kerry.

[karynnj]

8. Definitely must see for this group

Let's hope that all the hard work of these teams averts a war. I had been impressed by Sherman, but seeing this I am amazed at how incredible she is -- even though obviously exhausted.

[YvonneCa]

9. She is amazing. I hope the whole team...

...will get some rest now. They did great work.