Obama: Iran's Washington Lobbyist

Months ago, I argued that the Iranian nuclear deal was so bad that it was hard to see how Barack Obama was acting as anything other than a lobbyist for the Islamic Republic. Tehran got virtually everything it demanded. Time and again, the U.S. constantly gave in to Iranian demands for more concessions.

The deal was so bad that Obama plotted to avoid the Constitution's treaty approval process because he knew it would never pass muster with the people's representatives.

The deal was so bad that Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes even admitted to lying about it in order to deceive the public.

Not surprisingly, we are still learning just how bad this deal is and how much we were lied to by the Obama Administration.

What is surprising is the source of the latest revelations -- Politico, a reliably liberal publication. Many Washington conservatives are shocked that Politico "committed an act of journalism."

Sarcasm aside, we are now learning that there was another "hidden giveaway" involved in the deal. Politico reports that the Obama White House "derailed its own much-touted National Counterproliferation Initiative at a time when it was making unprecedented headway in thwarting Iran's proliferation networks."

How so? Obama freed several Iranians who were intimately involved in Tehran's illegal weapons trade.

When Obama made the announcement, as part of a hostage swap, he again lied to the American people. On January 17, 2016, Obama said that he was releasing seven Iranians as part of a "one-time, humanitarian gesture." He added, "These individuals were not charged with terrorism or any violent offenses." He added that they were "civilians."

Here are the facts from Politico's investigation:
 

• Three allegedly were part of an illegal procurement network supplying Iran with U.S.-made microelectronics with applications in surface-to-air and cruise missiles.
   
• One was serving an eight-year sentence for conspiring to supply Iran with satellite technology and hardware.
   
• In addition, the Justice Department dropped charges and international arrest warrants against 14 other men.
   
• Three sought to lease Boeing aircraft for an Iranian airline that had supported Hezbollah.
   
• A fourth was charged with conspiring to buy thousands of assault rifles for Iran.
   
• A fifth was part of a procurement network that provided Iran with components for an especially deadly type of IED known to have killed hundreds of American troops in Iraq.

  Politico writes that federal prosecutors and investigators "were shocked and angry." One former federal law enforcement supervisor said, "They didn't just dismiss a bunch of innocent business guys."

  But there was more. The Obama Administration sabotaged active investigations. "Justice and State Department officials denied or delayed requests from prosecutors and agents to lure some key Iranian fugitives to friendly countries so they could be arrested," Politico writes.

  A weapons proliferation expert added, "This is a scandal. The cases bear all the hallmarks of exactly the kinds of national security threats we're still going after. It's stunning and hard to understand. . ."

  Thankfully, President Trump has ordered his national security team to reevaluate the Iranian nuclear deal. In the meantime, the White House should identify and fire any Obama officials involved in this scandal.

  Another Nuclear Nightmare

  There are a lot of big issues being considered in Washington right now. But one of the biggest and most unpredictable is on Donald Trump's plate because the last several presidents were so short-sighted that they allowed North Korea to turn into a nuclear nightmare.

  Some people have observed that top administration officials have gone all over the world in recent weeks. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Moscow recently. Secretary of Defense Mattis was in Israel. Vice President Mike Pence was in Asia. Were they delivering private messages about future action on North Korea?

  Yesterday, President Trump hosted representatives of the U.N. Security Council at the White House. He told them he was disappointed with the U.N.'s failures and that "it's time to solve the problem" of North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

  News broke late yesterday that there will be a meeting at the White House tomorrow with all 100 senators during which top administration officials will brief them about the threats posed by the Stalinist North Korean regime.

  While his predecessors have passed the buck on North Korea, Donald Trump seems determined to deal with this menace.

  Never Again

  President Donald Trump delivered a speech this morning commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Below are excerpts of his remarks.

  "The State of Israel is an eternal monument to the undying strength of the Jewish people. The fervent dream that burned in the hearts of the oppressed is now filled with the breath of life, and the Star of David waves atop a great nation arisen from the desert.

  "To those in the audience who have served America in uniform, our country eternally thanks you. We are proud and grateful to be joined today by veterans of the Second World War who liberated survivors from the camps. Your sacrifice helped save freedom for the world -- for the entire world. . .

  "The survivors in this hall, through their testimony, fulfill the righteous duty to never forget, and engrave into the world's memory the Nazi genocide of the Jewish people. You witnessed evil, and what you saw is beyond description, beyond any description. . . The Nazis massacred 6 million Jews. Two out of every three Jews in Europe were murdered in the genocide. . .

  "Yet, even today, there are those who want to forget the past. Worse still, there are even those filled with such hate, total hate, that they want to erase the Holocaust from history. Those who deny the Holocaust are an accomplice to this horrible evil. . .

  "We've seen anti-Semitism on university campuses, in the public square, and in threats against Jewish citizens. Even worse, it's been on display in the most sinister manner when terrorists attack Jewish communities, or when aggressors threaten Israel with total and complete destruction.

  "This is my pledge to you: We will confront anti-Semitism. We will stamp out prejudice. We will condemn hatred. We will bear witness. And we will act. As president of the United States, I will always stand with the Jewish people -- and I will always stand with our great friend and partner, the State of Israel."