Both Democrats and Republicans Skeptical of Iran Deal

Both sides of the political aisle expressed strong skepticism over the deal announced in Geneva early Sunday that dropped many sanctions against Iran in exchange for concessions in its nuclear program.

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Eliot Engel both of New York joined numerous Republicans in criticizing the deal on Sunday.

Engel expressed doubt on Sunday the plan will succeed without continued sanctions.

"I don't think you make them bargain in good faith by going squishy," Engel, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Relations Committee told CNN's "State of the Union."

"I think we could have played good cop, bad cop, and Congress really believes sanctions should happen," Engel said. "That's what brought Iran to the table in the first place."

Schumer said in a statement that he was disappointed in the interim deal reached in Geneva regarding Iran’s nuclear program, saying "it does not seem proportional" because "Iran simply freezes its nuclear capabilities while we reduce the sanctions."

Sen. Bob Menendez, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also criticized what he perceived as a more one-sided deal that benefits Iran. 

But the New Jersey Democrat also said that he expected any further sanctions legislation would adjust for the six-month window in the interim agreement, allowing for negotiators to work on a permanent deal.

“I expect that the forthcoming sanctions legislation to be considered by the Senate will provide for a six month window to reach a final agreement before imposing new sanctions on Iran, but will at the same time be immediately available should the talks falter or Iran fail to implement or breach the interim agreement,” Menendez said in a statement.

On Thursday, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that he planned to move a sanctions measure when the Senate returns from a two-week Thanksgiving break on Dec. 9. Reid was noticeably quiet on Sunday in what some observers interpreted as resistance to the deal.

Via: Newsmax

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Dem Rep. Argues Obama ‘Well Within His Right’ to Ignore Congress on Syria

In an interview on MSNBC with anchor Thomas Roberts, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) was asked to respond to audio of a number of Democratic leaders in Congress saying that PresidentGeorge W. Bush did not have the constitutional authority to attack Iran without the approval of Congress. Engel said that his reading of the War Powers Act suggests that President Barack Obama does not need authorization but merely needs to consult with members of Congress before striking Syria. 

Roberts began by asking what the president told Engle, and other members of Congress, last night on a conference call regarding the situation in Syria. Engel replied that Obama himself was not on that call, but a number of his advisors said that they were certain chemical weapons were used by Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Roberts later played clips of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Vice President Joe Biden, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) all saying Bush had no constitutional authority to attack Iran without the consent of Congress.

“We have ample precedents of presidents taking action before consulting with Congress or getting Congress’ approval,” Engel asserted.

“The way ride the War Powers Act is the president can move and needs to consult carefully and closely with congress and congress has to vote within 60 days,” he added. “I don’t think what the president is talking about will last anywhere near 60 days.”

“I don’t think what the president is talking about will last anywhere near 60 days,” Engel continued. “And I think the president is well within his right, after informing congress and have robust discussions with Congress under the War Powers Act, to act on his own.”

Watch the clip below via MSNBC:

Via: Mediaite.com

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