Obama: ‘My Nuclear Deal Is Just Like Reagan and the Soviets’
Republicans “are going to be opposed to anything that I do.”
In an interview with NPR, Barack Obama admitted that at the end of 15 years his nuclear deal will leave Iran with a breakout period for nuclear weapons of “a matter of months.” But that’s no reason to toss the deal, he insists. “We will know when they are doing it in such a way that we can respond,” Obama promised. “If in fact the breakout times now are a few months, and we’re able to push that breakout time out to a year so that we have more time and space to see whether or not Iran is cheating on an agreement, kicking out inspectors [and] going for a nuclear weapon. If the breakout time is extended for 15 years and then it goes back to where it is right now, why is that a bad deal?” One reason it’s a bad deal would be giving Iran $150 billion in sanctions relief with which to fund its terrorist proxies and expand regional hegemony, all before going nuclear in another 15 years — if not sooner. But anyone opposed is just playing politics, he says. “Unfortunately, a large portion of the Republican Party, if not a near-unanimous portion of Republican representatives, are going to be opposed to anything that I do.” Besides, when everyone sees that “whatever parade of horribles was presented in opposition have not come true,” they’ll love his deal. Finally, he pointed to Ronald Reagan negotiating with the Soviet Union having worked out pretty well, so why shouldn’t he get a crack at Iran? Whereas Reagan said, “Trust, but verify,” Obama says, “Trust me, and vilify the opposition.” He’s far tougher on Republicans than the ayatollahs (except when he’s comparing the two), and he’s not going to abide opposition here. That’s why he’s even after Chuck Schumer.