Welcome to the alternative universe of Donald Trump and his congressional Republican allies. This president, enabled by a Republican-controlled Congress, has peddled numerous falsehoods over the past year, but his recent claims regarding the new Iran deal are a real whopper. We are asked to believe this is a “very strong” agreement. But, like buying a vehicle from a used-car salesman, which is exactly how Trump operates, it is essential to look under the hood. According to reliable sources, Iran will gain access to $400 billion to $500 billion. In return, the United States merely gets the Strait of Hormuz kept open for at least 60 days without tolls. This is a staggering concession, as prior to this war of choice, the passageway was already open at no cost. Furthermore, these steep payouts do not account for the $50-plus billion spent con- ducting the war, the depletion of our military assets and strategic oil reserves, the soaring costs passed on to American consumers, or our diminished standing on the world stage. To make matters worse, the language regarding nuclear weaponry appears conceptually identical to the previous agreement, the JCPOA. Ironically, the JCPOA was a comprehensive 159-page document filled with explicit details and precise verification measures. In contrast, Trump’s new deal is a mere two pages of broad generalizations completely devoid of accountability. If Representatives Dan Meuser and Glenn Thompson truly believe this is a good deal for America, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell them.
Timothy Knoster, Lewisburg