by Stephen Lendman

Barbara Mikulski (D. MD) became the 34th US senator declaring support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) - defeating Republicans, Democrat hardliners, Israel and AIPAC’s $50 million propaganda campaign. Its intensive lobbying and ad blitz came up short.

Mikulski’s statement showed she’s no profile in courage. Instead of forthrightly rejecting anti-Iranian hate-mongering, endorsing what lessens chances for greater Middle East war, she called herself “an unabashed and unwavering supporter of Israel” - ignoring its blood-drenched history, apartheid much worse than South Africa’s, and decades of ruthless persecution of millions of Palestinians, defenseless against its killing machine.

“Some have suggested we reject this deal and impose unilateral sanctions to force Iran back to the table,” she said. But maintaining or stepping up sanctions will only work if the sanction coalition holds together.”

“It’s unclear if the European Union, Russia, China, India and others would continue sanctions if Congress rejects this deal. At best, sanctions would be porous, or limited to unilateral sanctions by the US.”

Obama needs seven more Senate votes to filibuster Republicans’ intention to reject the deal. Otherwise, he’ll have to veto what both Houses pass - with enough Senate support to sustain it.

Other P5+1 countries and Iran indicated no intent to renegotiate what’s already approved if America reneges. Rejection would make it more of a pariah state than already.

Iran’s isolation is ending. Its being accepted back into the world community of nations as it deserves. Other countries are eager to normalize relations. Any US attempt to undermine what’s in progress won’t work.

At the same time, the dawn of a new US/Iranian relationship hasn’t arrived. On Wednesday, John Kerry indicated continued Washington hostility, saying:

“Have no doubt. The United States will oppose Iran’s destabilizing policies with every national security tool available.”

Kerry ignored the Islamic Republic’s peace and stability agenda, a nuclear-free Middle East, favoring mutual cooperation with all nations - polar opposite US and Israeli policy, two rogue states threatening world peace.

JCPA was never about preventing Iran’s path to the bomb. Claiming it wants what it clearly rejects is red herring cover for Washington’s real objective - regime change, replacing Tehran’s sovereign independent government with a pro-Western puppet one, at the same time eliminating Israel’s main regional rival.

Thirty-six years of failure haven’t changed these objectives. Washington readied war plans years ago, updating them as conditions warranted.

They can be implemented any time by presidential order - by Obama before his tenure ends or his successor. Chances increase substantially if it’s a Clinton administration.

As a 2008 presidential aspirant, she said “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m president, we will attack Iran. In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them” - code language for nuclear war she’d order, mass murdering millions of Iranians.

Republicans haven’t admitted defeat. They have an alternate plan in mind. The 1996 Iran Sanctions Act expires next year after the 2010 Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA) extended it.

It prohibits US and foreign oil and gas development investments exceeding $20 million. Violators face stiff penalties. They include denial of Export-Import Bank of the United States help, rejection of export licenses, and a ban on all or some violating company imports.

Republicans want the law extended another decade. They want new sanctions imposed. They want greater regional conflicts and instability than already.

They fundamentally oppose peace in a part of the world without it for decades. Their agenda supports endless wars. So do most Democrats.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.