As Iran vote looms, both sides reach out to congressmen

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 8/27/15

The country seems divided on the Iran Nuclear Deal and the same goes for Rhode Island.

Local groups and individuals for and against the deal have been making the rounds, visiting Congressmen James …

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As Iran vote looms, both sides reach out to congressmen

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The country seems divided on the Iran Nuclear Deal and the same goes for Rhode Island.

Local groups and individuals for and against the deal have been making the rounds, visiting Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline.

The deal, which is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), would create restrictions and regulations in terms of Iran’s nuclear capabilities for 15 years in return for the lifting of economic embargoes and sanctions.

The agreement was signed back in July in Vienna, Austria between the U.S., Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Germany as well as the European Union.

For several years global powers have been concerned about Iran’s nuclear capabilities in making a bomb, and if the agreement were to move forward the country would be expected to drastically reduce their stores of uranium and would be restricted in its capabilities of enriching the substance for 15 years. Similarly, the countries centrifuges would be reduced and no new enriching or heavy water facilities would be constructed.

Should Iran follow regulations and abide by the JCPOA, those countries and international organizations involved would relieve some economic and nuclear related sanctions with the right to restore them immediately should Iran break the agreement.

Members from the International Atomic Energy Agency will monitor the country regularly to ensure Iran is following regulations.

Congress is expected to take a vote in the deal in mid-September, but in the meantime Langevin and Cicilline have been hearing both sides of the argument from their constituents.

Meg Geoghegan, director of communications for Langevin said, “The vote on the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran is one of the most important votes Congressman Langevin has ever taken, and he is carefully considering the options in advance of Congressional action in September. He has not yet decided how he will vote on the issue, but he very much appreciates the feedback he has received from constituents on both sides of the issue.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 25, several grassroots organizations in opposition to the deal banded together for a visit to Langevin’s office and on Wednesday, the 26th, those in favor of JCPOA did the same.

Although, each of the groups were small, eight and three respectively, they each had very strong opinions, which they expressed to representatives for Langevin.

Despite their views on the deal itself, both parties seem to want the same thing; preventing Iran from increasing their nuclear abilities, the difference is in whether or not the deal will ensure that and if a stronger deal is even possible.

“The world just can’t afford a nuclear Iran,” Bracha Stuart, regional coordinator for StandWithUs, said.

StandWithUs is an international pro-Israel organization set on combating extremism and anti-Semitism, and is one of the major groups against the nuclear deal.

“If this deal does pass, in 15 years it’ll be as if it never existed and Iran can do what it wants,” she said.

Stuart believes that the current deal has too many “holes” through which Iran can deceive the U.S. without enough punishment or incentive for the country to actually follow mandated regulations.

“No deal is better than a bad deal,” she said.

The side in favor believes quite the opposite.

Carol Gjelsvik, who visited Langevin’s offices as well, said, “Any deal is better than no deal.”

She said that without a deal put in place soon, letting Iran continue to go un-inspected, can only end in “disaster” and at least this deal requires regular inspections.

She said this issue is of “world-shaking importance” and waiting too long to secure a deal could be just as detrimental as not having one at all.

Gjelsvik also noted she is Jewish, as many of the opposition from the day before was from StandWithUs claiming the risk the deal poses to Israel.

“I’m in favor of this deal as a human being,” she said, “but it’s important for the representative to know that the Jewish population is not a united front on this issue. It is just as divided as everyone else. There are many in favor of the deal.”

Stuart argues that although StandWithUs is against the deal in the name of Israel and the Jewish population, this deal would also put the United States in danger.

She said her biggest concern is that with embargoes released on Iran, even if they can’t produce nuclear weapons, they would be able to purchase or manufacture long-range weapons that could put America in danger.

Iran is a worldwide lead sponsor for terrorism with a long history of supplying terrorist groups with weapons.

“The Iranians had already been calling for the destruction of Israel, the destruction of the United States,” Stuart said. “Those in favor of the deal are only so because they are afraid without a deal, it will lead to war. They have already basically declared war though. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.”

Dorothy Weistzman, who traveled from Massachusetts to express her concerns to Langevin’s office, believes that without something put in place, war is a possibility, but that’s not her only reasoning.

Weistzman doesn’t think a better deal is possible. She noted that the JCPOA has a multinational power behind it. She fears that even if the country were to try for a “stronger,” deal it could lose the international backing and unity the current deal has.

“It’s dangerous to keep putting it off,” she said. “Eventually we are going to have to make a compromise, this one is good.”

Douglas Conrad, who is also in favor of the deal, said the international component to the JCPOA is often forgotten in this country.

“Everyone else involved in this deal has come forward in favor of it and that they are willing to abide by it,” he said. “People think this only concerns the U.S., but as powerful as we are, we can’t dictate the world. No matter how hard we try.”

Conrad believes that if the country doesn’t move forward with the Iranian Nuclear Deal, America would become an “outlier” on the issue, with other countries involved continuing with the JCPOA.

Congressman James Langevin will be hosting a “Town Hall Meeting” on Sept. 1 at the Johnston Senior Center at 6 p.m.

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  • bendover

    I guess the media didn't get the name change memo:

    Langevin shall now be known as Mustafa Hussein Langevin

    Cicilline is now Abdul Hashi Muhammad Shortstuff

    Whitehouse is Sheik Ironhead Aziz El Stupor

    and Jack Reed is El Jacko Hussein Barack al Pointy Haj.

    The start date for the Treason trial to be announced soon.

    Blind leeming, partisan hacks, the whole lot of you...

    Monday, August 31, 2015 Report this