Ron Paul: When Peace Breaks Out With Iran ...

Ron Paul Institute ^ | January 17, 2016 | Ron Paul

[VitacoreVision]

This has been the most dramatic week in US/Iranian relations since 1979.

Last weekend ten US Navy personnel were caught in Iranian waters, as the Pentagon kept changing its story on how they got there. It could have been a disaster for President Obama's big gamble on diplomacy over conflict with Iran. But after several rounds of telephone diplomacy between Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, the Iranian leadership - which we are told by the neocons is too irrational to even talk to - did a most rational thing: weighing the costs and benefits they decided it made more sense not to belabor the question of what an armed US Naval vessel was doing just miles from an Iranian military base. Instead of escalating, the Iranian government fed the sailors and sent them back to their base in Bahrain.

Then on Saturday, the Iranians released four Iranian-Americans from prison, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. On the US side, seven Iranians held in US prisons, including six who were dual citizens, were granted clemency. The seven were in prison for seeking to trade with Iran in violation of the decades-old US economic sanctions.

This mutual release came just hours before the United Nations certified that Iran had met its obligations under the nuclear treaty signed last summer and that, accordingly, US and international sanctions would be lifted against the country.

How did the "irrational" Iranians celebrate being allowed back into the international community? They immediately announced a massive purchase of more than 100 passenger planes from the European Airbus company, and that they would also purchase spare parts from Seattle-based Boeing. Additionally, US oil executives have been in Tehran negotiating trade deals to be finalized as soon as it is legal to do so. The jobs created by this peaceful trade will be beneficial to all parties concerned. The only jobs that should be lost are the Washington advocates of re-introducing sanctions on Iran.

Events this week have dealt a harsh blow to Washington's neocons, who for decades have been warning against any engagement with Iran. These true isolationists were determined that only regime change and a puppet government in Tehran could produce peaceful relations between the US and Iran. Instead, engagement has worked to the benefit of the US and Iran.

Proven wrong, however, we should not expect the neocons to apologize or even pause to reflect on their failed ideology. Instead, they will continue to call for new sanctions on any pretext. They even found a way to complain about the release of the US sailors - they should have never been confronted in the first place even if they were in Iranian waters. And they even found a way to complain about the return of the four Iranian-Americans to their families and loved ones - the US should have never negotiated with the Iranians to coordinate the release of prisoners, they grumbled. It was a show of weakness to negotiate! Tell that to the families on both sides who can now enjoy the company of their loved ones once again!

I have often said that the neocons' greatest fear is for peace to break out. Their well-paid jobs are dependent on conflict, sanctions, and pre-emptive war. They grow wealthy on conflict, which only drains our economy. Let's hope that this new opening with Iran will allow many other productive Americans to grow wealthy through trade and business ties. Let's hope many new productive jobs will be created on both sides. Peace is prosperous!

[mountn man]

This guy...on a scale of one to ten

...IS EFFING STUPID.

I can't believe ANYONE could even think of voting for him.

The fact that he even holds office points to the fact that common sense is common.

Him having followers here shows that we have been infiltrated by morons.

[PghBaldy]

Considering some Americans were just kidnapped, possibly by an Iranian group, his timing might be Obamian.

[DB]

And this is the reason he and his spawn should never be in control of the White House. All their other positives are secondary.

Completely clueless.

[Gaffer]

I certainly am not one who would, as a neoconservative would, say we have to be the sheriff of the world and that any foreign policy intervention we make is justified on the face of it if it serves our interests.

On the whole, it makes sense to normalize relations peacefully with people and governments who are sane. The problem with normalizing relations with Iran is that it as is now controlled by zealots and lunatics is impossible. You can’t be diplomatic with a maniac.

I read this man’s article and thought back to 1953s “War of the Worlds” with Gene Barry and the priest who thought he could make peace with the Martians.

[nuconvert]

Yes, and what’s worse is that the people currently in the White House think as he does about Iran & diplomacy.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Ron Paul is an absolute lunatic! And, the apple doesn’t fall from the tree....

[nuconvert]

The Iranian Regime is laughing all the way to the bank.

[mad_as_he$$]

“Last weekend ten US Navy personnel were caught in Iranian waters,”

Facts not in evidence.

[48th SPS Crusader]

Geez could this man be any more delusional then this?
Iran commits an act of war violates international law and makes America look like a 3rd world nation and he seems happy about it? Get a grip dude........

[Nifster]

Why not comment?

Are you as delusional as the old coot from Texas?

[Nifster]

Why not comment?

Are you as delusional as the old coot from Texas?

[VitacoreVision]

I have no problem with Iran. The US apologized for the ‘navigation error’ and Iran let the US sailors go. No harm, no foul.

‘Navigation error’ led US sailors to Iranian waters - Carter
https://www.rt.com/usa/328982-us-sailors-navigation-mistake/

Pentagon: US sailors made ‘navigational error’ into Iranian waters
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/14/pentagon-us-sailors-made-navigational-error-into-iranian-waters.html

U.S. Radically Changes Its Story of the Boats in Iranian Waters: to an Even More Suspicious Version
https://theintercept.com/2016/01/15/the-u-s-radically-changes-its-story-of-the-boats-in-iranian-waters-to-an-even-more-suspicious-version/

Calling BS on the official story of the Iranian capture of two US riverine boats
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/01/calling_bs_on_the_official_story_of_the_iranian_capture_of_two_us_riverine_boats.html

Revolutionary Guards release 10 US sailors who entered Iranian waters
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/iran-releases-us-navy-boat-crews-who-entered-territorial-waters-state-tv

[Awgie]

Delusional wet dreamer and his some was a permed blow-dry version of the same. Iran will promote terrorism and strife in he middle east and the world. But some how middle class white Christians will be to blame.

Libs and Paulites will never acknowledge or fault evil. Everything is relative

[DaveA37]

$1.5 BILLION will do a lot................

[Rockitz]

Oh great, Ron! Fat cats will get richer and the US citizens will be attacked on a regular basis worldwide with all that money flowing into terrorists’ hands. F’ing MORON!

[Rockitz]

Just another reason Rand can’t ride far enough away from his daddy’s crazy train.

[faithhopecharity]

Either completely insane or sold out to our islamonazi enemies. (Yes, or both.). I’d no idea just how dangerous Paul was until now. My Lord, what a mental case! (Go ahead and enjoy your “profitability” with your islamonazi pals, Ron. Celebrate quickly, though, before they nuke us....)

[BlackElk]

Yet again, we can smell the overwhelming odor of nut fudge cooking up through the cracks in Ron Paul’s skull. You would think he would care enough about Rand to sit down, shut up, and permanently leave the stage, but NOOOOOO! Put him in a straitjacket and pack him off incommunicado to Happy Acres. Of course, Obozo would probably love to make Ron Paul Secretary of Surrender (State) if Lurch had to depart.

[lormand]

"...and that they would also purchase spare parts from Seattle-based Boeing"

Yay! It's all worth it then, we get a nuclear Iran led by Islamic radicals bent on world domination and the destruction of Israel, for some spare aircraft parts. That Ron Paul is one smart cookie.

I think Ron Paul may be a high ranking Qud's commander.