Posted on 07/14/2015 12:10:49 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
WASHINGTON — Outspoken conservative Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is warning that a $50 billion signing bonus that could be a part of the U.S. State Department's nuclear agreement with Iran will likely be used to fund terrorist organizations that attack Americans and other Westerners.
The 44-year-old 2016 presidential candidate was interviewed via satellite video by Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens at the Christians United For Israel conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Cruz asserted that terms of the agreement (which was announced Tuesday morning after the interview and aims to gradually lift crippling economic sanctions off of Iran in exchange for curbs to the Islamic Republic's nuclear activity) must be strong and added that agreeing to weak terms with Iran could spell disaster.
It was reported earlier this year that the State Department was considering the idea of offering a $50 billion signing bonus to the Islamic Republic for signing the agreement, but Cruz argues that money would — with "absolute certainty" — fund worldwide terrorism.
"One component [of this deal] I understand is a $50 billion signing bonus of frozen assets that would flow into Iran. That money, we know to an absolute certainty would be used to fund Hezbollah, Hamas, and radical Islamic terrorists throughout the Middle East, throughout Latin America and the world," Cruz stated. "That money would be used to murder Americans, Europeans, Israelis. This deal, if it is consummated, would transform the United States government into being one of the leading financiers funding terrorism against Americans."
"It makes no sense what-so-ever and we are going to have over the next couple of months a serious debate over the Iran deal," Cruz continued. "It is my hope that the American people will rise up. I would give a call of action of the men and women of CUFI that It is critical that each and everyone of us reach out and highlight the threat."
Tuesday morning reports were that the deal actually included a unlocking assests twice as large as Cruz suspected — $100 billion, according to RT.com.
The agreement will now go to Congress for vote of approval. Cruz warned that the only acceptable agreement is one that guarantees that that the Islamic Republic disassembles its 19,000 centrifuges, hands over its enriched uranium, shuts down its intercontinental ballistic missile program and ceases being a state sponsor of terror. However, Congress will likely need enough votes to override President Barack Obama's likely veto in order to effectively prevent the deal.
Cruz stressed that given Iran's radical Shiia ideology, any deal that gives Iran access to a nuclear weapon would end up in nuclear attacks on Israel and even the United States. Cruz reminded the audience that on Friday, Iran celebrated al-Quds Day, a holiday where Iranians celebrate the "their goal of the annihilation of Israel."
"[Israel] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu highlights this deal as an existential threat. He is not referring to a Frenchman in an all-black beret chain smoking. He means that literally it would go to the existence of Israel because Iran with a nuclear weapon could well use that nuclear weapon over the skies of Tel Aviv or New York or Los Angeles," Cruz contended. "In the next couple of months, each of us need to reach out to our elected officials and put as much pressure as possible on the people."
Netanyahu labeled the deal a "bad mistake" and argued that this deal frees up billions for Iran to spend on terrorism.
"Iran will get a jackpot, a cash bonanza of hundreds of billions of dollars, which will enable it to continue to pursue its aggression and terror in the region and in the world," Netanyahu said. "Iran is going to receive a sure path to nuclear weapons."
Cruz criticized President Barack Obama for wanting to reach an agreement with Iran simply because he feels it would do wonders for his presidential legacy.
"The truth of the matter is that Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and President Obama are all perfectly fine with Iran having a nuclear weapon. The inevitable outcome of this deal is either one of two things will happen. Either Iran will acquire nuclear weapons or there will be military conflict. This hardy deal makes military conflict more likely," Cruz argued. "This is what the administration doesn't understand. They believe in appeasement. It's like they really ought to be conducting these negotiations in Munich and come back promising peace for our time. Appeasement doesn't work. I believe in peace through strength."
In order for Congress to override the president's likely veto, it is likely to require a handful of Democratic members of Congress voting against the Democratic administration's agenda.
"Here's the real problem, the question is going to be the Democrats in the Senate and Democrats in the House, is their partisan loyalty so great that they are willing to rubberstamp a horrible deal that endangers Israel and endangers national security?" Cruz asked. "That is what the Obama White House is counting on — that there will be loyal Democrats that sign off on the deal regardless of their obligations to their constituencies. CUFI is going to be front and center making sure everyone knows the magnitude of the threat that this deal poses."
I’m 100% FOR Ted Cruz. I post that lost my vote thing on a bunch of the threads where he obviously does something intelligent as pure mockery to the liberals here that spent a couple days a while back screaming THATSITTEDCRUZJUSTLOSTMYVOTE! when he did one thing in the past two years they disagreed with.
It was SO stupid I thought it should be immortalized and that people should never forget that plenty of Freepers’ so called ‘conservatism is paper thin if they have any at all.
You know something? It really shows what a sorry state conservatism is in as a whole when something like this ‘lost my vote’ thing is so often mistaken for truth. I don’t blame the people that take it seriously.e the people that POST IT SERIOUSLY.
People really need to take a step back and ask what the hell is wrong with people/a movement filled with those willing to cast the most solid conservative in 30 years aside over a single disagreement when those very same people accepted and FOUGHT FOR Mitt Romney.
Mitt freaking Romney.
Talk about a freaking logical disconnect.
Edit: I blame the people that post it seriously.
Thanks, for the reply Norm. I’ve noted that your cynicism has been running pretty high here lately so I had to ask ;)
I figured as much, but it is hard to tell these days.
A few weeks ago, Norm and I noticed an inordinate number of posters here who essentially had their own rendition of “ That’s it, I’m done with Cruz!! “ so we had some fun with them. IIRC, there were around 2 dozen in one week alone : )
I warned you that you would be misunderstood. LOL
Thanks FRiend, hard to keep up around here sometimes. LOL, primary seasons around here are a hoot!
Indeed they are.
Oh that I FREELY admit. But I can promise people one thing. Unless Cruz gets caught with a live boy/dead girl or goes off the deep end liberal, I’m there for the duration.
It’s awfully hard NOT to be cynical when people insist on repeating the same crap year after year. In the last 2 weeks alone we have been hit with Homo facisim by the supreme court, Iran getting nukes, the confederate flag fiasco and corporate America deciding to go full tilt liberal in backing every leftist meme that hits the news. And trashing Trump for speaking Gods honest truth. To the near total silence of the ‘lesser evils’.
Oh and of course the liberal body parts business. I do recall many here telling us that Ol’ Mitt’s donations and legislation (that we now know helped empower this...as did ALL such cash and laws that kept them in business) was a fair trade off for WINNING! NO MATTER WHAT if I recall accurately. And we all know that is indeed accurate.
Nice to know conservatives simply didn’t care. On another note...
Now I am no Trump fan. I think he’s about on the Mitt Romney level of liberalism according to his record, EXCEPT for his current stand on the border/illegals. There I back his statements 100%.
That said, the same people that attacked Palin and pulled the THATSITTADCRUZJUSTLOSTMYVOTE crap, are many of the same people that declared anyone not in full throated support of Mitt Romney hated their country and loved Obama/Hillary/Axelrod/the ballerina/Reid and Pelosi. There is a multiple election pattern repeating once again and it goes on unfettered. So cynicism ain’t hard to come by.
Personally I think these idiots ought to feel the loving embrace of high voltage because instead of putting our effort into promoting Cruz, we have to either fight out another year plus of bullshit flamewars or let them do the GOP’s work for them: IE Run the best conservative we have, by far, into the ground. AGAIN. But that’s not my call.
I have no issue with mocking them until their heads explode or presenting factual data and logical arguments depending on the situation. I WISH we could all just debate factually like adults but a segment of FR has shown for the third election cycle running they neither want to do that, nor do they want a conservative in power. If they did, they would cut the bullshit and support, rather than impede electing one.
High school it seems, never ends. So be it.
IF it makes people think about the issue, that’s all that ultimately matters.
Great rant, Norm. Spot on.
“Great rant, Norm. Spot on.”
Notice all the people trying to rebuke it ?
Nah : )
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
