Last Dec(2013) Kirk and Menendez had their bill that designated a list of additional sanctions that would be imposed on Iran if the negotiations were to fall thru. This was a very big deal at the time, and many said that if the legislation passed, it would undermine the negotiations.
The NeoCons, led by Kirk(who some designate a RINO) and the Liberal Interventionists, led by Menendez, had 58 cosigners on the legislation and it was rumored that they would get 61 votes on cloture. AIPAC supported.
The Realists, led by republican Corker and democrat Feinstein were opposed. The Isolationists also opposed and were led by Rand Paul. The antiwar dems were also opposed. J Street opposed.
Because of the opposition, Reid would not let the legislation onto the floor without an amendment to soften the language.
They spent a couple of months fighting over the amendment until AIPAC dropped their support and it all died.
People need to realize that there is a possibility that P5 plus 1 may become dis-unified over this. If Kirk and Menendez are displeased with the outcome of the negotiations and want to re-instate sanctions, there is no guarantee that China and/or others would go along.
Ben, this issue isn’t about “neocons” “realists” and “isolationists” in Congress.
Everyone knows that sanctions should’ve been increased and if 2/3rds of the Senate wanted to approve the sanctions bill that passed the House in July 2013, they could’ve overridden any presidential veto.
And furthermore there are mechanisms in place to allow for votes even in the absence of the majority leader’s support (although they are rarely used).
Unfortunately all the sanctions that have passed were too weak anyway to stop Iran, and they all contained “presidential waivers” that Obola has been all too happy to use in his second term.
In the end the only voice that matters will be Netanyahu and the Israelis. They’re the only ones left that can stop Iran.