Coordinate with Senate on Iran treaty
This is in response to the Thursday letter from the Rev. Gerard Weiss, “GOP letter to Iran is outrageous”
I agree with Weiss that there is zero chance Iran will spontaneously stop work on its nuclear program on its own; I contend that there is also zero chance that they will stop it at all. Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. While they negotiate with one hand, they are supporting, encouraging, and arming terrorists with the other. To take terrorism lightly is to do so at one’s own peril.
I believe negotiations with Iran are essential, but negotiations should be done with power. The letter the Senate Republicans sent to the Iranian government was not wholly for the Iranian leadership, as much as it was a response to our president’s unilateral action for a treaty. The president has the power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur, according to the Constitution. The president should have coordinated with the Senate beforehand and secured at least two-thirds approval on his plan.
Ultimately, the president and the Iranians should know that the treaty will have to endure the scrutiny of the Senate or remain simply an understanding between two leaders, with little teeth. Wouldn’t it have been easier to coordinate with the Senate beforehand?
James S. Markley
Fredericktown