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Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today (July 28th, 2013) with this article I will engage and inform you, My Dear Shoevians, in a way and a theater of discussion which we are unaccustomed. I, generally, refrain from writing and publishing articles about domestic and/or foreign policy. In specific a discussion on American foreign policy and/or international treaties and their content. However, the current ‘P5+1 Iranian Nuclear Deal’ is of such international and historic significance I would be completely socially remiss if I did not share my insights and opinion. Therefore, My Dear Shoevians, I beg your indulgence (this time) while I work to dispel harmful rhetoric, enhance broader understanding and engage the men and women of America and the international community. Thank you for your understanding and support.
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In the following pages I will do my best to explain my support for this historic agreement. I will share passages from the deal, itself, and the history of the partnership that fathered the deal. It is not my; intent, desire or ultimate goal to change, alter or modify anyone’s opinion of this deal. If that were to happen, it would not be; me, my words or my abilities as a writer that changed or altered your opinions it would be the facts. It is the facts that convinced me that this deal was the best possible scenario for; America, England, Russia, China, Germany and Israel. It will be the facts that enhance your, My Dear Shoevians, your understanding of this historic nuclear deal. I am just a messenger with a desire to see the children, and grandchildren, of my family and friends to grow up in a peaceful world.
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I feel that, in order to put this agreement, in the proper light and context I must go backwards in time. I had to go backwards in time to find an analogous situation/setting and international context and framework. Thankfully I did not have to go back very far, and found an analogous circumstance in, what I perceive to be, a mutually common time period. In the later part of World War 2 America started a project code named ‘The Manhattan Project’[1]. The Manhattan projects prime directive was to create, and build, a bomb of mass destruction. The purpose of this weapon of mass destruction was to inflict the greatest amount of human casualties upon Japan, with the minimal amount of American/Allied casualties. This, they believed, would force the hand of the Emperor of Japan, and his war council, and bring about a quick end to the Pacific theater of World War two.
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The weapon of mass destruction was to be an atomic bomb[2]. The very first atomic bomb was dropped at 8:15AM August 6th, 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima[3]. The next atomic bomb was dropped at 3:15 AM August 9th, 1945 on the Japanese city of Nagasaki[4]. These two bombings changed the course of history for mankind, and threw our race into the ‘Nuclear Age’. Here is a, now, famous quote from the lead designer and head of the ‘Manhattan Project’ J. Robert Oppenheimer[5]. Little did they, or all the support personnel and military personnel involved in ‘The Manhattan Project’ (including my father), know that they had just started (what later, and for all of history be known as) ‘The Cold War’[6].
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The ‘Cold War’ was an arms race between the United States and the (then) United Soviet Socialist Republic. This cold war was, in actuality, the single greatest expenditure of money and human effort since the Great Pyramids of Giza[7].This war raged from 1947 to 1991. It is estimated that the total cost of the nuclear devices, built by America, during the Cold War met or exceeded $13.1 TRILLION dollars[8] (in 1996 U.S. dollars). The graphic, below, shows the growing number of nuclear devices during the Cold War.
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(U.S. & U.S.S.R. Nuclear Stockpiles 1950-2010)
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I realize that the chart above is not very specific, when it comes to megatonnage, so I have included a more accurate chart, below, that show megatonnage by nation from 1964 to 1974.
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Year
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Launchers
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Warheads
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Megatonnage
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United States
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Soviet Union
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United States
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Soviet Union
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United States
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Soviet Union
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1964
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2,416
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375
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6,800
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500
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7,500
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1,000
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1966
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2,396
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435
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5,000
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550
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5,600
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1,200
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1968
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2,360
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1,045
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4,500
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850
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5,100
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2,300
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1970
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2,230
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1,680
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3,900
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1,800
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4,300
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3,100
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1972
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2,230
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2,090
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5,800
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2,100
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4,100
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4,000
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1974
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2,180
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2,380
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8,400
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2,400
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3,800
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4,200
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1976
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2,100
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2,390
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9,400
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3,200
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3,700
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4,500
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1978
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2,058
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2,350
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9,800
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5,200
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3,800
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5,400
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1980
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2,042
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2,490
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10,000
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7,200
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4,000
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6,200
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1982
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2,032
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2,490
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11,000
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10,000
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4,100
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8,200
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America and the U.S.S.R. were engaged in the single most (potentially) destructive stockpiling of weapons in the history of our species. Mankind, in 1962, was testing nuclear weapons above ground all over the globe. They tested them above ground, below ground, and under water. Nobody had a clue as to the long-term effects this kind of nuclear weapons testing would have on; the planet, the environment and (ultimately) on the genetic evolution of man. Then, after eight long years of negotiation, on August 5th 1963 under the direction of President John Kennedy the; United States, United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. signed the ‘Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty’[9]. This treaty would limit the testing of nuclear weapons; in the atmosphere, in space, and underwater. Further:
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The treaty:
- prohibited nuclear weapons tests or other nuclear explosions under water, in the atmosphere, or in outer space
- allowed underground nuclear tests as long as no radioactive debris falls outside the boundaries of the nation conducting the test
- pledged signatories to work towards complete disarmament, an end to the armaments race, and an end to the contamination of the environment by radioactive substances.[10]
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President Kennedy faced a greatly divided Senate. However, the final vote in the Senate, on September 23rd, 1963, was 80-19. President Kennedy signed the ratified treaty on October 7th, 1963.
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(President John Kennedy Signing the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963)
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Thirty-three years later the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty[12].The world, mankind and all of the advanced nations on earth had reached an agreement, and more importantly, and understanding that nuclear testing was bad for mankind. It took many decades and initially there was little support, here in America, for this ban. As is today, many people loudly complained that Kennedy was “appeasing” the U.S.S.R., that the U.S.S.R. “could not be trusted” and that the test ban would be ignored by the Soviets and would leave America behind “in the development of advanced nuclear weaponry”.
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America, now, posses the most advanced nuclear and thermonuclear weapons and technology on the planet. The fears were unjustified, and if we allowed our worst nature to rule our objective actions?
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The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 was just the very first step, for America and world, in the right direction. I am going to leave out a great many agreements, treaties and the like in an effort to speed this part of the article. Now, I will skip forward to 1993, and the Presidency of Republican President Ronald Reagan. Whereas the treaty of 1963 had greatly limited the testing of nuclear devices and technology, the; United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and the U.S.S.R. were amassing huge stockpiles of nuclear devices of all kinds. From Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles to bombers designed specifically to drop nuclear bombs. The largest ever built, most well known and even featured in a major motion picture directed by Stanley Kubrick – ‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’[13]. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress[14] was America’s ultimate high-altitude strategic nuclear bomber.
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(Boeing B-52 Stratofortress)
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At this point, in the Cold War, America and the U.S.S.R. had nuclear bombs and devices; Flying in aircraft 24/7/365, in nuclear submarines in three to five of the world’s oceans, hidden in bunkers deep under the earth all through the Plains States in America, on move-able ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) launchers all over the Soviet satellite nations and anywhere and everywhere they could house these deadly devices. At the height of this build up, it was theorized, mankind had enough nuclear devices to level the earth “Fifty times over”. This insanity had to stop, and it took a courageous and charismatic leader to accomplish this task.
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The START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty[16]) treaties were first announced, by President Ronald Reagan, in a commencement address at his alma mater, Eureka College, on 9 May, 1982[17]. After nine years of negotiation and debate, and to the consternation of many Republicans (some comparing President Reagan and President Bush’s actions“appeasement the likes of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain”… SOUND FAMILIAR???) on July 31st, 1991 President George H. W. Bush and Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the START 1 agreement - on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. It was a long and hard slog for both of these Republican Presidents. As I mentioned above, much of the very same hyperbolic and inflammatory rhetoric, that we hear directed at President Barrack Obama, was (then) directed at both President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush.
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Nobody trusted the United Soviet Socialist Republic… NOBODY! Leaders of many of our European allies were gravely concerned that the USSR would, not only, not honor the agreement, but would use the perceived peace to “build their nuclear capabilities and research and development of new nuclear devices”. However, as President Reagan stated at the signing of the INF Treaty, on 8 December 1987 “"doveryai no proveryai" (trust, but verify)[18]. It took a courageous and charismatic leader to start the process and help guide the next President to the conclusion. It took a leader to lead the world, both free and Russian, to the world we live in today. One, not free of, but with far less nuclear weapon stockpiles.
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My Dear Shoevians, I have taken you all down this historic path for two reasons. One, to show everyone (even President Obama’s detractors) that nobody can ‘see the future’ and that even the terrifying and dark United Soviet Socialist Republic could engage in meaningful diplomacy for the greater good of mankind. That, even though they could not be trusted, that did not stop Republican Presidents from working with our perceived nemesis to broker a deal that made the world a better and safer place for all mankind. Ultimately all the detractors became fan boys of President Reagan and now they point to this accomplishment (which they were convinced was “appeasement”) as the legacy of a great President.
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Well, My Dear Shoevians, I am at a crossroads. It is now 8:00PM PDST here in California. I have yet to eat any dinner, and I had plans of relaxing, tonight, and maybe playing some World of Warcraft. WoW is the only place where I can afford to (and safely) ride a horse, anymore. Where I can hop on a flying mount and go for a leisurely flight over forests and streams. Where I can sit in a pub, listen to music, and relax by an open fire. WoW is very relaxing for me. As well, I can play the game and; fight, battle and engage in Quests that give me gold and armor and glory. I only have about three weeks left of the time Allen purchased for me, at Christmas. When that purchased time has passed, I will be financially unable to purchase more… and further enjoy this relaxing and entertaining game. I do value every moment I can spend in this virtual reality, where I have not been stripped of my ability to walk, where I can safely mount and ride a horse, and sit by a quietly babbling stream and fish.
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Therefore, as I have said, I am at a cross-roads, My Dear Shoevians. Should I end this part of the article. Post these nine pages for everyone to read, play an hour or two of WoW, then get back to finishing this article with ‘Part Two – The Agreement’? My Dear Shoevians, I have already done my homework. I have, right here on the screen in front of me, the agreement. I have passages highlighted, that I want to share. I have passages that I want to use in arguments for this agreement highlighted and copy/pasted. Unlike all too many of our Representatives (of both parties), I have read this agreement. Just today, someone I really do not know, asked me this question:
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“Do you trust Iran?”
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I did not have it ready for a retort to him, right at that moment, but here is my retort… now (this is from the PREAMBLE which IS very IMPORTANT)
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“The Islamic Republic of Iran and the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, theRussian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the HighRepresentative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy)have decided upon this long-term Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA). This JCPOA, reflecting a step-by-step approach, includes the reciprocalcommitments as laid down in this document and the annexes hereto and is tobe endorsed by the United Nations (UN) Security Council.ii. The full implementation of this JCPOA will ensure the exclusively peacefulnature of Iran's nuclear programme.iii. Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop oracquire any nuclear weapons.”
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So, ‘do I trust’ the Supreme Leader of Iran the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to; go on the airwaves of the state run television and radio and announce his ‘undying love of America/Americans and President Obama’? NO! Do I trust the Supreme Leader of Iran the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to; stop his pronouncements of ‘Death to Americans’ and ‘Death to Israel”?NO! Do I trust the Supreme Leader of Iran the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to; not cheat on his thirteen wives with a chambermaid? NO! Do I trust the Supreme Leader of Iran the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to HIMSELF adhere to the letter of this agreement. NO! But, then again, it will not BE the Supreme Leader of Iran the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that is required to; allow IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities. It WILL be the responsibility of the (I will use our Cabinet Level Equal as an example) Secretary of Iran’s Nuclear Facilities to ALLOW IAEA Inspectors inspections as outlined by the agreement. YES!
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Yes, My Dear Shoevians, I do expect that Iran will keep the terms of this agreement. If for no other reason than; they saw what America did when Iraq and Saddam Hussein did not allow IAEA inspectors access to his nuclear facilities. I do think that Iran will adhere to the agreements it has made directly with the IAEA about an inspection schedule.BECAUSE, you see, there are carrots and there are sticks in this agreement. OK… I have decided… I will not be; finishing this article tonight… I need some relaxation. As well, this article is already ELEVEN pages long. I want this article to be of a normal reading length, or no one will take the time and effort to actually read this article.
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I am going to sum up this ‘Part One’ and then I am going to publish it and then relax. Then, tomorrow, I am going to start, and finish, ‘Part Two – The Agreement’. That way I have all the time I need to; quote, highlight, create arguments, answer (stupid) questions, DEBUNK Republican rhetoric, and generally present this agreement in the light it needs and deserves! Then, I am going to send a link to the article to the campaigns of; Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and ALL the Presidential candidates for both parties. I, kind of, doubt that I will hear back from any, but it is worth a try. Oh, and I will send links to; Chris Matthews, ‘Face the Nation’, ‘Meet the Press’, and ‘This Week’.
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My Dearest Shoevians, I have read this agreement. All 159 pages of it… good and bad… procedural and dull… historic and gripping. I keep hearing Republicans saying that “we are giving Iran BILLIONS!!!”. Today I even heard, during the hearing with Sec. Kerry, a Republican say that “We are giving BILLIONS away to Iran… as a SIGNING BONUS!!” Nothing could be more BOGUS!!! What America (and ALL of the P5+1 NATIONS) are DOING is giving Iran ITS money BACK! Yes, we have held billions of; assets, cash, securities and annuities from Iran over the past decade. This is money that Iran EARNED through; the sale of oil, gas and oil leases, property sales and all manner of LEGAL financial transactions. What we are doing is RETURNING the LEGALLY E A R N E D money back to Iran. Nothing more, and nothing less.
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Well, it is now 9:00PM PDST and another hour has passed. I still have to; upload images, transfer content from Word to FOUR blogs, and then publish this article to FOUR blog locations. I might be done by midnight. So, that brings us to the close of this “Part One – Historic Relevance’ of the article “Iran – Deal or War’. Catchy title, huh? Well, it does pretty much sum up the situation, according to Republicans. I mean, in September ALL the sanctions END! There is NO WAY our intransigent Republican lead Congress can EVER come up with; new sanctions, get approval of a majority of BOTH Houses, get the approved language over to the United Nations Security Council, get the Security Council to VOTE and PASS our new sanctions (without China and/or Russia voting against or abstaining = NON-passage), then DELIVERING the new sanctions to Iran and putting them into effect. ALL by the end of September??? Not bloody likely!!!!
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More of that, tomorrow, My Dear Shoevians. Thank you for dropping by and reading. Again, as always, if you have enjoyed this article, found it of interest or informative? PLEASE ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ this article on your social media. If you liked it, so will your; family, friends, co-workers, and all your extended circles.
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Adieu!
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Thank you!
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© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe
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P.S. - It is now after 10PM PDST. I am just too tired to; set up the other computer, get the game and add-ons updated, get into the game. = I did NOT get to play WoW tonight, after all. :( = Frown.
