SERIOUS DOUBTS ON THE IRAN DEAL – We are 20 days away from the date when the Iran nuclear deal is scheduled to be completed.  But there are, to use the football metaphor, plenty of flags on the play.  From Fox:   

A former top military intelligence official under President Obama on Wednesday blasted the administration's pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran, calling it a "placeholder" based on "wishful thinking."

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, delivered pointed and detailed criticism of the Iran deal framework -- as well as the U.S. response to the violence in Iraq and Syria -- in written testimony to a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

"It is clear that the nuclear deal is not a permanent fix but merely a placeholder," he said in the testimony, obtained by Fox News in advance of a hearing where he's set to testify.

He said the 10-year timeframe on parts of the deal "only make sense" if the U.S. thinks a "wider reconciliation" with Iran is possible. He called this "wishful thinking," adding that "regime change" is the best way to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program.

I'm glad someone who's held a high defense position finally used those words – regime change.  Of course, Michael Ledeen, the distinguished scholar, has used them for years.  It's the only way.

In lengthy written remarks, Flynn asserted that Iran has "every intention" of building a nuclear weapon, and their desire to destroy Israel is "very real."

"Iran has not once (not once) contributed to the greater good of the security of the region," he said in his remarks, noting their fighters "killed or maimed thousands of Americans and Iraqis" in Iraq.

The administration is working alongside five other world powers to try and strike a nuclear deal -- which would aim to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief -- by the end of the month. But Flynn said Iran already has made it clear they will put limits on inspections, making for "incomplete verification." Plus he said it's "unreasonable" to believe international sanctions could be resumed once lifted.

COMMENT:   Obama is trying to sell the line that we could "snap back" sanctions on Iran if they broke the agreement.  Yeah, right.  Once the money starts to flow between Europe and Iran, fat chance sanctions would be resumed.  This agreement, if the reports on it are accurate, is a route to an Iranian nuclear bomb.  And I have no doubt Obama will continue to suck up to Iran, in the hopes that it becomes an ally and can replace Israel, which is too pro-American for Obama's liking.  It gets that bad.

June 10, 2015