The freshman senator who made waves earlier this year when he sent an open letter to Iran’s leaders said Tuesday that a landmark nuclear deal struck with that country was “dangerous” and will be nullified by Congress.
“This proposed deal is a terrible, dangerous mistake that’s going to pave the path for Iran to get a nuclear weapon while also giving them tens of billions of dollars of sanctions relief, even lifting the arms embargo at a time when they’re destabilizing the entire middle east,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) said in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The American people will repudiate this deal and I believe Congress will kill the deal.”
Cotton, an Iraq War veteran and the youngest member of the Senate, has been the most vocal opponent of a nuclear deal with Iran. He sent an open letter to Iran’s leaders in early March that warned Congress did not intend to honor any potential deal. Forty-seven of Cotton’s fellow Republican senators signed the open letter.
The Arkansas Republican particularly took issue with the fact that the deal allows “where necessary, when necessary” inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites rather than “anytime, anywhere” access to those sites.
“Morning Joe” host Mika Brzezinski challenged Cotton on that point.
“It seems you’re very quick to criticize the deal and it seems like you’re reading a different deal, with all due respect,” she said.
“It’s easy to criticize the deal using the President’s own words,” Cotton said. “When we started down this path, he said the goal was to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. This leaves them intact.”
Good idea…and another good idea will be for Tom Cotton to volunteer to be on the front lines of our war with Iran. I’m tired of chicken hawks. Either you get your arse into the army or you agree to this deal.
(Look, I don’t think I ever knew he was an Iraq Vet, everyone, but still, I’m tired of hearing people largely advocating for the invasion of a sovereign country without any real justification.)
Sure, Tommy-Boy. As they say in my part of the world: you ain’t got the git to make it go. Deal will go through, and I sure hope Nancy Pelosi never lets you forget you said this.
He’s an Iraq war veteran so he’s not a chicken hawk, he’s simply stupid.
Congress can only advise…they can stop nothing on this deal.
The Congress will be left trying to override Obama’s veto. And if you do then go ahead and then try and re-impose sanctions. It is going to be tough to do if Europe , Russia and China don’t go along. What a maroon.