Letter signed by former officers and navy admirals says nuclear agreement will enable Tehran to become ‘far more dangerous’
Nearly 200 retired US generals, admirals and former political officials have come out strongly against the Iran nuclear accord, and have called upon Congress to sink the aon the grounds that it will “enable Iran to become far more dangerous.”
Among the signatories are top former career officers from every branch of the US military, as well as officials who have served in the White House, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
“The agreement will enable Iran to become far more dangerous, render the Mideast still more unstable and introduce new threats to American interests as well as our allies,” the letter, which was addressed to Republican and Democratic senators and congressmen, stated.
Written in response to a similar petition two weeks ago by 36 retired US generals that backed the deal, the letter was endorsed by former undersecretary of defense for intelligence William Boykin, former vice chief of naval operations Leon Edney, and the retired vice commander of US Air Forces in Europe, Thomas McInerney, among others.
“What I don’t like about this is the number one leading radical Islamic group in the world is the Iranians,” McInerney said.
“They are purveyors of radical Islam throughout the region and throughout the world. And we are going to enable them to get nuclear weapons. Why would we do that?” he asked.
Congress is set to vote on the deal next month, and requires a two-thirds super majority vote to sink the deal — after President Barack Obama indicated he would utilize his veto power in an attempt to pass the agreement.
Congress has witnessed a flurry of petitions and letters from numerous groups and individuals — including rabbis and nuclear scientists — urging them to either back or sink the deal.
Republican party lawmakers have announced that they will unanimously vote against the deal, meaning that lobbying efforts are largely aimed at undecided Democratic Party legislators.
As reported by The Times of Israel