47 Republicans senators warn Iran not to trust the US negotiations. Get ready for war and the draft.

We already know that Republicans no longer feel bound by the long-standing dictum that politics stops at the water's edge, that we stand united when dealing with foreign governments.    Just ask John Boehner and the hundreds of cheering Bibi Netanyahu fans during last week's defiance of our president and all protocol.

With their latest outrage, they have surpassed even the Bibi-Boehner stunt -- and this time it is the Republicans in the Senate, who I thought were less ideological crazed than their counterparts in the Tea Party dominated House.

According to Bloomberg News:

"A group of 47 Republican senators [out of 54] has written an open letter to Iran's leaders warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with President Barack Obama's administration won't last after Obama leaves office."

This goes beyond political differences and personal disdain for the president.   This is, in the words of political organizer and consultant Robert Creamer,

". . . a brazen, breathtaking attempt to sabotage U.S. foreign policy and stampede America into another war in the Middle East. . . .  Can you imagine the reaction if members of Congress had sent a similar letter to the Soviets urging them not to sign an arms control agreement because the United States would not keep our end of the bargain?"

What are our options if the Iranians are unwilling to sign an agreement because of such a perfidious betrayal by such a large number of U. S. senators?    Our other negotiating partners will not likely agree to greater sanctions.

And what then?   The hard-line old guard in Iran would be vindicated and politically strengthened; and they would likely rush toward bomb capability.  Any hope for trust between our two countries would be set back for a decade at least.

Under the proposed treaty, their nuclear capability would be limited to uranium for peaceful purposes, stringent inspections would be carried out, the more moderate leaders in Iran would be strengthened, and a better economy for Iran would pull them more toward the modern world.   In addition, Iran would become part of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which would bring more accountability.

What, after all, do these Republicans want?   War?

Well, here's my answer to that.    Do not even think of another war in the Middle East unless you are willing to reinstate the draft AND raise taxes to pay for it.  We cannot fight another war on the backs of the soldiers many of whom have done 6, 7, or even 8 deployments in the Middle East.   And we cannot afford another major war without raising the revenue from those wealthy people who have been getting the breaks.

So the louder they yell for War, I'm going to be yelling for "The Draft" with no exemptions.

Ralph