[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 42 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1478-S1479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN
Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to discuss the
gravity of the current situation with regard to the administration's
negotiations with Iran for a nuclear agreement.
I believe it is important to note that we received some important
information today in the Senate Armed Services Committee that is
helpful to us in this regard.
This morning the Armed Services Committee heard from ADM Bill
Gortney. He gave us his assessment of Iran's capabilities and ongoing
efforts to thwart international agencies. Admiral Gortney is the
commander of the U.S. Northern Command. He is personally responsible
for defending Americans in the United States mainland. He is an
appointee of President Obama, and here are the words given to us today
by Admiral Gortney: Iran has ``committed considerable resources to
enhancing its ballistic missile capabilities and has already placed
another satellite into orbit this year using a new booster that could
serve as a demonstrator for ICBM, intercontinental ballistic
technologies. Despite international condemnation and sanctions, Iran
has failed to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy
Agency to resolve all outstanding concerns regarding its nuclear
program, particularly those concerning its possible military
dimensions.''
These are the words from the head of the Northern Command in this
administration, and this regime, which Admiral Gortney described, is
the very regime our President and Secretary of State have confidence
will live up to any nuclear agreement.
As the Admiral went on to say, the hope for a diplomatic solution
should not come without vigilance, and that is what Members on this
side of the aisle are trying to insist upon. We cannot ignore these
warning signs of noncompliance and uncooperative behavior while
expecting Iran to make good on its promises.
A few days ago Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed Iran's record of
misconduct and sinister objectives in his powerful address to Congress.
He emphasized that a nuclear Iran would have serious implications for
the world, the region, and of course for Israel, one of our most
steadfast allies. These concerns are important for lawmakers, and I am
glad we had a chance to hear them in person.
With a record of foreign policy failures, I regret to say President
Obama is under intense scrutiny to hold Iran accountable at this
critical moment. He is under intense scrutiny because of these foreign
policy failures. Like many of my colleagues, I am concerned and I think
Americans are concerned that the administration might be too generous
with concessions to Iran, as it has been with deals in past.
The time is running out for the President to establish his legacy--a
dangerous motivation for negotiations with the unreliable and volatile
nation Admiral Gortney described today.
At the very least, the Senate should insist on the passage of a
partisan bill to ensure that the American people have a say in any
agreement between the White House and Iran. Congressional approval
would add legitimacy to any agreement, and I think that is important.
Any foreign nation negotiating with the United States should be mindful
of our constitutional system of checks and balances. Congress should
also be discussing the appropriate steps to take if an agreement is not
reached by the deadline this month.
The President is now threatening to veto legislation that puts
tougher sanctions on Iran. But shouldn't there be consequences for Iran
if they refuse to cooperate with international investigators? Mistakes
are too high to make excuses for stalled negotiations or to rely on
wishful thinking about Iran's intentions.
As Mr. Netanyahu said in his speech, ``If Iran wants to be treated
like a normal country, let it act like a normal country.''
Instead Iran continues to support terrorist groups and oppressive
authoritarian regimes. We cannot afford to ignore its influence in
unstable areas and how this influence could dramatically change should
they be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech is a reminder that Iran has made no
excuses for its belligerent aims and ties to terrorist groups. A bad
deal would spell disaster for Israel, whose very existence has been
threatened by Iranian leaders.
Israel and the United States share an unwavering commitment to
keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. It is unfortunate that
criticism from the Obama administration surrounded the Prime Minister's
earlier visit.
Meanwhile, the world is not safer. Global threats continue to
multiply, posing complex challenges to America's national security
issues. One looks at the unrest around the world, and it is easy to see
how America is failing to lead.
Another member of this administration, Director of National
Intelligence
[[Page S1479]]
James Clapper, underscored the widespread instability when he testified
before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month. It is important
to compare Director Clapper's testimony with that of the Secretary of
State earlier. Director Clapper, our Director of National Intelligence,
said there were more deaths from state-sponsored mass killings, more
people displaced from their homes, and a higher rate of political
instability last year than we have seen in decades. In fact, 2014 was
the most lethal year on record for terrorism. We are now facing
unpredictable instability as the ``new normal,'' according to this
administration's Director of National Intelligence.
The White House's foreign policy team, however, seems unwilling to
accept these harsh truths. Listen to the words of Secretary of State
John Kerry, our chief negotiator with Iran, in contrast to the words of
our Director of National Intelligence. Senator Kerry said:
We are actually living in a period of less daily threat to
Americans and to people in the world than normally; less
deaths, less violent deaths today, than through the last
century.
It is hard to square the testimony of our chief negotiator with Iran
with the words of our Director of National Intelligence.
Particularly troubling is the administration's past reliance on empty
promises from adversaries. Under President Obama's watch, Vladimir
Putin has invaded and annexed part of Ukraine, continued to support the
brutal regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, and violated the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
On February 27, we saw yet another troubling development in Moscow.
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was gunned down in cold blood on the
street after dinner in a secure, well-protected part of Moscow, just
steps away from the Kremlin. The Russian Government has denounced Mr.
Nemtsov's assassination, but this is not the first time one of
President Putin's opponents or critics has been murdered. I will only
note that Mr. Nemtsov is only the latest in a line of Putin critics who
have mysteriously met their demise over time, and Russia's record of
corruption and shameful disregard for human rights continues.
In conclusion, U.S. leadership is of the utmost importance to global
security and stability at this pivotal time. Director Clapper was frank
in his testimony that ``pervasive uncertainty makes it all the harder
to predict the future.'' That is why we must remain vigilant. America
can succeed if we demonstrate the fortitude and resolve necessary to
defend freedom and stop those who threaten it. This includes taking an
honest look at Iran's past and present behavior before we cut a deal we
will later regret.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to address the
Senate in morning business and to enter into a colloquy with the
Senator from South Carolina.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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