Talk about
blatant appeasement:
The Obama administration likely hid information about Iran illicitly ferrying militants into Syria on commercial aircraft in order to promote the landmark nuclear deal and foster multi-billion dollar business deals with Tehran's state-controlled airline sector, according to lawmakers and other sources familiar with the matter.
The
Washington Free Beacon first disclosed last week that congressional leaders are calling for an investigation into Iran for using its state-controlled air carrier, Iran Air, to ferry militant fighters into Syria, where they are taking up arms in defense of embattled President Bashar al-Assad.
Photographs provided to Congress show Iran using Iran Air to ferry these soldiers between 2016 and 2017, in part when the Obama administration removed sanctions on Iran Air and promoted multi-billion dollars sales between the carrier and aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which is seeking to provide Iran Air with a fleet of new planes that many suspect will be used to carry terrorist fighters and weapons into regional hotspots.
This behavior violates international laws governing the nuclear deal and has now led lawmakers and others to accuse the Obama administration of downplaying Iran's illicit activity in order to promote the nuclear deal and ensure Tehran receives a new commercial fleet.
Multiple senior Obama administration officials, including former secretary of state John Kerry, traveled the globe to promote trade with Iranian companies, including Iran Air, at the same time Iran was found to be ferrying militants into Syria. Lawmakers and others suspect the Obama administration either hid or downplayed this information in order to preserve the nuclear deal.
"The Obama administration lifted sanctions against Iran Air as a political concession during nuclear negotiations with Iran, not because of any change in its activity," Rep. Peter Roskam (R., Ill.), one of the lawmakers calling for an investigation into Iran's use of commercial aircraft for military purposes, told the Free Beacon.
"Using social media and public flight tracking websites, any person with a computer can document Iranian military transports to Syria on commercial jets," Roskam said. "The Obama administration undoubtedly knew Iranian airliners were being used to fuel Assad's atrocities in Syria, but the administration officials who were globetrotting as Tehran's chamber of commerce trying to shore up the nuclear deal didn't care."
"Iran Air continues to support the Iran-Assad war machine to this day, and the Trump administration must hold the airline accountable and work to stop them," the lawmaker said.
Roskam and a delegation of other Republican congressmen petitioned the Trump Treasury Department last week to investigate photographic evidence showing Iran using Iran Air to ferry militants into Syria.
Such a sick desire for legacies as "visionaries" did Secretary Global-Test and the Most Equal Comrade have that they would willingly look the other way as Iran's presence in Syria was greatly enhanced.
Another investigation, throw it on the pile. Doesn't sound like it will go anywhere, but it might please Netanyahu and other hawks and certainly give Trey and his henchmen something to do.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you want to get whoever it is you want to get on? When do you predict charges will be brought?
ReplyDeleteA little early for that.
ReplyDeleteTrashing diplomacy is all this is. Didja see where Mad Dog disagrees with ole Fire & Fury on Norkor? Another general with the good sense of Ike. And you're waxing cold on Tillerson now aren't u? Hawk Dog!
ReplyDeleteBoth Mad Dog and McMaster agree that the status quo in Israel is unsustainable too.
ReplyDeleteThey're not without their problematic aspects to their worldviews.
ReplyDeleteRe: "trashing diplomacy": "Diplomacy" is a broad term. It can be done well or horridly. The MEC administration handled it in a way that was complicit in evil and made the world a more dangerous place
ReplyDeleteSo you say, good luck with your clarity on all issues.
ReplyDeleteErratum: Mad Dog has walked back what it now appears was no such disagreement with Trump on NORKOR> hate to say it but that was pretty much fake news on the flimsiest "evidence." Oh well, it made me feel good for awhile. Anyhow I heard Mark Levine suggesting surrounding Norkor with defenses which I am in favor of. I don't think it will put an end to China/Norkor though. Do you fear they're imperialist or something?
ReplyDeleteI fear that Kim will either launch a nuclear-tipped missile at a US ally or maybe the US itself, or bring things to a brink at which the US will have to initiate something that will be as ugly as anything in human history because there is no other response.
ReplyDelete