WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE JCPOA

CaliforniaOur Preliminary Assessment Is That, If Its Terms Are Strictly Enforced, The DealIs Likely To Put Nuclear Weapons Beyond Iran’s Reach For A Decade Or More, ASignificant Achievement And Probably The Best Outcome Available“The underlying question is not whether the deal is perfect. Of course it isn’t. Thequestion is whether it achieves its intended objective: to prevent the Islamic Republic— for a significant period of time — from developing nuclear weapons, launching aregional arms race and forcing the U.S. to consider yet another military operation in theMiddle East. That should dominate what we hope will be a robust and reasoned debateover the wisdom of the agreement. Our preliminary assessment is that, if its terms arestrictly enforced, the deal is likely to put nuclear weapons beyond Iran’s reach for adecade or more, a significant achievement and probably the best outcome available. Butwe await more discussion, evidence and analysis.”– Los Angeles Times, 7/15/15Still, An Agreement With A Reasonable Shot At Success Is Worth Trying BecauseThe Alternative Is Another War, And That Should Be A Last Resort. America IsNot In The Position Of A Neville Chamberlain, Negotiating From A Position OfWeakness To Avoid Conflict.“First, no one outside of Iran — and perhaps the loopy North Korean regime — wantsIran to have nuclear weapons. Second, while the U.S. led the negotiations, Britain,France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union are all participants — andthey have a history of not agreeing on much of anything. Finally, this negotiation isnot an academic exercise, nor is it operating in a vacuum. Any agreement, good or bad,could have dramatically unpleasant geopolitical side effects. One possibility is a nucleararms race among Iran’s neighbors -- especially the wealthy ones — if they feel the dealisn’t adequate to stop Iran from going nuclear. Still, an agreement with a reasonable shotat success is worth trying because the alternative is another war, and that should be alast resort. America is not in the position of a Neville Chamberlain, negotiating froma position of weakness to avoid conflict. We and our allies in this negotiation have theability to bomb Iran’s real or suspected nuclear sites into oblivion. We would just prefernot to. But let’s not rushing to judgment on the agreement either way. Let’s resist lettingcable news mavens of whatever stripe tell us what to think, do some reading on our ownand have an honest discussion with the goal of giving our government guidance on howto proceed.”– San Jose Mercury News, 7/15/15