Iran Responds to GOP Letter: "It has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda ploy"

[YoungDemCA]

Asked about the open letter of 47 US Senators to Iranian leaders, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Javad Zarif, responded that “in our view, this letter has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda ploy. It is very interesting that while negotiations are still in progress and while no agreement has been reached, some political pressure groups are so afraid even of the prospect of an agreement that they resort to unconventional methods, unprecedented in diplomatic history. This indicates that like Netanyahu, who considers peace as an existential threat, some are opposed to any agreement, regardless of its content.”

Zarif expressed astonishment that some members of US Congress find it appropriate to write to leaders of another country against their own President and administration. He pointed out that from reading the open letter, it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution when it comes to presidential powers in the conduct of foreign policy.

http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2015/mar/09/part-ii-iran-responds-gop-letter

[mfcorey1]

1. Treason, I tell you, just treasonous!

[Dont call me Shirley]

26. That's what Thom Hartmann called it, on his show today.

[Panich52]

70. Treason by opinion; illegal by law (same one Boehner broke inviting Bibi)

[FSogol]

2. LOL, GOP taunted by Iranian Government. You are correct Iran, the GOP isn't

fully cognizant of their asses and holes in the ground.

[erronis]

38. You stated it much more politely than I would have

"but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution"

I can't help but think of some playground bullies that don't really know the game but are willing to try to intimidate the rest of the players.

It used to be that the electorate had a chance to vote on the qualifications and abilities (intellectual?) of the candidates. Now the T.V. populace just votes on the booble-head on their favorite nascar show.

[tridim]

3. Putin and Bibi are the only two allies the GOP has left.

Sucks to be them, we're moving forward without you.

[sheshe2]

54. ^^^ This^^^

[sabrina 1]

59. You got that wrong, Bibi is the only ally they have left. Republicans hate the 'Commie', Putin and

undermining President Obama over there also, trying to start a war with Russia.

In fact, one reason they are so angry at Putin is because Russia is one of the five nations working with Obama on the IRAN talks.

Since Russia and China (also working with Obama on Iraq) but have veto power at the UN, the only way to try to undermine these talks for a peaceful resolution with Iran, is to demonize the allies. They can't very well go after the UK and France, yet, (they used to hate France airc) Russia is the target of the Right right now.

Nothing they, and Bibi would like better right now than to cause Russia to leave that alliance.

I truly wish we had a real news media in this country so people didn't get their information from propaganda merchants.

[samsingh]

66. repugs love putin

he's one of them

[ND-Dem]

78. in what alternative universe?

[samsingh]

80. this one

[snooper2]

89. Man, the 6-10 of you can't STAND the fact that the far right loves your man

Hero Putin!

Save Ukraine from the, nazis? Right? LOL, see what happens when you automatically latch onto anything that you believe is "Stopping the Imperial Power of the West!"


not working out anymore is it

[ND-Dem]

91. right-wingers out here in the bleacher seats don't 'love putin'. maybe those in government

& politics do; that's an inside game, so insiders would know

[sabrina 1]

81. Like I said, if we had a real news media, people would know what is going on with

with Iran and with the Right Wing and their Neocons, desperately trying to undermine Obama's policies with Iran, hoping to divide the five nations that are allies in those efforts.

Putin is a Leftist. Fox is not a news channel. Right Wingers hate Putin, they are still fighting the Cold War, and to them, he is the epitome of the word 'communist'. I'm not talking about the Fox educated morons, I'm talking about those who are in positions of power and who desperately want a war over there. They are working hard to get it started and are furious with Obama over that and over Iran.

[stonecutter357]

84. Putin is a Leftist.

[AlbertCat]

87. Right Wingers hate Putin

Depends on how "manly" he's acting.


"Putin is a Leftist. "

Is that why he's all into anti-gay legislation?

Putin is not a leftist..... and the GOP will dote over him if they think it makes Obama look weak or something.

[snooper2]

90. ROFLMAO

"Putin is a Leftist"

Long as the people have a couple cans of beans and vodka he is a HERO TO THE PEOPLE right?

[sabrina 1]

92. Yes, he's a commie to them, who is currently part of Obama's 5 nation allies to help stop .

a war with Iran.The other commie nation, China, is also on board with Obama, the funny thing is, Right Wingers call Russia a 'commie nation' but they think China is a 'democracy'.

[Egnever]

4. Wow when the Iranian government makes you look like fools

You have reached a new low. That one is going to leave a mark.

[Cirque du So-What]

14. I would also count

hardliners in Iranian government. The GOP has crossed the line into treason...again.

[onyourleft]

19. One would...

...hope it leaves a mark. However, for that to happen the recipients must first have a conscience. I think writing the letter proves they have no conscience or integrity.

[Perseus]

47. Unfortunately, the GOP is not smart enough for it to leave a mark

They most probably will take it as "being challenged by the Iranian government and unwilling to negotiate."

What is more frustrating is that people who vote for these clowns fail to realize the damage these pseudo-politicians have caused and will continue to if left unchecked.

[Martin Eden]

57. That's not how RWers will see the statement from Iran.

They'll point to it and say this "Islamic terrorist state" is an ally of Obama's.

That's how their minds work, and the Repuke senators who crafted & signed the letter know that very well.

[villager]

5. Holy crap! Iran is more "fair and balanced" in its assessment of the GOP...

...than at least one major "news" network stateside, is!

[YoungDemCA]

8. We should just use that line for anything the GOP proposes

"It has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda ploy."

Just assume that from now on, until proven otherwise.

[villager]

11. That's been true at least since Nixon illegally derailed Vietnam war negotiations

...to win the '68 election.

[NightWatcher]

6. The Iranians are more rational than our repubs.

I guess they've had to deal with religious nutjobs as well.

[calimary]

21. Man, no kidding!

[riversedge]

33. well said.

[sulphurdunn]

61. Jesus, I think the North Koreans

are more rational than our repugs.

[Skidmore]

7. "...peace as an existential threat"...

Now can we slap the Rs with that? WHy are they so afraid of peace and threatened by any effort to achieve it?

[Springslips]

46. If the Democrats don't say....

The phrase, " The GOP's War On Peace" 100 times everyday through Nov 2016 then they should just give up.

The Republicans have handed us a weapon.

[Perseus]

49. Fantastic...that needs to move through as a MEME

"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"
"The GOP's War On Peace"

[niyad]

74. gop's war on peace, on women, on sanity, on humanity, on the earth.

[Jefferson23]

9. Perfect response, good for them. n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Being schooled by the Iranians, and they still don't get it...

the last superpower and we're pathetic.

[guillaumeb]

12. Iranian theocrats are smarter than American theocrats

Take that GOP Christian fascists.

[Fred Sanders]

25. Dr. Zarif is not a theocrat, few in the elected Iranian Parliament are. More theocrats in Congress.

[guillaumeb]

48. my variation on the old saying

that mine is bigger/better/dumber than yours

[pampango]

13. "while no agreement has been reached, some political groups are so afraid even of the prospect..."

It is very interesting that while negotiations are still in progress and while no agreement has been reached, some political pressure groups are so afraid even of the prospect of an agreement that they resort to unconventional methods, unprecedented in diplomatic history.

Great response.

[cui bono]

15. omg... Schooled by the ones they hate most. That is hilarious!

Will be interesting to see how the R's spin it, if they acknowledge it at all. What losers.

from reading the open letter, it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution when it comes to presidential powers in the conduct of foreign policy.

[Kber]

16. I don't enjoy the experience of Iran pointing out our foolish disfunction to the world,

and make no mistake: That is exactly what just happened.

Thanks GOP, but can we try to keep our idiocy "within the family" so to speak, rather than taking this farce on the road?

Today's GOP: Not ready for prime time.

(This is kinda how I feel about Chris Christie. We know he's an idiot here in NJ, but I don't enjoy my relatives from Mass and Mich calling me up to tell me the latest stupid thing he said or did. I just wish he'd stay home rather than show is ass in public.)

[C_U_L8R]

17. I like his style

Schooling Republicans like the idiots they are.

Maybe we should try that.

[lark]

18. Sad that even other countries realize the treachery that is the Repug party these days.

They should be sued for violating the constitution and trying to usurp the authority of the president of the US. Holder - time for you to do something good for this country and file an injunction to get them to stop.

[Enrique]

20. Bush's OLC calls the mistake "embarrassing"

http://www.lawfareblog.com/2015/03/the-error-in-the-senators-letter-to-the-leaders-of-iran/

The Error in the Senators’ Letter to the Leaders of Iran
By Jack Goldsmith
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 5:55 AM

Josh Rogin reports that a “group of 47 Republican senators 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.” Here is the letter. Its premise is that Iran’s leaders “may not fully understand our constitutional system,” and in particular may not understand the nature of the “power to make binding international agreements.” It appears from the letter that the Senators do not understand our constitutional system or the power to make binding agreements.

The letter states that “the Senate must ratify [a treaty] by a two-thirds vote.” But as the Senate’s own web page makes clear: “The Senate does not ratify treaties. Instead, the Senate takes up a resolution of ratification, by which the Senate formally gives its advice and consent, empowering the president to proceed with ratification” (my emphasis). Or, as this outstanding 2001 CRS Report on the Senate’s role in treaty-making states (at 117): “It is the President who negotiates and ultimately ratifies treaties for the United States, but only if the Senate in the intervening period gives its advice and consent.” Ratification is the formal act of the nation’s consent to be bound by the treaty on the international plane. Senate consent is a necessary but not sufficient condition of treaty ratification for the United States. As the CRS Report notes: “When a treaty to which the Senate has advised and consented … is returned to the President,” he may “simply decide not to ratify the treaty.”

This is a technical point that does not detract from the letter’s message that any administration deal with Iran might not last beyond this presidency. (I analyzed this point here last year.) But in a letter purporting to teach a constitutional lesson, the error is embarrassing.

[xocet]

71. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[riqster]

22. The GOPee went behind Carter's back and got what they wanted then.

So they figured, hey, do it again.

[CrispyQ]

23. If we had a real news media. this would bite the GOP on the ass big time.

...it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution

[1monster]

24. Ouch! That'll leave a mark! (As it should.)

He pointed out that from reading the open letter, it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution when it comes to presidential powers in the conduct of foreign policy.

[gratuitous]

27. Will our popular media be reporting this?

Magic 8 Ball says, "Signs Point to No."

For those keeping score at home, it would appear that the Iranians understand our laws and government better than Republicans and probably better than the media chuckleheads, who will doubtlessly report on this open letter as if it had some legitimacy. For those of you who are properly appalled, may I suggest a quick game of "What if the Democrats did this"?

[Liberalynn]

32. A toddler who still sucks his/her thumb and wears diapers

probably would understand the constitution better than most Repukes do.

[Cosmocat]

64. We are at such a BAD, BAD place in this country

Republicans literally can and WILL do anything and not be accountable to it.

It is an international incident when Barack Obama chews gum, meanwhile Rs try to derail the REPUBLICAN health care reform signed by this president, have the Israili PM talk shit on the POTUS in congress, pen a letter to foreign leadership and it just is the way it is ...

THAT is how fucked we are now.

[spanone]

28. they support iran more than the potus....amazing

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. Satan just fired up the Zamboni - I actually agree with Iran.

They are obviously smarter than the GOPers and see this maneuver exactly for what it is - an illegal and seditious attempt to circumvent the executive branch's exclusive authority in the area of foreign policy.

[YoungDemCA]

30. Imagine if Senate Democrats tried this on Bush

The fucking nerve of these assholes...

[randome]

31. FUCK YEAH! Brilliant response!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Give yourself the same benefit of a doubt you'd give anyone else. It's only fair.[/center][/font][hr]

[sinkingfeeling]

34. Zarif knows more abot our Constitution than Tom Cotton, who has a whole

2 years of experience in government.

[TheBlackAdder]

35. Dear GOP: You are effed when the Iranians know the US Constitution better than you do. nt

[niyad]

75. baldrick, in any of his incarnations, knows more than the thuglicans do.

[uhnope]

36. Iran vs GOP: Fighting the man in the mirror

[Gman]

37. Wow! Talk about red faced embarrassment

Their bare ass right there in front of the entire world and told about it.


But don't think for a second they will get it.

[lobodons]

39. Ironic

It would be totally ironic if the GOP letter and Netenyahoo speech actually encouraged Iran to make a deal.

[freshwest]

40. Excellent smackdown of these shameless chickenhawks! Thanks for posting.

[gordianot]

41. Iran has a history of dealings with the GOP dating back to Reagan, last time they got missles.

Wonder what the GOP would give them this time?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

42. We may wind up thanking these lawless Republicans.

Their actions may help oust Bibi from office and usher in a deal for a more cohesive alliance in the M E to oust the real threat of an Islamic terror ideoligy against their own people and the world.

[fadedrose]

43. Good for Zarif nt

[OldRedneck]

44. So . . .

Does this mean the Iranians love America more than do Republican Senators??

[JonLP24]

50. I wouldn't be so quick to say that

This is actually controversial within Iran right now as some people aren't to keen in opening diplomatic talks with the US because they have been on the receiving end of the reality part of the historical perspective regarding Iran-US relations. Unlike Republicans ridiculous nukes rhetoric, US (for the benefit of the oil & gas corporations specifically) has primarily been concerned with accessing all that oil Iran sits & "state run" really angers or lead to the bad guy marketing.

Republicans much more than the Democrats fight for the private business or the large ones mostly is basically all they really need to put on their GOP page. Also guns & abortion could also be added but not much than that. Shell, Chevron, etc that is who the Republicans love more than anyone since they obvious dedicate their political careers fighting for them. Historically will look back favorable on this noble cause

[JonLP24]

45. He nailed it

I didn't look at from a legal value pov but certainly saw the propaganda BS given the tough rhetoric regarding Iran is all mostly propaganda ploys.

[Romeo.lima333]

51. tag

[Blue_In_AK]

52. Iranians much more informed than our Republican Senators.

I'm dismayed to see Alaska's junior senator, Ohio Dan Sullivan, among the signators. At least Lisa Murkowski had enough sense to stay away from this one.

[tavernier]

53. Nothing to see here...

The evening and morning news will concentrate on Hillary's emails, as it did when Boehner and Netanyahu subverted our government's protocol.

We shouldn't pay so much attention to who is running our government, but rather to the corporations who are in charge of directing the news.

Always follow the money; then you can discern the bull from the bullshit.

[sheshe2]

55. Two smack downs in one day!

Actually, make that three. Harry Reid hit them upside the face as well.

[Scurrilous]

56. K & R

[thelordofhell]

58. Iran Responds To The GOP Letter

[samsingh]

60. astonishing when iran is giving integrity lessons to the gop

[Comrade Grumpy]

62. No, not really that astonishing at all.

[Fred Sanders]

65. Integrity is not related to nationality. The integrity of Iran is now above that of the GOP.

[Number23]

63. I hope this response is picked up and broadcast across all international media

This is a HUGE slap in the face to Republican obstructionism and efforts to undermine our president.

It's also an embarassment to America and this current presidency. On one hand, it's good to see someone showing folks what standing up for President Obama looks like. On the other hand, this level of domestic disrespect does not help the president's international standing.

[Cha]

67. Mahalo YDCA.. another report on what Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif had to say about it..

Obama, Iranian official slam GOP letter on deal

snip//

But a top Iranian negotiator and Democrats slammed the letter, calling it a purposeful attempt to undermine the delicate negotiations as they reach a pivotal deadline later this month.

"We believe this letter has no legal value and is indeed just a propaganda ploy," said Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, in a statement provided to and translated by CNN. "Whats more, while the negotiations have not yet borne fruit and there no agreement yet, pressure groups in the U.S. are so worried that they are using extraordinary measures to prove that they, just like Netanyahu oppose any kind of agreement."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/politics/gop-senators-letter-to-iran/index.html

[TRoN33]

68. Whoa, Iranians are wallop Republicans. It really has to be very embarrassing for Republicans!

Glad I'm not one of idiotic signatories of this letter to Iran which will be forever infamous and butt of joke. This shown how naïve Tom Cotton really are and Arkansas are very proud of this man they has voted for.

[Hekate]

69. Repubs don't know how to be embarrassed. It's the rest of us who are embarrassed by their antics. nt

[niyad]

76. you are correct. in order to feel embarassed, they would have to possess integrity,

a sense of right and wrong, compassion, knowledge and humility.

[elleng]

72. And we know where the Iranian leadership was educated:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026339245

THEY took their U.S. educations seriously!

[niyad]

73. this is going to get very interesting

[ND-Dem]

77. wow, our 'enemies' have more sense than our compatriots.

[demswballs]

79. Sign the Petition at http://wh.gov/iD2tA - Prosecute the 47 Traitors

Let's find just one Democratic who's got the guts to push for prosecution of these 47 Republicans. They're counting on our party to cry, then do nothing because that's what we do. These guys have broken the law, pure and simple. Their actions are a clear violation of the Logan Act. Let's stop boo-hoo-ing on camera and in social media and sue these traitors. You know they'd do the same in our position. It's time to push back hard!

[C Moon]

82. Each week, Boehner looks more and more like a fool. The same happened with Romney in that election.

I guess that's what happens when the 1% runs your politics.

[Joe Johns]

83. Iranian pols more sophisticated than American Republicans

These days, sadly, it's not a high bar.

[Skittles]

85. 5th graders are more sophisticated than repukes

[AlbertCat]

86. it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant

Etc etc etc

IOW..... the GOP is a joke, not only in this country, but around the world. Not the USA, you'll notice (not yet anyway) but just the GOP.

[oldandhappy]

88. The Iranian foreign minister is smarter

than the repub senators. This is horrific. Far worse than dumb.

[City Lights]

93. The GOPee outsmarted again!

Fucking assholes.

[BobbyBoring]

94. and some of these Tardos want to be President

that scares the shit out of me.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

95. ...

[2banon]

96. excellent response, but I doubt those Neanderthals in Congress get it.