David Ignatius, "After a well-crafted deal, the question is: Will Iran behave?": Ignatius Still Doesn't Get it

Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver. Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Israel has just been sold by the United States, Europe, Russia and China for the price of several billion dollars in trade deals and the quenching of an American president's inflated ego.

In a Washington Post opinion piece entitled "After a well-crafted deal, the question is: Will Iran behave?," David Ignatius writes of the Iran nuclear deal today:

"The danger, argues Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is that after 10 years, Iran will have 'a sure path to nuclear weapons.' Iran pledged in the agreement that its nuclear aspirations are perpetually peaceful. But even if you assume (prudently) that the Iranians are lying, the Obama administration makes a good case that it will be easier with the agreement than without it to detect and stop an eventual Iranian breakout."

Yeah, right. The existence of the secret heavy-water nuclear facility in Arak became known to the West only after the National Council of Resistance of Iran reported its existence. Moreover, it was years before the West became wise to the Fordo nuclear facility built into a mountain north of Qom, whose construction began in 2006. And even if future secret facilities erected by Iran will become known to the West, does anyone have the gumption or desire to say "no" to the mullahs?

Ignatius continues:

"Heading into the final days of talks, the crucial issue was verification. Obama claimed Tuesday that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors would have access 'where necessary, when necessary.' That’s not as strong a commitment as 'anywhere, anytime,' and the formula for the IAEA’s 'managed access' is complicated. What gives it teeth is that neither Russia, China nor Iran can block inspections. The United States and its European partners can prevail, if there is a dispute."

What a load of road apples! "Where necessary, when necessary" requires the convening of a forum to adjudge whether IAEA inspectors  should be given access to sites where illicit Iranian activity is suspected. This in turn means that anything illicit can be cleaned up or moved long before IAEA inspectors arrive at the scene of the crime, if the mullahs decide to honor the terms of the agreement.

Ignatius concludes:

"In the wake of the agreement, Netanyahu called Tuesday 'one of the darkest days in world history.' Republican politicians made similar strident attacks, but the critics appeared to be outliers. The pact has the support of most major nations. Even Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates offered measured comments. Obama seems to have won this round. Netanyahu and his GOP allies are indignant about the deal, but they are taking on the world."

The pact has the support of most major nations? It's true. Everyone wants to have a finger in the pie when sanctions are removed and Iran has $100 billion to toss around.

Thanks, David, for your illuminating commentary. You can go back to sleep now.