Karen DeYoung, "Dozens of retired generals, admirals back Iran nuclear deal": What Isn't The Washington Post Telling Us?

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First there was the letter from 29 scientists, praising Obama's "stringent" nuclear deal with Iran, but failing to make any mention of the secret side deals between the IAEA and Iran. Now, as reported by Karen DeYoung in a Washington Post article entitled "Dozens of retired generals, admirals back Iran nuclear deal," 36 retired generals and admirals have also signed an open letter supporting Obama's agreement. As reported by DeYoung:

"Three dozen retired generals and admirals released an open letter Tuesday supporting the Iran nuclear deal and urging Congress to do the same.

Calling the agreement 'the most effective means currently available to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,' the letter said that gaining international support for military action against Iran, should that ever become necessary, 'would only be possible if we have first given the diplomatic path a chance.'"

DeYoung continues:

"Signers of the military letter include retired general and flag officers from every branch of service. They include four-star Marine Gens. James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Joseph P. Hoar, former head of the U.S. Central Command; and Gens. Merrill McPeak and Lloyd W. Newton of the Air Force.

. . . .

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Harold L. Robinson, a rabbi and former naval chaplain who chairs the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, also signed.

'As a lifelong Zionist, devoted to Israel, and a retired general officer and a rabbi for over 40 years, and operating without institutional encumbrances, I have a unique perspective,' Robinson said in an interview."

Fascinating! A rabbi and former naval chaplain who backs the deal.

But DeYoung doesn't mention the controversy surrounding the top signatory on this letter, James Cartwright. As reported in a March 12, 2015 Washington Times article entitled "Obama plays favorites, protects loose-lipped generals who leak top secret info" by Rowan Scarborough:

"Analysts are questioning whether the White House is protecting one of its inner-circle members in a leak investigation, especially given the Obama administration’s demonstrated willingness to prosecute and imprison lower-level government employees for providing classified information to the press.

Retired Marine Corps Gen. James 'Hoss' Cartwright was vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and somewhat of a White House fixture as a close military adviser to President Obama.

For over a year, he reportedly has been the target of a Justice Department criminal investigation. He is suspected of leaking to The New York Times highly classified details of a U.S. cyberwarfare program against Iran and its quest for nuclear weapons. Gen. Cartwright played a critical role in the covert action, whose weapon was a cyberworm called Stuxnet and whose code name was 'Olympic Games.'

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the probe has come to a halt because the White House fears prosecution would force the administration to disclose secret sources and methods."

Interesting. And then there's the third signatory on the letter, Merrill McPeak. As reported in a March 24, 2008 American Spectator article entitled "McPeak on Display" by By Robert M. Goldberg:

"Last week, Barack Obama's military adviser and national campaign co-chairman Merrill 'Tony' McPeak accused former President Bill Clinton of 'using divisive tactics and unfairly trying to question Barack Obama's patriotism.' McPeak, a former chief of staff of the Air Force, previously supported Howard Dean and then John Kerry. He has campaigned for Obama and cut commercials claiming that Obama has the 'right stuff' to be Commander in Chief. His job is to burnish Obama's image as a guy tough enough to be President. So who better to go after Bill Clinton and get the Obama campaign back on offense?

. . . .

Well, it is likely that Obama will soon be having to retract Merrill McPeak. McPeak, who was arrested last year for driving under the influence, apparently has a problem controlling more than his thirst for fermented beverages. He also has a penchant for bashing Israel or, more particularly, Jews who oppose negotiating with terrorists.

. . . .

In recent years McPeak has echoed the Mearsheimer-Walt view that American Middle East policy is being controlled by Jews at the expense of America's interests in the region. In a 2003 interview with the Oregonian, McPeak complained of that the 'lack of playbook for getting Israelis and Palestinians together at...something other than a peace process....We need to get it fixed and only we have the authority with both sides to move them towards that. Everybody knows that.'

The interviewer asked McPeak: 'So where's the problem? State? White House?'

McPeak replied: 'New York City. Miami. We have a large vote -- vote, here in favor of Israel. And no politician wants to run against it.'"

Enough said.