http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/obama-team-response-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-115711.html?hp=rc3_45 things President Obama’s team thinks Benjamin Netanyahu got wrong
Obama administration officials have been pushing back on key points of contention in Israeli prime minister’s speech.
By Michael Crowley
3/3/15 3:33 PM EST
Updated 3/3/15 6:23 PM EST
In his address about Iran to Congress on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a number of assertions that are challenged by Obama administration officials and some experts on Iran and the nuclear talks. Here are five key points of contention, in the form of direct quotes from Netanyahu’s speech and paraphrased arguments from interviews with Obama administration officials and outside experts who defend the nuclear talks.
Netanyahu: “Iran’s nuclear program can be rolled back well beyond the current proposal by insisting on a better deal and keeping up the pressure on a very vulnerable regime, especially given the recent collapse in the price of oil.”
Response: More sanctions are not a realistic option. Key countries like Russia and China are unlikely to support them, and the international coalition against Iran could fracture — and some may blame the U.S. for taking an overly hard line. Moreover, years of stiff sanctions have failed to halt — or even slow — the progress of Iran’s nuclear program. By some estimates the program has cost Iran $100 billion. Iran’s leaders have shown they are prepared to make huge sacrifices to maintain it.
Read more:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/obama-team-response-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-115711.html#ixzz3TQRdqehT
