Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday continued his campaign against the controversial Iran nuclear deal, urging fellow governors nationwide to ignore President Obama’s suggestion to lift economic sanctions.
In a two-page letter, issued after he met in Dallas with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, Abbott urged his colleagues in other states to strengthen existing sanctions, much as he has proposed that the Texas Legislature approve when it comes into session next January.
In the letter, he calls the Iran Deal “foolhardy” because Iran “has consistently and blatantly flouted the terms of previous international agreements” and already has conducted “long-range ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations resolutions.”
“I strongly oppose the Iran Deal because it undermines the national security of the United States and its strategic allies abroad — especially our most important Middle East ally, Israel, ” Abbott stated in the letter, labeling Iran “the world’s top state sponsor of terrorism.”
“Entering into an agreement with a country that consistently calls for ‘death to America’ and articulates anti-Semitic policies is short-sighted and ignores geopolitical realities.”
Abbott said the Iran Deal “does not eliminate Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear warhead — much less completely and permanently dismantle its nuclear capability. Expecting Iran to actually adhere to the deal is equally foolhardy.”
I suppose that I could point out that objective reality since the agreement was signed contradicts everything that Abbott claims, but we all know about reality’s well-known liberal bias, so we’ll just move on. Abbott’s gonna do what Abbott’s gonna do, but if I were a private business, I’d be just a little worried that Abbott might not want to stop at just forbidding government agencies from doing business with Iran. I mean, what assurance do you have that he won’t?
“Entering into an agreement with a country that …articulates anti-Semitic policies is short-sighted and ignores geopolitical realities.” I look forward to Gov. Abbott proposing sanctions on Texans dealing with Saudi Arabia.
Bill, so true.
it is absolutely unconstitutional for governors to be countermanding federal trade policy.
that was one of the formative reasons for the constitution.
Other than bloviating, exactly what action(s) is/are Abbott proposing that the states take in response to the (imho) bad Iran deal? Anything more than prohibiting states from doing business with Iran? How is that any different than states and municipalities not allowing state or municipal funds to be used for travel to North Carolina, or the boycott, divest movement to prevent states from doing business with Israel while they continue to run the Palestinian open air concentration camp?
If Abbott, et al, are proposing that private businesses not be able to do business with Iran, then yeah, I’d have a big problem with that, but I don’t think that’s what is being proposed. Maybe I’m wrong about that.
And really, this sounds more like political theater than an actual change. How much business does Iran do with the state of Texas, anyway? Not much, I’m guessing.