Marco Rubio, Senate floor, September 2015
“I do want to be recorded for history’s purposes, for I know what is going to happen with regards to this, if it goes through. Iran will immediately use the money it is receiving in sanctions relief to begin to build up its conventional capabilities. It will establish the most dominant military power in the region outside of the United States and it will raise the price of us operating in the region. They’re going to build anti-access capabilities, rockets capable of destroying our aircraft carriers and ships, continue to build these swift boats that are able to come on us, these fast boats that are able to swarm our naval assets, and they’ll make it harder and harder for U.S. troops to be in the region.
“They’ll also work with other terrorist groups in the region to target American service men and women, and they may or may not deny that they’re involved but they will target us and raise the price of our presence in the Middle East until they hope to completely pull us out of that region.
“They’ll also continue to build long-range missiles, missiles capable of reaching the United States. Those are not affected by this deal, and they’ll continue to build them as they have been doing.
“And then, at some point in the near future, when the time is right, they will build a nuclear weapon, and they will do so because at that point they will know that they have become immune, that we will no longer be able to strike their nuclear program because the price of doing so will be too high.
“This is not just a work of imagination. It exists in the world today. It’s called North Korea, where a lunatic possesses dozens of nuclear weapons and a long-range rocket that can already reach the United States. And we cannot do anything about it. An attack on North Korea today would result in an attack on Tokyo or Seoul or Guam or Hawaii or California. And so the world must now live with a lunatic in possession of nuclear weapons.
“And this is the goal Iran has as well, to reach a point where they become immune to any sort of credible military threat because the price of a military strike would be too high. And then they become an established nuclear weapons power. And never in the history of the world has such a regime ever possessed weapons so capable of destruction. Iran is led by a Supreme Leader who is a radical Shia cleric with an apocalyptic vision of the future. He is not a traditional geopolitical actor who makes decisions on the basis of borders or simply history or because of ambitions. He has a religious apocalyptic vision of the future, one that calls for triggering a conflict between the non-Muslim world and the Muslim world, one that he feels especially obligated to trigger. And he’s going to possess nuclear weapons?
“This is the world that we are on the verge of leaving our children to inherit, and perhaps we ourselves will have to share in.
“So I want to be recorded for history’s purposes, if nothing else, to say that those of us who oppose this deal understood where it would lead, and we are making a terrible mistake. And I fear that passage of this deal will make it even harder for us to prevent it.
“And I hope there’s still time for us to change our minds, but here’s the good news: Iran may have a Supreme Leader, but America does not. In this nation we have a republic, and soon we will have new leaders, perhaps in this chamber, but also in the executive branch. And I pray that on their first day in office they will reverse this deal and reimpose the sanctions and back them up with a credible threat of military force, or history will condemn us for not doing what needed to be done at this critical moment in the world’s history.”
This MOU could’ve been signed before launching Epic Fury to begin with- which was a righteous endeavor.
Iran understands they will be rewarded for closing down the world’s shipping lanes – even after killing 40,000 of their own people.
Now the world has seen that the greatest superpower threw everything it had at this regime, yet ultimately lacked the will to finish the job.
In the end, America not only left the regime standing, but agreed to help make it stronger than it had been before the war began by lifting sanctions and raising money for its rebuilding.
Donald Trump has been a fantastic ally to Israel
Some Trump haters saying “we told you so” are acting like they’ve never heard the phrase “it was good while it lasted”
The fact that a page can be turned in a relationship doesn’t null and void the good that occurred in that relationship
It’s super patronising for those saying “we told you so” to assume everyone else was a naive idiot living in a world where they thought everything would always be roses
If this is a turning point, the real loss is for America and the free world as they buttress and empower the tyranny and expansionist goals of radical Islam
If the U.S. gives 300$B to the "reconstruction of the Islamic republic" it will be the worst offense the United States has committed against humanity in recent memory.
Refortifying and rebuilding the slaughterhouse would be even worse than Carter helping to bring Khomeini to Iran in the first place.
Now you know what it is. Now you're giving it life support, ventilation, prosthetic limbs, and renewed artillery.
I cannot overestimate how devastating this decision will be. It is unforgivable, to say the least.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran.
Trump is giving $300 billion to Iran
MORE ON THE MOU ...
This is the second part of my comments regarding the MOU. I post the first part this morning.
President Trump ordered this military operation to prevent Iran from getting and using nuclear weapons. And the early days of this war was a spectacular success. For some reason, an ceasefire was quickly ordered, and it lasted for over 2-months, despite the scores of violations by Iran and Hezbollah. Great damage has been done to Iran's military. And the president deserves enormous credit for having the courage to do what no other president did before him. My fear is that no other president after him will have the same courage to act should the terms of any agreement be violated.
The president ordered a 2-day return to military operations when the Iranian regime was dragging its feet. That was quickly ended on a promise by the regime that it would sign on to an MOU.
From day one, I have underscored that no deal will be honored by the Iranian regime. Its political-theocratic ideology fuels a revolution that compels the catastrophic destruction of the West. Presumably, the president knew this as he repeatedly warned it Iran got a nuclear weapon, it would use it against us. Moreover, Iran's pattern of conduct over the last 47-years makes clear that it uses negotiations as a tactic to further its aims. Yet, we abandoned the military destruction of Iran and did not use all of our capabilities to destroy the regime, including not arming the Iranian people due, in part to polling and gas prices. To be clear, there was never a plan to use ground forces or be involved in a "forever war." Indeed, in my view, if the MOU is not drastically altered during the 60-day negotiation period, a forever war -- a continuation of Iran's war on the West -- is not in doubt.
So, what does this MOU involve? I am working from the closest draft of the MOU publicly available, which I believe is fundamentally accurate.
Item 1. Upon the signing of the MOU there is an immediate and permanent end to the war, and that specifically includes Lebanon.
This doesn't even make any sense. There are 60-days (or more) to negotiate a deal. Therefore, before a deal is finalized, we just declared a cessation of military action -- permanently. And we committed to not even threatening force. Why would we agree to immediately drop the most important leverage we have over the regime in advance of it complying with MOU requirements and whatever else is decided in 60-days?
On top of this, we do the unthinkable. We capitulate to Iran's demand to protect Hezbollah. As I explained earlier: Hezbollah, which has brutally murdered hundreds of our fellow citizens, is essentially protected by our government in alliance with the Iranian regime, and free to continue to kill Americans, Israelis, and others as the most potent terror weapon of the Iranian regime not only survives but is immunized. And since Israel is the only country that actually fights this enemy with its soldiers and airmen, and whose citizens are in the direct line of fire from missile and drone attacks, nobody in their right mind will tolerate this. No amount of berating our ally or pressuring the PM, which is shocking, changes anything. I want to underscore Hezbollah has killed our people and we've done next to nothing to deal with it. In and of itself, that is shameful. Israel must not and will not adhere to such an egregious capitulation.
Item 2. We refrain from interfering in Iran's sovereignty and they will not interfere with ours. Who believes Iran won't interfere with our internal affairs. We spend tens of billions on counterterrorism against, among others, Iran. Does anyone believe Iran will drop out of its axis with China, Russia, and North Korea? And how do we enforce any deal against these other countries. And if we catch them, then what?
Item 4. We lift the naval blockade 30-days after the MOU, rather than after final negotiations for a deal. That removes another major leverage we have over the regime. And we agree to remove our forces around that area within 30-days after the final agreement. We can always send our forces back, they say. But in all likelihood, we would not.
Item 6. Incredibly, we commit to helping create a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation and economic development of Iran, while ensuring financing of at least $300 billion. We are told it will not involve any of our tax money. That's a shiny object. Who would have dreamt that after we went to war with this regime because it was within days of having a nuclear weapon, that we would have any role in helping coordinate or raise one dime for this regime. The VP says they don't a dime if they don't meet certain conditions. That's not what it says. Moreover, let's say they meet all conditions, receive the billions, and then tell us to go to hell. And who among us believe any of this money will go to assisting or improving the lives of the Iranian people, who have no rights and are slaughtered by the tens of thousands? In fact, as I write this, they're executing innocent young people. Honestly, this is too absurd to comprehend. It was clearly proposed in lieu of the regime's demand for reparations, which should have been dismissed out of hand.
Regardless of how this slush fund is collected or distributed, here we are committing to helping reconstruct the terror regime we presumably just destroyed. Besides, I thought we hit military structures and targets, not civilian locations.
Item 7. Get this -- we commit, as a nation, to not only lifting all sanctions we have on the regime, but we commit to helping lift all other sanctions, including by the UN, the IAEA, and all other primary and secondary sanctions, on Iran. So, we are now working in the service of the regime with other countries and before international organizations in this regard.
Item 8. "[Iran] reiterates that it will never produce nuclear weapons." We "have agreed that the fate of enriched material and the fate of all other mutually agreed nuclear-related issues, including Iran's nuclear needs, will be ..." dealt with in the final issue. Shouldn't this issue have been the first item on this list? That said, this actually says nothing. All the relief and other commitments, some which is immediate or in 30-days, comes before any serious effort to lay out with details and specifics the manner in which nuclear program will be permanently ended and enriched uranium will be destroyed? Now they're talking about degrading the uranium? This was supposed to be the core of everything. At best, it does not go beyond broad slogans.
Item 9. We agree not to strengthen our forces in the region pending a final agreement, and we agree not to impose any new sanctions on Iran -- thereby surrendering yet more leverage over the regime.
Item 10. As I go through the points, I just keep shaking my head. Here, with the signing of the MOU, we agree to immediately issue waivers of exports of Iranian crude oil, petro products, all related services, banking, insurance, transportation, and the like. In other words, the Iranian regime is back in business -- immediately. Before any final deal. Billions and billions will now flow into the regime.
Item 11. In addition, "frozen or restricted funds and assets of [Iran] will be released and made fully available. ... " Again, billions more will be flowing into the regime -- immediately.
What is not in this arrangement:
1. Not a word about ballistic missiles, the single most destructive weapon Iran has and has used, and which have the capability of killing tens of thousands and destroying cities if launched in a wave. This is a grave capitulation to the regime.
2. Not a word about promoting and funding terrorism and terror groups. I've no illusions the regime's terrorism and terror-funding will not be curtailed under any circumstances.
3. Not a word about the Iranian people, who we promised to help at the outset. Apparently, they've been abandoned.
4. Not a word about the regime paying reparations to our country, Israel, or the Arab countries for the massive damage cause by their ballistic missiles and other missiles.
AGAIN, DURING THE NEXT 60-DAYS THIS MOU REQUIRES SERIOUS CHANGES IF NOT OUTRIGHT ABANDONMENT.
MORE THOUGHTS LATER
The UK is dealing with a Pakistani rape gang scandal larger than anything in history while the U.S. lets the Pakistanis dictate whether American voters can see a deal made in their name.
Gonna be honest. I’m really kind of tired of the whole Pakistan thing.
A 13 year old girl tells how scary it is going to school
"Asian boys coming up to me saying I'm gonna rape you"
Why are little girls in Britain living like this?
They should be tried in a court of law and then tortured slowly and painfully, and then beheaded. Justice is giving to a person what they are due. And that is what these animals are due. The western world needs to get over its squeamishness and bring back medieval punishments. We had it right back then.
@GavinNewsom California has the highest cost of living in America (~44% ABOVE national average) + the worst gas prices + 2nd highest electricity rates..
You have ZERO credibility to try and lecture anyone on this. It’s like Jeffrey Epstein scolding people about protecting children.
🚨BREAKING: The DOJ just filed a lawsuit against Kathy Hochul’s admin, alleging it rigged the bidding on an $11 billion Medicaid homecare program.
I WARNED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR
The bidding on the BIGGEST contract in NY history was insanely rigged and corrupt:
- The consulting company who advised Hochul on the contract, owns 25% of the company which she chose (PPL)
- It was known throughout the industry before bidding even opened that PPL was pre-selected. Some even bragged openly that PPL got the contract BEFORE bidding.
- Top PPL official donated to Hochul
- A union whose goal is to “fight Trump” was set to receive $1 Billion off this contract
- PPL is not based in NY and failed in multiple other states
- Controller was BLOCKED from reviewing the contract with PPL
- The transition was a DISASTER, exactly as predicted. Many New Yorkers lost their care.
- Around 600 operators lost their entire businesses after Hochul consolidated the program into one corporation (PPL)
The entire program which Kathy Hochul uprooted should be REVERSED
To the New Yorkers fleeing NYC, a couple things…
1. You are fleeing policies. Those policies are a result of a leftist worldview, that in many ways you supported, donated to or assisted, even if it was with just your silence or apathy.
2. The places you are fleeing to, have done a much better job protecting their society and environment from that worldview than you did. So you need to learn from them, not try to lead them.
3. You may be rich and powerful and very intelligent in your respective field, but none of that power stopped the inevitable takeover of your beloved city, most likely because you thought you could placate or compromise with the left. You were wrong.
4. Respectfully, the lesson that needs to be learned from this, is not that the left went “too far” but that there is no such thing as “far enough” for the left. They can't be negotiated with, they need to be defeated. You can either help with that, or you can keep fleeing from place to place until there is no place left.
The British mainstream media and establishment owe the 250,000 White British girls who were abused, groomed and sexually exploited by predominantly Pakistani rape gangs an apology for their complicity in these horrific crimes.
The UK rape gang inquiry report just dropped and it should make your blood boil:
1. At least 250,000 young White girls were groomed, raped, trafficked, and tortured.
2. Perpetrators followed consistent tactics of befriending vulnerable girls as young as 11 with gifts, drugs, and alcohol before subjecting them to group rapes, violence, blackmail, pregnancies, forced conversions, and trafficking.
3. UK institutions—including police, social services, schools, NHS, and politicians—catastrophically failed victims through denial, ignored reports, criminalization of victims, destruction of evidence, and prioritization of political correctness and fears of “racism” accusations over child protection.
4. 87–95% of convicted perpetrators in group-based child sexual exploitation cases were Muslim. It was predominantly Muslim Pakistani gangs. They operated across 149 local authority districts. Groups from Somali,
Iranian, Syrian, Turkish, and other Muslim origins were also involved.
5. The Muslim perpetrators operated under an honour- and
shame-based clan code that treated non-Muslim girls, especially White working class girls, as property available for sexual use. Girls were told that they’re “White trash” who deserved punishment.
People need to go to prison for this.
250,000. A quarter of a million!
That is the number of White British girls who were groomed, sexually abused and raped by predominantly Pakistani rape gangs.
That’s 250,000 girls who are owed an apology and deserve justice!
Source: Rupert Lowe’s Independent Rape Gang Inquiry
The cross-burning incident in Chicago that was blamed on white supremacists was actually a leftist anti-Trump protest by an Asian American man. @thisisUIC senior Merlin Lu said he was protesting Christian nationalism and MAGA.
Mr. President,
The pager operation against Hezbollah was a masterpiece of modern warfare. Israel also executed a brilliant 12-day operation against Iran that left the regime in shock, its top generals assassinated, and the Ayatollahs held by the throat.
Yet every time Israel had momentum, whether in Gaza, Lebanon, or against Iran, you personally intervened and stopped them at the worst possible moment.
you were personally briefed by Mossad that defeating Iran would take at least a year of consistent pressure. Yet you pushed for quick results, changed the original plan, and turned what could have been a strategic victory into a strategic defeat.
Now, after signing a humiliating deal that buried the Iranian nuclear threat instead of eliminating it, you come out blaming Israel for taking too long and for how it fights.
The question of civilian casualties should be addressed to Hezbollah, not Israel. Hezbollah deliberately operates from within populated civilian areas, using civilians as human shields and endangering their own people.
This strategic failure is not due to Israeli incompetence. The main problem has been your repeated intervention and bad timing.
You don’t get to sabotage the campaign and then blame Israel for the results.
They Take the Benefits, Abandon the Duties, and Give Loyalty to the Enemy
The same dangerous pattern is repeating itself across the free world.
They come to advanced democracies, whether to Israel, Europe, or America, to enjoy freedom, security, and prosperity.
They eagerly take every benefit these societies offer, while refusing to accept the responsibilities of citizenship.
In Israel, many Arabs enjoy full rights but proudly wave the Palestinian flag. In Europe and America, many Muslim migrants actively work to weaken their host nations and sabotage their alliances.
While people in the free world are busy fighting and blaming each other, the real enemy is already inside the gates.
The real threat is not flawed democracies making difficult choices in wartime. The real threat is the enemy within, those who exploit our systems while remaining loyal to those who seek to destroy them.
I recently found out that I share the same first and last name with a 19 year old student at Cornell who is going viral (over ten million views across twitter and other platforms) for anti-Semitic comments that he made (and continues to make) to a prospective-employer.
My social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) and law firm email address are being blown up by people understandably angry at this other Austin Franco. None of the posts cross any legal lines, but unfortunately there have been comments and emails talking about me, my firm, my parents, etc.
To make matters worse, the undergraduate looks just enough like me to be confusing, and the NY Post, Fox News, and other publications, have written about it with his image as the article cover.
The bad Austin Franco is continuing to make these statements to media and on social media, so we wanted to go on the record disassociating me and the law firm from him.
I am hoping this post will alleviate some confusion for the general public.
I appreciate all the people who have reached out!