Beltway Insider: Obama Pushes Nuke Deal; China Visit; Wildfires; Williams, Jennings, Gifford

President Obama addressed media over the week on the intricacies of the Iranian Nuclear Deal as the full congressional vote is quickly approaching and Washington's movers and shakers have left the capital for the annual summer vacation.

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week, decreased two percentage points to 45% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased one percentage point to 50%.

President Pushes Nuke Deal

President Obama continued to stump over the past week for the upcoming Iranian Nuclear Deal vote that must be approved by congress before the stipulations and privileges within the deal go into effect.

The President pitched the positive impact of the deal to a group of students, lobbyists, media and guests during one of his several speeches this past week ramping up the energy as seasonal Washingtonians geared up for the start of the congressional recess.

Congressional members are doing more, unusually more, than agreeing to vote across party lines. Fortunately, congress is listening to all sides and astonishingly not trading votes or making secret deals but apparently leaning on conscience and concern for America and not the legacy of the current president.

"So this deal is not just the best choice among alternatives, this is the strongest non-proliferation agreement ever negotiated.  And because this is such a strong deal, every nation in the world that has commented publicly, with the exception of the Israeli government, has expressed support.  The United Nations Security Council has unanimously supported it.  I've had to make a lot of tough calls as President, but whether or not this deal is good for American security is not one of those calls.  It's not even close," President Obama said.

Is it Simply Smoke and Mirrors?

Over the year Secretary of State John Kerry, his team, along with P5 +1 Nation negotiators have been diligently working with Iranian officials. Setting time sensitive deadlines of agreement with incremental releases in the intense sanctions that have been in place against the former enemy of the United States and our allies for more than two decades.

Iran's President Dr. Hassan Rouhani, a recently elected moderate cleric and legal scholar, who has progressive ideals, trust of the people and the vision to understand an impoverished Iran benefits no one, least of all himself and his long term vision for his nation has agreed to and met each of the deadlines.

Rouhani Inherited an economy deeply impoverished, a population without hope, a people hated by the world and a penchant for terrorist, strong anti-American rhetoric, deep and unequivocal hatred for United States ally, Israel.

His goals to develop Iran into a regional and global power depended on the lifting of sanctions. That proved impossible without agreeing to the terms presented by a unified global proliferation negotiation team consisting of the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the European Union.

"The Iranian nuclear team stood up against all powers in the negotiations and succeeded to powerfully defend the rights of the Iranian nation," President Rouhani said. Further, the Iranian leader said, "for Iranian, nuclear talks with major powers and their achievements represent a great event of contemporary history of Iran."

Dividing the deal into equal parts, it could be said that the final phase of the deal, which has successfully completed the first two parts, coming to the table and agreement in terms, with a final draft completed and prepared the deal, historic or not, after a series of negotiations, Iran has agreed with the international community to an interim deal, a deal that rolled back Iran's stockpile of near 20 percent enriched uranium, and froze the progress of its program so that the P5+1 could negotiate a comprehensive deal without the fear that Iran might be stalling for time.

Nuclear Race Background

The era of nuclear arms race, which a large portion of the population is not familiar with, was a proactive pursuit of the Cold War Era, primarily between the United States and Soviet Union.

The Cold War, a term not unlike passive aggressive, described the active engagement between the U.S. and Soviets that did not involve boots on the ground or other traditional hot wartime methods. The purpose of gathering information, intelligence government secrets all carried out by highly trained espionage experts on both sides.

The United States, Soviets, and the remaining P5+1 countries, managed to develop a proliferation policy, a unified belief that stopped any arms race that would repeat Hiroshima or Nagasaki where mass death and causality resulted from one bomb dropped.  

Iran has maintained the pursuit of a nuclear arms superiority, a dominance in the region with the sole intent of harassing, menacing and threatening Israel.

The Core

As Iran's economy contracted the sanctions, a continual irritant, leveraged the negotiators back to the table out of which produced an opportunity.

 

Under this deal, Iran cannot acquire the plutonium needed for a bomb.  The core of its heavy-water reactor at Arak will be pulled out, filled with concrete, and replaced with one that will not produce plutonium for a weapon.  

 

The spent fuel from that reactor will be shipped out of the country, and Iran will not build any new heavy-water reactors for at least 15 years. 

 

Iran will also not be able to acquire the enriched uranium that could be used for a bomb.  As soon as this deal is implemented, Iran will remove two-thirds of its centrifuges.  

 

For the next decade, Iran will not enrich uranium with its more advanced centrifuges.  Iran will not enrich uranium at the previously undisclosed Fordow facility, which is buried deep underground, for at least 15 years.  

 

Iran will get rid of 98 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium, which is currently enough for up to 10 nuclear bombs, for the next 15 years.  

 

Even after those 15 years have passed, Iran will never have the right to use a peaceful program as cover to pursue a weapon. - President Obama addressing invited guests at American University.

     

The Vote

Congress has a sixty day window to review the document. They have asked for a thirty day extension. No announcement has been made if they have received it.

President Obama and Family Retreat to Martha's Vineyard

President Obama, and his family, have left Washington for the annual Martha's Vineyard vacation. It is the sixth time the family as vacation on the east coast luxury island home to the Kennedy Compound and the hub for the East Coast intelligentsia, Harvard professors, politicians, news moguls and entertainers call the Vineyard home for the summer season. Secretary of State John Kerry may also be vacationing while stumping for the Iranian vote.

Obama, as per usual will probably golf on all of the islands courses. This year, however, one can expect one or more of his rounds to be democratic senators and lobbyists who can assist in securing the vote on the upcoming Iranian nuclear deal.

Barring any crisis the President should only have the Iranian vote to work on during his family vacation as long time summer resident, Harvard professor, noted trial lawyer and political commentator, Alan Dershowitz has publicly said the deal will not pass and has quickly capitalized on the possibility by penning "Case Against The Iranian Deal" book.

Chinese Human Rights Violations Won't Stop State Visit

President Obama is welcoming President XI Jinping of China to the White House this September as a show of respect for the role the P1+5 nation played in the assisting in the negotiations of the Iranian Nuclear Deal. 

More than simply a show of gratitude, Obama is hoping the communist leader will continue to see the need of a global unity in the eradication of growing global concerns including Syria, ISIS and even Climate change.

Many are calling for the President, who has been labeled soft on Foreign Policy, to cancel the visit which coincides with the 70th Anniversary of the formation of the United Nations, an event the Chinese leader will also be attending.

Human Rights activities are citing the pervasive violations of human rights and indignities the government continually, repeatedly and actively participates.

Chinese Stranglehold on U.S.

These offenses are rarely a concern for China as Chinese leaders are aware of the stranglehold they have over all nations of the world as they are the highest exporter of rare earth elements.

A necessity in the manufacturing of every environmental green movement alternative from Wind Turbines to energy efficient lightbulbs, technology advancements handheld devices, flat screens, any gadget with a monitor or screen, defense systems, hybrid automobiles, rare earth elements are simply that a rare element with few other deposits in the world that can produce the necessary total tonnage needed to meet the ever increasing demand.

The largest deposit on record is within the United States at Mountain Pass, California. The site is limited mined on request only as mining the rare earth elements are environmentally unsound contaminating, to the extent of Three Mile Island pollutants and poisons, the water, land and earth around it.

Until a synthetic combination of rare earth's is developed, every country who buys them from Chins risks developing the same blind eye in exchange for a dependence similar to foreign oil

China has continued to mine the deposit and has placed limits on exports.

Wildfires Rage

Fire season has started early in California as worsening drought conditions make for very dry and combustible conditions across much of the state. The situation has been deemed a Homeland Threat and has been placed under watch and will remained monitored until the threat can be contained.

"The President was updated this morning by his top Homeland Security Advisor, Lisa Monaco, regarding the wildfires plaguing the American West.  Yesterday, the national preparedness level was raised to four, which means that three or more geographic areas are experiencing incidents required elevated management, including more resources and fire crews, "Josh Earnest, White House Press Secretary, said.

Northern California is experiencing the most brutal impact as currently there are 27 large uncontained active fires burning more than 110 acres. To date fires across Northern California has consumed more than 30 homes and 26 out buildings.

State and Federal agencies have dispersed more than 14,000 inter-agency personnel to handle the logistics of the 37,000 total fires reported. Also dispersed are 108 helicopters and 22 air tankers to assist in fighting the fires.

Remembering Peter Jennings, Frank Gifford and Robin Williams

Peter Jennings

Ten years ago, August 7, 2005, Peter Jennings, the News Anchor for ABC's World News Tonight, died of Lung Cancer. He was 67. The name, for more than twenty years, across a wide cross section of the population was the most trusted name in Journalism.

Reporting, over four decades, from around the world for ABC News, Jennings in 1983 became anchor. Heading a news team that brought the news-makers and events into homes across America and the world he guided the nation through triumph and tragedy. Jennings was a welcome nightly visitor in living rooms.

His last appearance came on August name the date, when he announced to the world the news he received from his doctor. An admitted former smoker who quit more than two decades ago, Jennings also admitted to privately smoking since September 11, 2001.

Covering nearly every major event from the mid-20th century to ushering in the 21st, Jennings brought a humanity to a very inhumane world. His weekly news broadcasts ended with a Person of the Week segment, punctuating the week of world news-makers with the extraordinary, unsung hero. The simple nod to those who think their work, dedication, or pursuit is hidden amidst the cacophony of world events was initiated by Jennings who seemed to genuinely care and respect his audience.

Frank Gifford

Frank Gifford, former NFL Hall of Famer and ABC Sports Commentator died Sunday from natural causes at his Connecticut home he shared with his wife, Kathie Lee Gifford and two children, Cassidy and Cody. He was 84.

Gifford, who played his entire professional football career at the New York Giants, left the franchise in 1964 after twelve seasons during which he was selected to attend the Pro Ball eight times, six times he was selected All-Pro. Gifford was named NFL MVP, Pro Ball MVP, Comeback Player of the Year. His Iconic Number 16 was retired by the New York Giant's Franchise.

Proving there was life after the NFL, Gifford moved from the field to the clubhouse and become the voice of Monday Night Football alongside Howard Cosell and Don Meredith. He continued his role as Sports Journalists and commentator for ABC Special Sports Events, once titled, ABC Wide World of Sports.

In a statement, his family said: "It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and friend, Frank Gifford. Frank died suddenly this beautiful Sunday morning of natural causes at his Connecticut home. We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers."

Robin Williams

Toxicology reports were published this week indicating Robin Williams, the beloved entertainer and funny man, who committed suicide one year ago had no illegal substances in his bloodstream and was not under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol at the time of his death.

Williams, whose death stunned the world, died of asphyxiation in his Paradise Cay, California home August 11, 2014.

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com

Iranian President Dr. Hassan Rouhani quote from http://www.president.ir/

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