A Time for Commitment

The Iranian deal negotiated by President Obama and Secretary Kerry has filled me with a mix of emotions: anxiety and dread. That Europe abandoned principles for profit, lacking the will to call evil by name, is unsurprising. It has long hollowed disciplined religion and hallowed laissez faire Secularism, and it is unreasonable to assume it would ever sacrifice pleasure for purpose.

But that America folded its hand — when low oil prices and invigorated sanctions put Iran in an economic squeeze — is most disconcerting. The lead for this deal didn't come from the American people; most Americans identify Iran as rogue and haven't forgotten or forgiven 1979. The motivation came from President Obama, whose Progressive ideology doesn't accept the Judeo-Christian definition of evil: if left alone it will not leave you alone; either destroy it or it will metastasize and destroy you.

While the American people didn't produce the deal, its fatigue allowed for it. The people are weary. The unraveling of mores, undoing of family and marginalizing of faith have spread malaise throughout the land. Secularism has taken root, making people tired of mission, tired of responsibility, tired of uniqueness. All it takes for evil to triumph is for the United States to equivocate.

Just a few years ago, America sacrificed blood and treasure in attempt to free Iraq from tyranny, to create a bastion of democracy in a troubled part of the world. It had done so before successfully, in Germany, Japan, and South Korea. While the mission in Iraq failed, it was not the values that failed; sadly, the liberated people were unwilling or unable to keep the freedoms they had been given. An inspired, traditional president would have rejuvenated the people to nurse it wounds, gird its loins, and become strong once again.

Instead, the president abandoned American mission, redirecting the last 100 years of precedent. Instead of confronting evil, he has chosen to bring a regional source of mayhem to the door of nuclear invincibility. Iran is to Shiite belief what ISIS is to Sunni faith. ISIS has long beards, Kalashnikovs and pickup trucks. Iran has infrastructure, missiles and proxies in the most sensitive parts of the world to do its ugly bidding. Partner with Iran to overcome ISIS? A plague on both their camps.

The detachment of the deal is remarkable. It offers broad assurances with a fig leaf of protection. It pledges to keep Iran from producing nuclear weapons, yet it:

            1. Allows exclusions for military sites, and Iran claims its massive, underground Parchin Nuclear Facility is military.

            2. Gives Iran 24 days' notice before allowing inspections, contrary to the "anytime anywhere" promised during the negotiations

            3. Mandates that a visit to a suspected site be approved by a majority of an eight member committee including Iran, China, Russia, and European countries. It would take all European countries voting yes to allow for an inspection; European countries are weak and easily intimidated.

            4. Releases billions of dollars in frozen assets immediately, not over time and not based on performance

            5. Allows Iran to continue arming and funding terrorists groups around the Middle East and around the world

            6. Allows Iran to cross the nuclear threshold after 15 short years

            7. Guarantees that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will develop their own nuclear weapons

            8. Raises Iran to the level of nuclear capable, permanently protecting it from retribution for mischief

            9. Doesn't address the fact that should Iran not comply with the agreement, it will be nearly impossible to regain international will to re-impose sanctions

            10. Makes Iran the de facto leader of the Muslim world, strengthening extremism, marginalizing moderates

Most bewildering, is that there is nothing forcing the United States to agree to this. A weakened, struggling Iran is good for the US. What made this disastrous deal an imperative? What besides the nearing of the end of President Obama's second term?

The president complained that the entire world thinks it is a good agreement besides Israel and the Republicans. I believe he is right. Where has the Democrat party gone, in regard to its commitment to protect Israel?

I am the son of a Democrat, grandson of a Democrat, the great grandson of a Democrat. How did the party of the common man become the party to unravel Judeo-Christian values? How is it that the party which benefited the worker, now blames the blessed, cheers those who create chaos, and celebrates those who unwind the underpinnings of this nation? It is as if the party is energized by the teenage thrill of breaking mores and seeing that nothing happens. Project weakness abroad and nothing happens. Undo traditional marriage and nothing happens. Put the country $17T in debt and nothing happens. The cut flower still blooms in the vase, but then it fades, and quickly dies.

The Iran deal does serve a political purpose.

Having pulled US troops out of Iraq before it was secure, the president created a vacuum which ISIS filled. Fighting ISIS would require reengagement. To a president unwilling to sacrifice blood and treasure to expand the borders of freedom, the Iran deal is a clever solution: It establishes Iran as the power broker of the region and lets it fight ISIS. America can return to spending trillions of dollars on entitlement programs, and assume it will be left alone.

If there ever was a time in my life I felt the world was pregnant with destructive power, it is now. The "last, best hope for humanity," as Lincoln called America, is slowly choosing decadence and dependence over discipline and decision.

I often think of my grandparents. They came of age in the US in the 1930s, and were adults during WWII. Were they engaged in the struggle to save lives? Did they perceive themselves as capable of making a difference? Or were they worried about the Nazis, but frustrated and frozen?

Years from now, my grandchildren will ask me: Where were you when America lost its way? Where were you when America jettisoned its Judeo-Christian credo for selfishness and Secularism? Where were you when purveyors of dependency used the guilt of slavery to fog the populace into accepting a weakened world voice, shrilling "racist" to those who objected? Did you stand up to them? Did you empower articulate counterweights to stand against them? Did you stand behind leaders who were working to galvanize the people to resist?

Yes, I will say, I did get involved. I did speak to friends, colleagues, to anyone who would listen. Yes, I did see a leader who spoke to this crisis, whose character is beyond reproach and whose message is resonating with millions of Americans. To me, that person is Senator Ted Cruz. And yes, I will say, I did make the awkward phone calls, asking friends to support him in the effort to right the ship and bring America back to greatness.

Yes, I will say, I did all in my power to galvanize his message, reminding Americans what it means to be an American, urging people to call evil by name, to once again take on the mission of freedom, to support fledgling shoots of spirit, wherever the spring up, especially in bitter, dark, societies.

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation to a fundraiser for Senator Ted Cruz in North Texas.

I have never done this before, but this time, I made a personal commitment to fill a table of 10 people, at $250 per person.

This is the battle of our day. If I am not for Judeo values what am I? If not now, when?

The author of two books, Yaakov Rosenblatt is a rabbi and businessman in Dallas.

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