Notations on Our World: On the US, IS/Daesh & Other Thoughts

June 30, 2015 is turning out to be another pivotal day in our World.  The Greece impending default rattled markets throughout the World yesterday as it noted that it will not pay a loan due to the IMF today.   Although negotations are apparently continuing with a new proposal, banks are closed and capital controls are in effect.  The German Chancellors emphathic statement that there will be no new negotations until after the referndum was clear enough.   But there is a new proposal that the Greek Government has sent forth to Europe as the final deadline looms.

Beyond Europe, there is the continued inferno in the Middle East.     Daesh (also known as the Islamic State) is now one year old.   The war continues with no clear end in site.    This is as the World was shocked by the triple attacks in France, Kuwait and Tunisia.    It was hoped that somehow the attacks will dissipate during Ramadan.   This has simply not happened as the attacks underscored.   In our team's daily roundup, we saw that 3 Iranians had lost their lives in the Kuwait Attack as a Senior member of the Iranian Government was in Kuwait to meet with Kuwait Officials and visited the wounded in the Hospital:

It is also quite busy on the US Political Scene.   Our team has been working on the "Notations" series on US Politics.    Jeb Bush had fundrasiing appeals sent out under his Son's Name (whos is now Texas Land Commsiioner).    Late yesterday, a fund raising appeal was sent out under his Father's Name, Former President George H.W. Bush.   This is as Hillary Clinton also sent out a fund raising appeal as well as the quarter is drawing to a close.   Governor Jindhal of Louisiana is already in the race as is Governor Christie who just announced today.    This is as the US Supreme Court again came down with a number of pivotal decisions on the Enviroment and on redistricting in Arizona.   One example of th extent of the Social Conservative Backlash was underscored by this call to action from the President of the Heritage Foundation, Jim DeMint as some who have undertaken reforms of redistricting in California can rest easy.

What is ever so interesting as this call to action from Senator DeMint underscores:  It is bound to be quite an exciting year: 

There's no way around it -- this was a horrible week for Americans like you and me who believe in rule of law and the Constitution. It's disheartening to see the leaders of our beloved country trample all over the principles which made America great. Even the Supreme Court, which like the President and the Congress is obliged to uphold the Constitution, has in the span of two days issued rulings on marriage and Obamacare that undermine the rule of law and ignore the Constitution. Reporters and pundits are already saying these decisions are the final word. You and I know better. And we at The Heritage Foundation won't sit back and allow this contempt for the Constitution to continue. Add your name to our open letter demanding that the rule of law and the Constitution be upheld. With your dedication and support, we can get America back to the principles you believe in: free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Sign our open letter to Congress to today. Thank you for all you do. Your support makes us stronger, so we can make your voice louder. Sincerely, Jim DeMint President

The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE | Washington, D.C. 20002 | (800) 546-2843

Notations On Our World: On Iran & the Art of the Deal (Late Breaking Developments)

Our team has been doing the AM "Daily Roundup" as we have just seen reports that the negotations on the Iran Nuclear deal has been extended until July 7 as negotations are continuing.   This image from today's talks was noted on the Islamic Republic Agency Website this morning:

 

Dr. Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, returned from his trip to Tehran and brought back Dr. Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Orgaization and President Rouhani's Brother who serves as a Special Advisor to the President.     Dr. Salehi had surgery recently and was bedridden.   It underscores how Iran is serious on this question--as we view the US is as the agreement has been to extend the talks.     Although gaps do remain, the fact that they are talking is a hopeful sign.

It will be a developing story.....

 

Notations On Our World On Iran & the Art of the Deal

As our team was working away assessing the latest on the talks,  we have been amazed by the onslaught of public comments from former officials on how the deal is such a bad deal.   This was epitomized by this as noted by the +Washington Post  last week:

Pro-Rubio nonprofit to launch seven-figure ad campaign on Iran

By Sean Sullivan

A nonprofit created by allies of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is preparing to launch a more than $1 million advertising campaign highlighting the presidential candidate's resistance to an emerging Iranian nuclear deal, marking its first commercials since Rubio launched his campaign in April.  Read full article » This appeared on Haaretz last week and one of the signators appeared on CNN and had a discussion with Fareed Zakaria

An article has been sent to you from Haaretz.com:
Ex-Obama aides: U.S. needs tougher Iran nucle

As if the domestic pressures were not enough, Ayatollah Khameini made a pivotal speech that drew headlines for its supposed redlines which was picked up by the likes of the +Huffington Post Politics  and underscored by this from IRNA, the Official Iranian News Agency as noted below:  http://www.irna.com/fa/News/81657801/

What has been interesting is again the public stance by Senior Officials yet again to dampen expectations.   What was also quite interesting was the deferement by the Majlis inTehran not to refer the law they passed simliar to the Coker Bill.     As the Foreign Minister is in Tehran on consultations,  this story also appeared on Al Monitor:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/06/khamenei-demand-immediate-sanctions-relief.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+%5BEnglish%5D&utm_campaign=4071d02967-June_29_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-4071d02967-93070437#

The signifcance of this analysis cannot be emphasized enough.    It shows that Khameini has prepared the establishment as the world has already been told that the June 30 deadline will slip as the teams continue their negotations.   Someone noted that this deal is too big to be allowed to fail.   Our team agrees especially as one estimate reflects that 120 Billion Dollars will be freed up from the proceeds of Iranian Oil alone.

  Israel, though, is hard at work.    Though.    Today was the turn of the Defense Minister who said Iran was part of the problem and not the solution.    What was striking was his claim that there was no humanitiran crisis in Gaza and as Israel is mulling withdrawing from the Human Rights Council as the United Nations came out with a very tough report.     

One measure of a commitment that amazed our team was the presence of Secretary Kerry.  Despite being on crutches, he is on the job.     Our team is remaining hopeful desapite all the odds to achieve the impossible.    Our team reflected upon Madiba's admonition that it alwasy seems impossible until it is done.    It is ever true now.....