Upholding the Iran Nuclear Treaty; Illegal Trump Foundation Spending; and a Syrian Civil War Position

1) Upholding the Iran Nuclear Treaty
Twelve peace and justice organizations have joined in a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, with copies sent to all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The letter surges the 114th Congress to continue to maintain the United States' commitment to upholding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has succeeded in blocking Iran's potential pathways to a nuclear weapon while averting a  disastrous war.

"Second, it is important to note that the administration will retain full authority to snap back sanctions in order to respond to a potential Iranian breach of the accord with or without the extension of ISA under the authorities established by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)." ISA is the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996.

"Third, if ISA is extended beyond the date of the JCPOA's 'Transition Day,' Congress should reaffirm that the U.S. is fully committed to upholding its commitments to terminate nuclear-related sanctions on that date so long as Iran upholds its own obligations. The latest potential date for 'Termination Day' under the JCPOA is October 18, 2023." "An act of Congress will therefore be necessary to terminate nuclear-related sanctions, including ISA sanctions, and Congress should make clear that this remains its intent."

"There have been numerous efforts to undermine confidence in the JCPOA, both from Congressional opponents of the JCPOA and hardliners in Iran. Any consideration of an ISA extension must not become an opportunity for opponents of the JCPOA on either side to re-litigate or renege on the accord."

2) Trump Foundation Money Used for Political Purposes
Donald Trump appeared to use his foundation to launch his presidential campaign ambitions, according to filings analyzed by RealClearPolitics.

"From 2011 to 2014, Trump sent at least $286,000 to conservative or policy groups. The contributions corresponded to speaking engagements and endorsements as Trump cast himself as a potential presidential candidate, according to the analysis. If the contributions were solely to benefit Trump, they could be in violation of IRS laws that prohibit private foundations from self-dealing."

"Improper reporting is still a violation of tax law," charity law specialist Rosemary Fei told RealClearPolitics.

"The report pointed to other examples that appear to show Trump using his foundation to curry favor, such as Trump's foundation donating $100,000 to the Citizens United Foundation ahead of a 'cattle call' of possible Republican presidential candidates sponsored by the group, which Trump attended."

3) The U.S. True Role in Syria
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, who has many titles but whose base is at Columbia University, has presented his position on what the U.S. role in Syria should be. He calls Syria's civil war the "most dangerous and destructive crisis on the planet." He says that President Barack Obama has "greatly compounded the dangers by hiding the US role in Syria from the American people and from world opinion. An end to the Syrian war requires an honest accounting by the US of its ongoing, often secretive role in the Syrian conflict since 2011, including who is funding, arming, training, and abetting the various sides. Such exposure would help bring to an end many countries' reckless actions."

"Through occasional leaks, investigative reports, statements by other governments, and rare statements by US officials, we know that America is engaged in an active, ongoing, CIA-coordinated war both to overthrow Assad and to fight ISIS. America's allies in the anti-Assad effort include Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qater, and other countries in the region. The US has spent billions of dollars on arms, training,special operations forces, air strikes, and logistical support for the rebel forces, including international mercenaries. American allies have spent billions of dollars more. The precise sums are not reported."

Professor Sachs presents the opposing position, which is that secrecy is as it should be. "Their position is that a vote by Congress 15 years ago authorizing the use of armed force against those culpable for the 9/11 attack gives the president and military carte blanche to fight secret wars in the Middle East and Africa. Why should the US explain publicly what it is doing? That would only jeopardize the operations and strengthen the enemy. The public does not need to know."

"I subscribe to a different view: wars should be a last resort and should be constrained by democratic scrutiny. This view holds that America's secret war in Syria is illegal both under the US Constitution (which gives Congress the sole power to declare war) and under the United Nations Charter, and that America's two-sided war in Syria is a cynical and reckless gamble. The US-led efforts to topple Assad are not aimed at protecting the Syrian people, as Obama and Clinton have suggested from time to time, but are a US proxy war against Iran and Russia, in which Syria happens to be the battleground."

"The American people want security -- including the defeat of ISIS -- but they also recognize the long and disastrous history of US-led regime-change efforts, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia."