Obama Caves to Khamenei: Amenable to Immediate Cessation of Sanctions and Apathetic to Supply of S-300 Air Defense Systems

Quite honestly, I didn't see this coming so soon: Speaking at a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Renzi at the White House on Friday, Obama declared that the US is willing to discuss the immediate cessation of sanctions against Iran, and expressed indifference to the supply of Russian S-300 air defense systems to Tehran. As reported by The Times of Israel:

"US President Barack Obama on Friday left open the door to “creative negotiations” in response to Iran’s demand that punishing sanctions be immediately lifted as part of a nuclear deal, even though the initial agreement calls for the penalties to be removed over time.

Asked whether he would definitively rule out lifting sanctions at once as part of a final deal aimed at keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, Obama said he didn’t want to get ahead of negotiators in how to work through the potential sticking point. He said his main concern is making sure that if Iran violates an agreement, sanctions can quickly be reinstated — the so-called 'snap back' provision.

. . . .

The president also weighed in on Russia’s announcement earlier this week that it would lift a five-year ban on delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, giving the Islamic republic’s military a strong deterrent against any air attack. The White House initially objected, but Obama said, 'I’m frankly surprised that it held this long.'"

A "snap back" provision? Obama knows that both Russia and China will prevent a future American president from reimposing sanctions against Iran, whether by way of seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution or otherwise. Meanwhile, the lifting of all sanctions means that billions of dollars will instantly flow to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen.

Obama is surprised that the ban on Russian supply of S-300 systems "held this long"? In fact the sale by Russia with the American president's tacit approval is very in much in keeping with Obama's 2012 pledge to Putin via Medvedev that after his reelection, he would have "more flexibility."

Why has Obama decided to become the first American president to sponsor terrorism, albeit in a roundabout fashion? As I suggested in a prior blog entry, Obama sincerely believes that enfeeblement of Israel by means of empowering an implacable foe, i.e. Iran, can bring peace to the Middle East. And then there is also the matter of this narcissist's "legacy."

Now we can only wait and see if there is a sufficient number of Democrats in Congress with the courage to oppose Obama, who has shed his last vestige of decorative moderation.