On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner. It was a breech of American protocol and an insult to President Obama. But more importantly, it was an attack on America's diplomatic efforts to limit Iran's nuclear program.
Netanyahu's influence didn't end with the speech. Immediately after the address, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attempted to rush legislation that could derail the negotiations.1 And major newspapers across the nation had Netanyahu on their front pages this week, amplifying his assault on the diplomatic talks.2
All told, Netanyahu's presence has supercharged the war hawks' efforts to thwart diplomacy—which is why we need to supercharge our own efforts to create the space for negotiations to work.
So we're hitting the phones, planning visits to key Senate offices, and designing hard-hitting ads calling out Democratic senators by name—if we can raise the funds to do it.
Can you chip in $3 to ensure that President Obama's approach to Iran—not John Boehner's or Benjamin Netanyahu's—has a chance?
Together with allies, MoveOn members' efforts so far have helped preserve the diplomatic process. Key Democrats have halted McConnell's anti-diplomacy blitz.3 But this success amounts to only a temporary reprieve.
Now, we have three weeks before a potential vote could derail the nuclear talks once and for all—three weeks to solidify enough Democrats behind the president that we can give diplomacy a chance.
Diplomacy is a delicate balancing act. We can't know if these talks will succeed—but we do know that we can't afford the alternative: another Mideast war. We need to give the talks the time and space to succeed.
When Netanyahu spoke to our Congress, at the invitation of Speaker John Boehner and without reaching out to the White House, he attempted to slam the door on diplomacy. Members of Congress have heard from him—now, let's make sure they hear from us.
We have three weeks to make the case for diplomacy louder and clearer than the case for endless war.
Can you chip in $3 to support a diplomatic process and defeat the fearmongering of John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, and Benjamin Netanyahu?
Thanks for all you do.
–Jo, Brian, Jadzia, Anna and the rest of the teamSources:
1. "Democrats upset McConnell wants to fast-track Iran bill," CNN, March 4, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303300&id=109403-10220574-MQO_P1x&t=1
2. "New York Post 'BIBI GOES NUCLEAR: Netanyahu's Historic Speech to Congress, Bam Gets Schooled' Wednesday, March 4, 2015," Pundit From Another Planet, March 4, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303301&id=109403-10220574-MQO_P1x&t=2
3. "Democrats Rebel Against Mitch McConnell Over Iran Nuclear Bill," The Huffington Post, March 4, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303302&id=109403-10220574-MQO_P1x&t=3
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