Remember the Iran nuclear deal?
If President Donald Trump was really serious about preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, he would not have withdrawn the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, during his first term.
The JCPOA was an agreement between Iran, the U. S., the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Germany and the European Union to restrict Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons. This agreement was entered into in 2015.
The agreement was a win-win situation, as it gave Iran significant sanctions relief, while, at the same time, through extensive monitoring, inspections and verifications by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran was effectively prevented from going ahead with plutonium production and increasing enriched uranium stockpiles.
When Trump pulled us out of the agreement in 2018, the response of Iran was predictable. They resumed uranium enrichment to a degree that inspectors a few years later reported was near weapons-grade levels.
Opinion
So, the president’s one justification for starting a war with Iran, namely, to prevent them from obtaining atomic weapons, rings hollow. The American people need truthful answers as to exactly why we are now engaged in an operation that will surely result in death and destruction.
Alan Kazdoy, Far North Dallas
Promises, promises
It seems that the Trump administration is an easy target these days. The president certainly has his hands full with tariff rejections, human rights issues brought about by ICE, economic pressures on our households, declining support due to the Epstein files, the invitation of Vladimir Putin to his Board of Peace and now, war with Iran.
I think it only fair that we highlight when President Donald Trump follows through on his promises. Last year, at a fundraising dinner with industry leaders, he asked big oil executives to raise about $1 billion for his campaign. In return, he promised to pay them back in tax and deregulation actions.
He has already extended the huge tax breaks he gave them in 2016. Now he has rolled back the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, which is huge for the fossil fuel giants.
There is a universal science-backed agreement that these gases are leading to extreme heat, wildfires, worsening air quality, severe storms and flooding. But a promise is a promise, so let’s give credit where it is due.
It may appear to be influence peddling, but I think we all have to admit that, when it comes to billionaire donors, we see promises made, promises kept.
Ted Felinski, Lewisville
Like herds of sheep
Watching Republican members of Congress these last two days following the president’s flip-flopping on the Iran war justification reminds me of sheep herds pivoting quickly in response to their herding dog’s obeyance to his master’s whistle. No thinking. No questions. No doubts.
Our founders wisely created three branches of government, with Congress being Article I and having the sole authority to declare or authorize war. This president has completely bypassed Congress, the majority part of which apparently enjoys being sheep.
Call your members of Congress and remind them that they do not get to choose their job responsibility — those are defined in the Constitution.
As debate continues as to the wisdom of the president starting this war, the bigger issue is that one person made this decision that was not his to make and with no authorization or consultation with the branch of government whose role it is to declare and/or authorize war.
Even bigger than that is that the majority party is giving him this power with no questions.
Cathy Murphree, Richardson
She worked in the basement
Re: “Tearing Down City Hall Isn’t the Debate – The real discussion is about the Mavericks and our city’s future,” Sunday Opinion.
Oh, Dallas Morning News! I’m so disappointed in your stance supporting the demolition of City Hall and the apparently unending guest essays you’ve published supporting that plan.
At least you’ve been transparent about the reason: to provide a new venue for the Mavs. And what will your recommendation be when that venue ceases to be enough, as has happened with Reunion and now the American Airlines Center? You know it will happen.
As an aside, the comment about moving 911 and 311 out of its “dank” location in the basement of City Hall is insulting. I worked in that dank location (among other spots in City Hall). Our understanding was that the basement provided enhanced security for critical functions. Stop piling on.
Margaret Rogers, Dallas, Bryan Place
Certain cost overruns
As a 60-year resident of Dallas and having been in the engineering and construction industries for most of those 60 years, I’ve worked with the city and AECOM on projects and dealt with the cost of projects.
Cost estimates are a guide for the cost of a project, but because of change orders, the estimate is never met. About $329 million over three years to make the building meet current standards is going to be $500 million when completed. The $1 billion over 20 years is closer to $1.5 to $2 billion when completed.
Inflation and change orders will contribute to the cost increase. In closing, I love the structure and the architecture of City Hall, but it has outlived its function as the center of city government.
John F. Pierce, Dallas/Lakewood Trails
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