The U.S. Just Removed Iran, Hezbollah From Its List of Terrorists. Is This Too Far To Go For A Nuke Deal?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:41:56 -0400

https://warsclerotic.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/us-intel-scraps-iran-hezbollah-from-terrorist-threats-list/

US intel. scraps Iran, Hezbollah from terrorist threats list

US intel. scraps Iran, Hezbollah from terrorist threats list, Iran Daily, March 16, 2015 (True or false? I have seen nothing to confirm the report in the "legitimate media," but that's not surprisi...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 9:35 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 21:35:06 -0400

Shame on me. I clicked on the link thinking it was actual news. Jim Clapper does not write the terrorist threat list, and this is not actual news.

Response by PO1 Stephen Caldonetti made Mar 19 at 2015 3:27 PM

PO1 Stephen Caldonetti — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:27:19 -0400

If this is true, then this is another attack waiting to happen, they are putting our guard down. History will repeat itself if we don't learn from it.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 4 at 2015 7:26 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 07:26:58 -0400

I have come to the conclusion that this President will do "whatever it takes" to secure a deal with Iran ... whether it is in our country's best interest or not.

Response by MSG David Chappell made Apr 4 at 2015 7:31 AM

MSG David Chappell — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 07:31:50 -0400

Regardless of the source listed a quick search shows the facts are true http://www.newsweek.com/iran-and-hezbollah-omitted-us-terror-threat-list-amid-nuclear-talks-314073

Response by CPT Barbara Smith made Apr 4 at 2015 8:33 AM

CPT Barbara Smith — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 08:33:50 -0400

I am praying that the President will listen to the experienced military leaders and veterans. As a nurse educator and Christian, I don't know what else to do to support our military. I pray for those of you who are active duty. Amen.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 4 at 2015 9:26 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 09:26:24 -0400

Pure politics. The question is: For whose benefit?

If politics is "the art of compromise", what compromise is being made?

We can see the benefit for the terrorists. They will enjoy greater freedom of movement (a key factor in their tactics of terrorism). They will enjoy greater access to the resources they need to support terrorism. They will enjoy a lower level of scrutiny that will allow them to operate more freely.

What is the benefit to us?

Sorry, I can't think of anything either.

Where is the compromise?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2015 9:31 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 09:31:36 -0400

Let's just remove a major source of regional instability from our terrorist list. Ignoring, of course, all the money and army they have given to support terrorist organizations. Sound good everybody? OK! We'll do that! What's the worst that could happen?

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 4 at 2015 10:51 AM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 10:51:31 -0400

RP Family, please educate me on this issue. Over the years, I've thought of IRAN as threat to the US. The trouble is I don't why. They may be terrorists, but I don't any their terrorists acts against us. The terrorists I remember have been Yemen, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia (who suppose be our friends). I also know of a couple attacks from Africans, but again no Iranians. In recent history, do we have evidence that have done something wrong or bad to the US. If so, what's on the record? Why should they stay on the list? Without knowing the evidence, I have trouble arguing against taking them off the list.

Response by SFC Miguel Lopez made Apr 4 at 2015 10:55 AM

SFC Miguel Lopez — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 10:55:29 -0400

Just rumors. Iran has been and will continue to support terrorist states as they refuse to get involved in the war against terrorism. Hezbollah receives support from Iran. It's possible they may have asked to be removed as part of their nuke deal request but then I'll be speculating. I don't believe Mr. Kerry would let that happen.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 4 at 2015 7:42 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 19:42:59 -0400

Why don't we just hand them the blue prints next? Or do we give them to North Korea first?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2015 9:41 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 21:41:38 -0400

As I write this, 80% of respondents (16/20) believe "the Administration has gone way too far; what can they be thinking?" There are two responses from MSG David Chappell and SFC Private RallyPoint Member which contain a link to a Newsweek article which purportedly proves that Iran and Hezbollah were, in fact, removed from the "list." MAJ Tristan M. recanted that the DOS list is meaningless, and I agree that de facto encouraging a black market is not ideal, but the United States do not have a trade relationship with Iran (something that DOS and Dept. of Commerce deal in), and Iran is still under the UN microscope. As far as I can tell, only one respondent here, other than me, SFC Miguel Lopez, disregards this discussion's headline.

"Hizballah" is still designated as a Foreign Terror Organization, and Iran is still designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm; http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm.

Retired Air Force LT GEN and incumbent Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper signed his name to a report that omitted Iran and Hezbollah from a list of terrorist threats to the United States. The National Intelligence Estimate is an independently authored document required by Congress, and is used to advise the President and Congress. That independence can sometimes pull the rug from under presidents, just ask President Bush about the 2007 NIE that stated that Iran was "very unlikely" to have the means of producing nuclear weapons before 2009 and "judge[d] with high confidence that Iran will not be technically capable of producing and reprocessing enough plutonium for a weapon before about 2015." http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/international/20071203_release.pdf.

As I have said before in this discussion, Iran or Hezbollah could be removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list or the Foreign Terror Organizations list, respectively, but they have not been removed yet.

Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2015 10:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 22:30:53 -0400

What is a label ? Friend or foe . It is something that is always changing .
Changing a label to regain support from people who were are close allies before. Think about it .. It is easier to get a friend to do what you want than an enemy .

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 4 at 2015 11:50 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 23:50:18 -0400

Who is going to replace them, Christians and Jews?

Response by MAJ Ben Williams made Apr 5 at 2015 12:27 AM

MAJ Ben Williams — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 00:27:06 -0400

I guess I can wear the Hezbollah t-shirt I got in Baalbek without worries now.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2015 6:56 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 06:56:42 -0400

The U.S. did not remove them from the DoS's list, which represents U.S. policy. The intelligence community merely reported on them in a more favorable manner than in previous annual reports. This article is a little more thorough: http://www.newsweek.com/iran-and-hezbollah-omitted-us-terror-threat-list-amid-nuclear-talks-314073 Furthermore, the reports I read on the deal specifically stated that certain sanctions were remaining in place because they were emplaced as a result of Iran's terror sponsorship.

Response by SPC Angel Guma made Apr 5 at 2015 4:35 PM

SPC Angel Guma — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 16:35:19 -0400

Iran...sort of. While they still sponsor terrorist groups, at least trying to see some sort of legitimacy in the government and country is a start. I wouldn't give them an inch of leeway though. Treat the government there like how you would treat any alcoholic. Lock up the beers, don't wave and tease them with drinks. But for the purposes of having something other than military options, its better than nothing.

Hezbollah though is widely known to be a proxy of the Ayatollahs and they have never been up to any good in that region. Removing them from the Terrorist watch list is an epic disaster. Hindsight is always 20/20 and its always easier to be an armchair General. But, to take an example, we gave the German people a legitimacy as a country, but to give the Nazi Party and the other thugs running around Germany any sort of leniency is a bad idea.

If this is giving Iran some breather that we see them as worthwhile people to court and get along with, I'm all for it. But to give Hezbollah any sort of room is just totally missing the target. And furthermore, while I'm all for building trust and ties with Iran (as a country), their government is so corrupt and dysfunctional, that you might as well be trying to bargain with clowns. This is a monumental disaster waiting to happen, and it will be the American Soldier to pay the price.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 5 at 2015 7:32 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 19:32:41 -0400

If this is true the State Department hasn't updated it's website to reflect it as of Easter 2015.

http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm

Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Apr 5 at 2015 8:04 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 20:04:12 -0400

A few thoughts:
- I thought the purpose of producing a terrorist threat list was more so to document who in the world is using violence to achieve their political purposes and less about who/what is a direct threat to the US. If direct threat to the US is the standard then I guess Boko Haram in Africa are not terrorists.
- Iran has been supporting terrorism since at least 1979. How else to explain Syria and Hezbollah since then?
- Placement on the US terrorism list is not just a list thing. It kicks in specific actions and limitations on the part of the US Government and its citizens. Likewise, taking a country or organization off the list opens up possibilities for the USG and its citizens.
-If the article is correct then the US is essentially turning a blind eye to Iran's terrorist activities in order to enable a nuclear deal that might not be worth the paper it is printed on. Does not sound like great negotiating skills or an understanding of the long game/bigger picture on the part of the USG.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Apr 5 at 2015 8:18 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 20:18:28 -0400

How is Hezbollah not a terrorist organization? Someone please educate me on this.

Response by SSgt Mark Boggan made Apr 6 at 2015 1:41 AM

SSgt Mark Boggan — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 01:41:52 -0400

You do not remove a terrorist from the list who has been known to threaten the US. Our government is out of their mind.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jun 21 at 2015 6:40 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 06:40:56 -0400

In view of the recent State Department report that said Iran is still a state sponsor of terrorism, how the hell can the Administration 'remove' it from the list? Total frickin' nonsense ...

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 10:36 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 10:36:19 -0400

This article is inaccurate.

1) Iran is still a DoS state sponsor of terror: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm

2) The report mentioned in the article simply provides an annual assessment of current terror threats. Due to Hezzbollah's and Iran's relative moderation compared to ISIS...they were not mentioned in this year's report.

State Sponsors of Terrorism

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jun 22 at 2015 9:30 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 09:30:08 -0400

This is what happens when politics over ride reality. Does anyone really believe that the non political USG assessment is that Iran and Hezbollah no longer support terrorism? PUHlease.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2017 1:28 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 01:28:08 -0500

https://nypost.com/2017/12/18/obama-protected-hezbollah-drug-ring-to-save-iran-nukes-deal/

Obama protected Hezbollah drug ring to save Iran nukes deal

The Obama administration stymied a sprawling investigation into the terror group Hezbollah — and its highly lucrative drug- trafficking networks — to protect the Iran nuclear deal, according to a b…

Response by SPC David Willis made Dec 19 at 2017 9:48 AM

SPC David Willis — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 09:48:14 -0500

I don't understand why Iran was labeled terrorists to begin with. Hezbollah sure, but most terrorists that have struck in the states have been home grown or come from nations we call allies...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2017 10:08 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 10:08:56 -0500

Fast forward to December 19th, 2017 and new information becomes uncovered that President Obama allowed Hezbollah free rein with the help of Venezuela to smuggle cocaine into the United States destroying our people and launder a billion dollars to be used to buy weapons and spread chaos to the world. Most of the major networks will not publish this story because it goes against their beloved pot smoking former president.https://nypost.com/2017/12/18/obama-protected-hezbollah-drug-ring-to-save-iran-nukes-deal/

Obama protected Hezbollah drug ring to save Iran nukes deal

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2017 10:10 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 10:10:21 -0500

https://nypost.com/2017/12/18/obama-protected-hezbollah-drug-ring-to-save-iran-nukes-deal/

Obama protected Hezbollah drug ring to save Iran nukes deal