e-News 7/2/15

• This Week Could Be a “Game-Changer” for American Security and the Middle East
• The Iran Nightmare
• Waves of Refugees: Why We Need a “Complete Plan” for the Middle East
• Obama Administration Ignores China’s Expansion
• Press 1, Save 1 Veteran’s Life
• Lack of Accountability at the Veterans Administration
• Salute: 11^th Congressional District Director Pam Thievon

This Week Could Be a “Game-Changer” for American Security

One of the most important deadlines in the recent history of the national security of the United States is approaching.  July 7 is now the scheduled end of American-led international negotiations to halt Iran’s ongoing nuclear weapons program.

Of course, we all support the goal of stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions forever.  But many knowledgeable people have grave fears that the Obama Administration is headed down a very dangerous path of concession and surrender to a terrorist regime that has American blood on its hands – military and civilian – since 1975!

Each and every day, we read new reports that Iranian leaders are systematically “moving the goal posts” on these important negotiations.

Let me cite just a few examples:

First, any prudent agreement would allow “no notice” inspections ofsuspected – not just declared – Iranian nuclear weapons sites.  And yet, the Iranian parliament passed legislation last weekend banning inspections of their military installations – locations where Iran is suspected to working covertly on weapons technology.

This week came word from a “senior U.S. official” that Iran may be granted an accommodation on this point.  “The entry point isn’t, ‘we must be able to get into every military site,’ because the United States of America wouldn’t allow anybody to get into every military site,” the official said. 

However, should we be making this critical concession to Iran, a serial cheater that is under U.N. Security Council sanctions for violations of arms treaties for over a decade?   The answer is an obvious ‘no’!  And to impose this sort of equivalency between the U.S. and Iran is ridiculous.

Secondly, any worthwhile agreement would phase in sanctions relief as the regime proves it over time that it is complying with all provisions.  Yet, President Rhouhani has declared “we will not sign any deal unless sanctions are lifted on the same day!"

Why would we benefit Iran’s economy by providing an immediate capital infusion with which to support their relentless military, intelligence and political efforts in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and across the world? 

President Obama’s explanations have been nothing short of bewildering. He told National Public Radio “How, if at all, can you prevent Iran from using its new wealth over the next several years to support Bashar al-Assad of Syria, to support Hezbollah, adventures in Yemen or elsewhere? I mean, there's been no lessening of their support of Hezbollah or Assad during the course of the last four or five years, at a time when their economy has been doing terribly.”

Immediate sanctions relief will only provide Iran with more resources to use their elite Quds Military Force and proxy militias in Iraq, dominate that country and advance their goals in neighboring Syria, Yemen and elsewhere.    No, this potential agreement seems to reinforce the lesson that this Administration is willing to give away much in return for nothing in the way of changing behavior.  We must never forget that Iran has had American blood on its hands since 1979!

Iran has violated sanctions before and is likely to cheat again.  And yet, the Administration makes concession after concession to Tehran even Iran it spreads violence, threatens the safety of our troops in the Middle east, and develops new ICBMs that will put America in its “cross-hairs.” 

Thirdly, Iran’s nuclear weapons quest must be blocked indefinitely, including the verifiable dismantlement of its massive weapons infrastructure.   They cannot be allowed to remain a threshold nuclear weapons state, only to join the “nuclear club” as soon as this agreement lapses in ten years.   

It is a fact: no deal is better than a bad deal.

The Iran Nightmare

“This is the week President Barack Obama is scheduled to make a go or no-go call on the most fateful international agreement of his presidency. His judgment will determine how easily Iran can acquire a nuclear weapon…”

Read the entire article in U.S. News here.

Waves of Refugees: Why We Need a “Complete Plan” for the Middle East

“For decades, the Middle East has been the scene of a horrendous human suffering. However, there is another 'slow motion' humanitarian disaster unfolding there, beyond the gaze of the media and the general public: Millions upon millions of residents fleeing to escape rampant sectarian violence in their home countries, including a civil war in Syria that has claimed over a quarter-million lives, Christians and Muslims alike…. Tragically, the Obama Administration has shown no inclination to develop a 'complete' plan with our allies to dampen the Islamist and sectarian violence that are tearing the Middle East and Mediterranean apart. While the United States and our partners hesitate and vacillate, we may be on the verge of a dangerous new age of mass displacement — an age that threatens even more conflict and more human suffering.”

Read my entire Op Ed column in the Sunday New Jersey Herald here.

Obama Administration Ignores China’s Expansion

See the images of China’s rapid island-building in the Washington Post here.

Press 1, Save 1 Veteran’s Life

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an estimated 22 veterans commit suicide each day. In a new effort to decrease the number of veterans’ suicides nationwide, the VA is launching a pilot program at several VA Medical Centers, including our two in New Jersey, that will streamline the ability of veterans in crisis to reach mental health professionals.

Currently, when a veteran calls the main line at a VA Medical Center, the automated message instructs him or her to hang-up and dial a separate 800 number and press option ‘1’ if they want to talk to a mental health professional.  Dubbed “Press 1, Save 1” the new program will provide better serve to veterans in dire need of mental health assistance.  

The new system streamlines the process whereby a veteran caller in need of crisis intervention presses a single digit (#7) to connect directly to the VCL for any required dispatch of emergency services. The previous message will be replaced with “If you are having thoughts of suicide, press 7 now to be connected with the Veterans Crisis Line, or you may call 1-800-273-8255 and then press 1.”  

Next week, the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia will launch the new system to improve access to the existing Veteran Crisis Line (VCL) in South Jersey.  The VA Medical Center in East Orange is scheduled to come online July 13. The VA expects an incremental nation-wide adoption of the new system later this summer.

Lack of Accountability at the Veterans Administration (VA)

I share the sentiment raised by Speaker Boehner when he noted there has been “outright failure” by the VA to address the following problems plaguing facilities nationwide:

• Longer wait lists for treatment;
• Dangerous conditions at facilities;
• Cancelled appointments and unacceptable handling of mental health patient referrals.

Read more about the ineptitude dogging the VA here. 

Salute: 11^th Congressional District Director Pam Thievon

A fond farewell to my District Director Pam Thievon, of Long Hill Township, who retired this week. For over two decades, Pam has provided dedicated service to the people of New Jersey’s 11^thCongressional District.  As my District Director, Pam led a team of caseworkers and field personnel.  In this important capacity, she helped thousands of families, taxpayers, veterans, citizen organizations and service groups in their daily struggle to work through the federal bureaucracy.  I take casework - resolving your problems with the federal government – very seriously and Pam worked enormously hard to get you the answers you deserve!  She worked tirelessly on every conceivable issue to get complex problems resolved.  Thank you, Pam!