Don't tell the GOP pachyderm that he is a symbol of memory. One of the many Republican criticisms of the Iran Nuclear Deal was that it did not include the release of the four American hostages. Obama was castigated for his callous disregard for their fate. Republicans were apparently fine with a hostage release as part of a negotiation that unfroze 150 billion of Iranian assets.
That is all forgotten now. Thirty-five years ago, the US sold weapons and planes to Iran We got the money, but because of the revolution, we did not send the weapons. We kept the money as part of the freezing of Iranian assets. The case was being litigated at the Hague. Iran sought 10 billion dollars. We settled for 1.4 billion plus 300 million in interest charges. This was all announced in January.
How would Republicans have reacted if the money was paid and the hostages remained in Iran? Let's assume the worst case, our negotiators indicated that we might be more likely to resolve this dispute, or expedite payment, if our hostages were released. We already owed the money, why not seize an opportunity to help four loyal Americans? The GOP cannot have it both ways.
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