The Obama administration shares the same philosophical underpinnings as it deals with an Iran that seeks to develop the capacity for nuclear weapons. The administration has steadily allowed its position to erode, accepting demands from Iran that it originally insisted it would never accept, and moving further and further away from terms that would hold Iran’s feet to the fire. The administration places more emphasis on “an agreement” itself than on preserving the peace, which should be the purpose of an agreement in the first place. The belief that an untrustworthy partner would keep an agreement is absurd, and dangerous. Hitler broke deal after deal, yet the western powers kept returning to the table. Iran continues to insist on conditions that are counterproductive to peace, while its negotiating partners seem to be uncomfortable with the idea of standing up for their own rights at all.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Congress, any deal with Iran, particularly one that allows it to retain the seeds of a nuclear program, should insist that Iran stop supporting terrorism, should stop trying to overthrow other governments and should accept Israel’s right to exist. If Iran is unwilling to behave as other nations behave, how can it be trusted to respect an agreement? In the 1930s, Nazi Germany was treated as if it possessed values and virtues that it clearly did not possess, and as if it was trustworthy,despite the fact it clearly was not. Iran today, despite the evidence accumulated since the Mullahs took over that country in 1979, is treated as if it can be a reliable partner in negotiations and somehow has the same aspirations and motivations as the democracies. There is no evidence for this wishful thinking, but the Obama administration has steadily granted Iran point after point, accepting not only its criminal behavior but also agreeing that it can have a working nuclear program.
A nation should negotiate in its own best interests, and agreements should advance those interests. It appears the Obama Administration’s goal is to have an agreement. Its goal should be to make the world safer and more secure, agreement or no. Iran is not being held to the same standards as its counterparts. Deals don't keep themselves, and without some mechanism for enforcement, a deal is worthless.