Joe Moran: Senators all about force, not negotiation

Regarding your March 11 editorial “An outrage”: Forty-seven U.S. senators composed and sent a letter to Iranian officials telling them in effect that any agreement with the current United States president would be short-lived. North Carolina Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis both signed that letter. The correspondence was antagonistic and has the potential of scuttling these crucial negotiations.

The Obama administration, together with our most loyal, democratic, European allies – after years of sanctions and threats against Iran – have chosen instead the nonviolent path of direct dialogue in hopes of lessening tensions and coming up with an agreement that will provide a modicum of security for the turbulent Middle East region. That august coalition deserves the full backing of American citizens and our Congress.

Sadly, 47 senators, wowed by a foreign leader whose personal human rights record could easily land him in a small room in the Hague, gladly linked arms with Israeli hawks in a strategy of continued belligerence.

Who is served by this reactionary action? They are the hardliners in Teheran, hardliners in Israel and those here at home who seem incapable of imagining a solution to an international problem that uses any means other than worn-out, ineffective ultimatums and force.

This story was originally published March 22, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Joe Moran: Senators all about force, not negotiation."