Politicians who endorse the agreement do so with statements hedged with everlasting love and praise for Israel.
So far, however, it appears that U.S. public's repulsion from the bullying tactics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his open participation in our political process, may end up as a part of a growth process in which Americans learn more about Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
The deadline for a final vote on the agreement has been set in Congress for September 17. It could be close. The New York Times suggests:
"The last, most important voice might be that of Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee and a religious Jew with his eye on Israeli opinion.
But Mr. Cardin also tends toward optimism on diplomacy, and many Democrats believe he will come out in favor of the nuclear accord -- possibly at the last moment."
This means the final vote may be so close that the outcome could come down to Senator Cardin, "a religious Jew with his eye on Israeli opinion." Reinhold Niebuhr, who wrote so eloquently of The Irony of American History, must be enjoying this current chapter.
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