Nothing new

Netanyahu came to Congress and the cry came out -- he said nothing new:

President Obama said "there was nothing new" in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Iran to a joint meeting of Congress.

Speaking at the White House, Obama said, "the prime minister didn't offer any viable alternatives" to the possible deal being worked out with Iran on its nuclear program.

That wasn't the point of Netanyahu's speech, nor is it Netanyahu's job to broker a different deal. The simple point he made is that Iran is not to be trusted. And there is ample reason to believe that.

So what did he actually say? Let's go to the transcript:

So you see, my friends, this deal has two major concessions: one, leaving Iran with a vast nuclear program and two, lifting the restrictions on that program in about a decade. That's why this deal is so bad. It doesn't block Iran's path to the bomb; it paves Iran's path to the bomb.

So why would anyone make this deal? Because they hope that Iran will change for the better in the coming years, or they believe that the alternative to this deal is worse?

Well, I disagree. I don't believe that Iran's radical regime will change for the better after this deal. This regime has been in power for 36 years, and its voracious appetite for aggression grows with each passing year. This deal would wet appetite -- would only [whet] Iran's appetite for more.

Would Iran be less aggressive when sanctions are removed and its economy is stronger? If Iran is gobbling up four countries right now while it's under sanctions, how many more countries will Iran devour when sanctions are lifted? Would Iran fund less terrorism when it has mountains of cash with which to fund more terrorism?

While it's hard to believe, Netanyahu is correct -- the mullahs have been running the show in Iran for 36 years. I don't see much evidence that they will moderate or change their stated goals. Yes, there is nothing new in Netanyahu's speech, but it's always useful to get a reminder of who we're dealing with. One other thing; Iran will have the bomb well before any restrictions would expire.