Untold Billions May Soon Flow Into Iran
Under the interim deal between Iran and Western powers, Tehran’s economy could be flooded with untold billions in sanctions relief and other gains, far more than the widely reported amount of $6 to $7 billion.
In fact, the final text of the deal does not specify any dollar amount for sanctions relief. It leaves the U.S. and Europe open to unfreezing more funds and facilitating an unspecified amount in other transactions and sales.
A White House press release states the deal will result in “approximately $7 billion in relief,” calling that amount “a fraction of the costs that Iran will continue to incur during this first phase under the sanctions that will remain in place.”
“The vast majority of Iran’s approximately $100 billion in foreign exchange holdings are inaccessible or restricted by sanctions,” states the release.
However, a careful reading of the agreement, posted on the EU’s website, finds numerous open-ended statements about sanctions relief.
If Iran keeps its side of the bargain, the deal allows an increase in European Union “authorisation thresholds for transactions for non-sanctioned trade to an agreed amount.” No amount for the thresholds are provided in the text of the deal.
The agreement states the U.S. and EU will “enable the repatriation of an agreed amount of revenue held abroad.” No specific amount is delineated in the deal.
In one clause that could potentially free untold billions, the deal establishes a “financial channel to facilitate humanitarian trade for Iran’s domestic needs using Iranian oil revenues held abroad.” No cap is provided for the amount of revenue that could be made available.
An open-ended footnote states the “humanitarian” trade financial channel “would involve specified foreign banks and non-designated Iranian banks to be defined when establishing the channel.”
Security Officers In Benghazi Compound Were Unarmed
None of the security officers inside the U.S. compound were armed during the Sept. 11, 2012, attack and one was barefoot while another two were “riding around in a Land Cruiser,” according to witness testimony given to a U.S. House panel.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee, disclosed the details in an interview with Fox News.
Unreported by Fox News is that the witness testimony of unarmed personnel directly contradicts the narrative in the extensive report released by the State Department-sponsored Accountability Review Board, or ARB.
If the witness testimony of unarmed security officers is accurate, it would mean the ARB details are fabricated.
Westmoreland told “The Kelly File” on Fox News that “none” of the security officers were armed. “What’s interesting is that…we heard this testimony that when they arrived at the facility, that none of the RSOs or the regional security officers that were there were armed,” the congressman said. “In fact, one of ‘em was barefoot. We had one individual testify that he saw two of them riding around in a Land Cruiser.
“And so, you know, none of them had a weapon,” Westmoreland continued. “As far as they know, no shots were fired. And so, I mean, that is completely inadequate especially in Libya at the time of September the 11th.”
Westmoreland was commenting on closed-door testimony given to his intelligence committee. It was the second time in recent days the politician made such comments.
The extensive ARB report, however, specifically states personnel inside the mission protecting the compound and Ambassador Christopher Stevens were armed and had their security kits. The ARB states all assistant regional security officers, or ARSOs, were armed during the attack.
‘Global Warming’ Doesn’t Work? Try ‘Climate Change’
Progressive pollster Celinda Lake in 2004 recommended the use of the term “climate change” after her research found many people were not buying into the term “global warming.”