#106 - Is Obama's Iran Deal Good For America?

Open to Debate

Education, News, Society & Culture

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 June 2015

⏱️ 50 minutes

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Summary

In April 2015, the P5+1, the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, negotiated an interim nuclear accord with Iran. Among the key parameters: Iran’s enrichment capacity, enrichment levels, and stockpile would be limited; its Fordow site converted into a research center; and the Arak heavy water reactor redesigned. In return, the IAEA would gain greater access for inspections, and U.S. and EU sanctions would be lifted. Many in the U.S. fear that a deal as outlined would not go far enough and, instead of being a benefit, would strengthen Iran’s hand in the Middle East. Not to mention the important question of trust. Is this agreement a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to halt nuclear proliferation, or does President Obama have this wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm John Donvan, moderator of Intelligent Squared U.S. Join us online at iq2us.org
0:08.2	to vote on the motion and keep the debate going.
0:15.4	Buying time, that is what President Obama is dealing with Iran on nuclear weapons does
0:20.8	in the first instance.
0:22.0	In a sense, it's getting Iran to lay aside its activities related to its ambitions to build
0:28.9	a nuclear weapon for a set number of years and then the deal ends.
0:34.6	It's kind of like having a kid put his firecrackers up on the top shelf and you can take him
0:38.9	down a few years later.
0:40.6	Maybe with the hope that at that point the kid isn't going to want to blow things up anymore.
0:45.0	That may be what Buying Time can deliver.
0:48.1	Nobody loves this deal, but the White House argues that it is better than nothing and
0:53.2	better than all of the alternatives.
0:55.7	But is it?
0:56.7	Well, that's how it's like the makings of a debate.
0:58.6	So let's have it.
0:59.6	Yes or no to this statement.
1:01.6	Obama's Iran deal is good for America.
1:05.3	A debate from Intelligent Squared U.S. I'm John Donvan.
1:08.2	We have four superbly qualified debaters, all firecrackers on our stage here at the
1:13.1	Kaufman Center in New York to argue for and against this motion.
1:17.6	Obama's Iran deal is good for America.
1:20.4	Let's welcome the team arguing for the motion.
	...

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