Kerry says Congress cannot modify any Iran-U.S. nuclear agreement

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | 3/11 | Reuters

[TangledUpInBlue]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday lawmakers cannot modify any nuclear agreement struck between the United States and Iran despite threats by Republican senators that they can.

In congressional testimony, Kerry said he responded with "utter disbelief" at an open letter signed by 47 Republican senators that threatened to undo any nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and Washington.

[TangledUpInBlue]

I'm not fluent in this area of law, but I suspect Kerry is probably more correct than the 47. At least partly. If the US signs an "agreement" which amounts to a treaty that includes 5 or 6 other countries, it will be pretty difficult to sever ourselves from that agreement with only the involvement of the US Congress. And even if we did manage to sever ourselves, that likely wouldn't nullify the agreement.

[BigEdLB]

Reject. Do not modify, That the Senate can do.

[nikos1121]

So the Yalta Agreement wasn’t ratified by Congress?

[Theoria]

[GotMojo]

why the long face John?

[DoodleDawg]

Reject. Do not modify, That the Senate can do.

Treaty, yes. Executive agreement, no.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Excuse me a moment......

F U J K

Thank you.

[arthurus]

Congress can’t modify any agreement but Congress can fund or not fund, make legal or make illegal the observing of terms of that agreement. If it is not a Treaty then it is nothing binding on Congress. It is just what 2 heads of state agreed to. Congress can’t change their agreement but Congress can determine what will be done or not done about the agreement.

[loveliberty2]

Perhaps the Senators’ letter will serve to give the other so-called “partners” cause for reflection.

[ChildOfThe60s]

And King Obie waved his imperial scepter, and lo, the pesky congress was dissolved.

[NorthMountain]

it will be pretty difficult to sever ourselves

Unless the US Senat, by 2/3 majority, ratifies the treaty ...

WE AREN'T BOUND BY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!

There's no "severing" to do.

[DoodleDawg]

So the Yalta Agreement wasn’t ratified by Congress?

No. Neither were the agreements that came out of Quebec, Casablanca, Teheran, or Potsdam.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Elephant in the room: Why is the secret Muslim doing this behind Congress' back?

[Lazamataz]

Kerry says Congress cannot modify any Iran-U.S. nuclear agreement,

Watch us, biotch.

You break the law all the time, we will too.

[TangledUpInBlue]

That’s an interesting point.

[Doogle]

Kerry, a horse, and Hillary walk into a bar

and the bartender say’s “this some kind of joke?”

[TangledUpInBlue]

The 1799 Logan Act, which says starkly:

“Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.”

Has intercourse with another government?? Good thing Clinton never saw that. I think this letter was a dumb move and a big waste of time.

[mountn man]

Governor Tarkin: The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away forever.
General Tagge: But that’s impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?
Governor Tarkin: The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line.

[Duckdog]

Don’t worry, the republician in the...Oh, wait...We’re screwed!!

[Sasparilla]

Article 2 Section 2 does not prevent such a letter, nor does it state what steps must or must not be taken or procedure used in determining whether or not consent is to be given.