U.S. credibility at stake in Iran deal, Biden says
Vice President Biden delivered an impassioned defense of the Iran nuclear deal Thursday, telling a Jewish group in Florida that U.S. credibility around the world is at stake.
If Congress scuttles the international agreement, Biden said, it will impair the president's ability to muster allies to deal with Russia and China.
"I've been doing foreign policy for 42 years. I cannot think of a single time since I've been involved where our ability to conduct foreign policy has been so strained because of the dysfunction in Washington and in Congress," Biden said. Dropping names of world leaders he's had talks with on other issues, Biden said, "The one question I get from every single person, friend and foe: 'But can you do it? Your government is dysfunctional. Can you deliver?' "
Biden's Iran speech was his most extended public comment on the issue. He spent most of the summer keeping a lower public profile while he mourned the death of his son Beau. He's emerged with an even higher profile as reporters follow him, looking for signs of a nascent presidential campaign.
Biden spoke at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, Fla., at the invitation of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. A prominent Jewish Democrat and chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, she says she's undecided on the Iran deal.
Her vote may not be necessary. Wednesday, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., became the 34th senator to endorse the deal, giving President Obama the votes he needs to sustain any veto of an effort to block it.
Biden's remarks on Iran were off-the-cuff, departing from the talking points given to him by staff and using colorful analogies — even comparing the international verification regime to "Saran wrap."
"But look, I think it’s important that we speak plainly, so people can understand," he said.
He said the deal will require Iran to put two-thirds of its centrifuges in storage. "And by store, I mean 24/7 observation. There's going to be bands written, wrapped around them. Imagine them covered, figuratively speaking, in Saran wrap. And if a band cuts, an alarm goes off in Geneva. That's literally the technical means we have to detect this," he said.
Though Biden's opening remarks on the deal were open to reporters, a question-and-answer session was not. "I expect that what is said in this room will remain in this room," Wasserman Schultz said. "This is important, so we can have some integrity in the process."
Wasserman Schultz asked a question about whether Iran would be allowed to do "self-inspections" of its nuclear sites. "There's no self-inspection," Biden said. "Let me go into more detail when the press is not here."
Across the street from the community center, protesters waved an Israeli flag and held signs that read, "Stop Iran deal," "Nuke the deal before they nuke us" and "We need a better deal."