44°
"Advocates on both sides have strong cases for their point of view that cannot simply be dismissed," Schumer said in a statement. "This has made evaluating the agreement a difficult and deliberate endeavor, and after deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval. "
Schumer cited "serious weaknesses" in the agreement, most notably inability to conduct inspections "anywhere, anytime," and the 24-day delay before inspections can be conducted.
"While inspectors would likely be able to detect radioactive isotopes at a site after 24 days, that delay would enable Iran to escape detection of any illicit building and improving of possible military dimensions (PMD) – the tools that go into building a bomb but don’t emit radioactivity," Schumer said. "Furthermore, even when we detect radioactivity at a site where Iran is illicitly advancing its bomb-making capability, the 24-day delay would hinder our ability to determine precisely what was being done at that site."
While critical of the accord, Schumer stopped short of criticizing the President and the Secretary of State.
"While we have come to different conclusions, I give tremendous credit to President Obama for his work on this issue," Schumer said. "The President, Secretary Kerry and their team have spent painstaking months and years pushing Iran to come to an agreement. Iran would not have come to the table without the President’s persistent efforts to convince the Europeans, the Russians, and the Chinese to join in the sanctions."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Yonkers and receive free news updates.
