The Iran nuclear deal signed off on by President Obama, a move that could see huge amounts of Iranian oil released on the world markets and perhaps cause an even deeper drop in crude prices has Oklahoma Congressman Steve Russell reaching back to a new and updated-version of an Iraq war campaign move…the “Deck of 52.”
He has created his own Deck of 52, taking a cue from the one released in 2003 when the US identified the most wanted people in Saddam Hussein’s government and army. The updated Deck of 52 includes financiers, terrorists aiders and abettors, military institutions and human rights abusers who have sanctions against them that might be lifted by the Obama administration as part of the nuclear arms deal.
“This new list is a little bit different. This time, I wanted to highlight the individuals and entities that are just as dangerous, but in a different way,” explained the Congressman who is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who fought in the war and whose unit captured Hussein. “These individuals and entities are funding, fomenting and/or assisting state sponsored terrorism in the region and all around the world.”
Russell is fighting the Obama administration because”it has seen fit to allow sensible and necessary sanctions against these 52, and others, to possibly be lifted.”
He said the sanctions were imposed in the first place for very good reasons.
“It is imortant to see who they are, and to be sure that if they are to be de-listed from sanctions, we see the justification to be taken off of these lists.”
Russell’s handing out the card decks as the House prepares to vote Wednesday on his bill, H.R. 3662, “The Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act.”
