While conducting a discussion about Iran on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Tuesday, host Joe Scarborough proclaimed that he has "just written all of [the conservative blogs’] headlines today...‘Joe Klein: I trust [Iran’s] Revolutionary Guard.’" If only he were kidding.
But it is true. Klein sincerely believes that "What we have right now is better than what we've had with Iran for a very long time. Because of the deal in place now, the interim deal, they are not enriching, they’ve stopped enriching 20 percent."
When asked how he knew this to be true, Klein replied "The IAEA says that they're getting access to everything. Iran, if you talk to people involved in this who’re actually look at what's happening on the ground as opposed to the people who are bloviating about nuclear...holocaust."
If Klein actually took his own advice and "talk[ed] to people involved in this" he would hear things that could give weight to the claims of "people who are bloviating about nuclear...holocaust."
In fact, the most recent IAEA report detailed a number of complaints regarding Iran’s lack of cooperation, "Iran has carried out activities that are relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device."
New information obtained since November 2011 has "further corroborated" these actions.
Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director-General, further added that "The agency remains concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear related activities involving military related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile."
A compilation of Iran’s further violations can found from our sister site CNSNews.com.
Amazingly, these and other violations over the past 36 years have done nothing to shake Klein’s faith in Iran’s capacity to honor a deal with what it describes as "the Great Satan." In fact, when asked if he trusted Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on the matter, Klein replied, "Some of them...as long as it's verified."
The journalist must have either an endless capacity for gullibility and optimism or he is simply defending Obama’s policies from reality.
The transcript is below:
JOE SCARBOROUGH: I said it yesterday. I think the president is desperate for a deal.
JOE KLEIN: It's not that he's desperate for a deal. What we have right now is better than what we've had with Iran for a very long time. Because of the deal in place now, the interim deal, they are not enriching, they’ve stopped enriching 20 percent. They’re really --
SCARBOROUGH: – Now how do we know that?
KLEIN: Because there are really serious inspections going on. The IAEA says that they're getting access to everything. Iran, if you talk to people involved in this who’re actually look at what's happening on the ground as opposed to the people who are bloviating about nuclear, you know, holocaust and things like that...
...
KLEIN: If you look at what's actually happening on the ground now it's the best situation we've had with Iran in a long time. If we throw that away --
SCARBOROUGH: Do you trust Iran?
KLEIN: Um...
SCARBOROUGH: Do you trust the supreme leader?
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: No.
KLEIN: I don't think he's the key figure here. I think the key figure-
SCARBOROUGH:-Who’s the key figure?
KLEIN: I think the Revolutionary Guard are the key figure.
SCARBOROUGH: Do you trust the Revolutionary Guard?
KLEIN: Some of them. It depends on -- I think that they have an economic stake in not having their country blow up.
SCARBOROUGH: Do you trust the Revolutionary Guard to keep the deal?
KLEIN: Um – I, you know, as long as it's verified. I'll go to Reagan.
SCARBOROUGH: Yeah....By the way, can I just say, I'm sorry I set you up. The conservative blogs today, I have just written all of your headlines today, guys. You can go back to bed. “Joe Klein: I trust the Revolutionary Guard.”
