$400M Downpayment?

LarryW · 08-04-2016, 12:21

I can't help but wonder what account this $400M came out of. Was this written on the State Dept account? Maybe USAF #1 operational account? My guess is that this is a downpayment ... on a payday loan.

Quote:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-us...-idUSKCN10F1VT

Kerry defends $400 million payment to Iran, says U.S. pays no ransoms

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday defended the Obama administration's payment of $400 million in cash to Iran, denying it was a ransom for the release of American prisoners by Tehran or tied to the Iran nuclear deal.

"The United States does not pay ransoms," Kerry told a news conference in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

He said the transfer, which came out of a long-standing Iranian claim at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, was negotiated on a separate track from the nuclear deal.

By settling the claim, it saved U.S. taxpayers potentially billions of dollars in further interest payments, Kerry added.

"We believe this agreement for the $400 million that was paid in interest and settlement of the case actually saved the American taxpayer potentially billions of dollars," Kerry said.

"There was no benefit to the United States of America to drag this out," he said. "It would have worked against the interests of our taxpayers and with the nuclear deal done, the prisoners released, the time was right to take advantage of that and resolve the dispute in the way that it was resolved."

UWOA (RIP) · 08-04-2016, 12:38

It didn't work with Clinton and while it's never too late in his term for Obama or for Kerry, the way Congress, specifically the Senate, is tied up it would be just going through the motions ....

Sigh ....

.

SF-TX · 08-04-2016, 12:44

It was an award by our feminist President recognizing the Iranians human rights achievements.

Quote:

Iran’s regime executed a gay adolescent in July - the first confirmed execution of someone convicted as a juvenile in the Islamic Republic in 2016 - Amnesty International reported this week.

Link

Sohei · 08-04-2016, 12:55

The "Ransom Fund." Used only in last minute, secret, dealings with miscellaneous rat hole countries for purposes other than stated.

cbtengr · 08-04-2016, 13:19

By settling the claim, it saved U.S. taxpayers potentially billions of dollars in further interest payments, Kerry added.

They saved us billions of dollars by doing this. We should be recognizing this with medals, confetti and parades. Finally politicians saving tax payer money! It's too bad we did not have any terrorists in GITMO that could have been traded instead.

Sohei · 08-04-2016, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbtengr

By settling the claim, it saved U.S. taxpayers potentially billions of dollars in further interest payments, Kerry added.

Well...I am glad that he clarified that for me. Now I know I am simply an ungrateful schmuck who just can't see the forest for the trees.

I hope he didn't make that statement while keeping a straight face; however, he is a consummate politician so I suspect he really believes that.

Divemaster · 08-04-2016, 14:15

The money should have gone to the families of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing as part of the $2 billion court award.

alelks · 08-04-2016, 15:08

Strange how one of the hostages has stated that he was told by his captors that they couldn't leave until the other plane arrived and 30 minutes turned into hours as they waited for it to arrive. Just heard that on the news today.

Hmmmmm!

ddoering · 08-04-2016, 15:13

"We believe this agreement for the $400 million that was paid in interest and settlement of the case actually saved the American taxpayer potentially billions of dollars," Kerry said."

At today's interest rate how many centuries would it take for the interest to become billions? Can I invest in the same account?

Never too late to impeach. May not get convicted but he can add that to his list of firsts.

**Team Sergeant** · 08-04-2016, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by alelks

Strange how one of the hostages has stated that he was told by his captors that they couldn't leave until the other plan arrived and 30 minutes turned into hours as they waited for it to arrive. Just heard that on the news today.

Hmmmmm!

The same administration that had Delta Force "negotiate with terrorists" for Bergdahl's release.

Paying a ransom is no stretch.

This administration has been out of control for quite a few years.

Divemaster · 08-04-2016, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

The same administration that had Delta Force "negotiate with terrorists" for Bergdahl's release.

Paying a ransom is no stretch.

This administration has been out of control for quite a few years.

Well, they did say they were going to review the whole "we don't negotiate with terrorists". I'd say the review is complete and the results are:

Arms for hostages? Impeach Reagan. Cash for hostages? Canonize Obama.

sinjefe · 08-04-2016, 23:32

Who appropriated the money to pay for that? There isn't just $400m laying around. Either Obama spent money that was not appropriated for that (Anti-Deficiency Act violation at a minimum) or Congress went along with it.

Haven't heard any of that mentioned in the MSM.

glebo · 08-05-2016, 05:24

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1528976

So...why wasn't Bob Levinson released also????

Former FBI agent held since 2007. I can't find the other article, but his son was questioning why his dad wasn't released in "the deal"....

LarryW · 08-05-2016, 06:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinjefe

Who appropriated the money to pay for that? There isn't just $400m laying around. Either Obama spent money that was not appropriated for that (Anti-Deficiency Act violation at a minimum) or Congress went along with it.

Haven't heard any of that mentioned in the MSM.

"The money was in an interest bearing account, held in trust for the day when the Iranians learned their lesson. Now, they get it back. Trust me." (Bernie Madoff)

**Pete** · 08-22-2016, 16:24

They learn fast - we're an easy mark.

State Dept Warns: Iran Seeking to Capture U.S. Citizens

http://freebeacon.com/national-secur...-u-s-citizens/

"The State Department issued a warning on Monday urging U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, which has made the detention of Americans a priority.

The latest travel advisory, which emphasizes Iran’s desire to capture U.S. citizens, comes on the heels of a growing scandal over the Obama administration’s decision to pay Iran $400 million in cash on the same day that it freed several U.S. hostages...."

It's about time to say "Sorry Charlie, you've been warned" to any citizen traveling to Iran.