Obama Administration's Latest Card Trick with a $400 Million Payout?

The American public just learned that the United States sent the equivalent of $400 million to Iran in January.

The payout occurred, we are told, at the same time Iran released four hostages but that it was for an old debt. Coincidence? Of course. At least that’s what the Obama administration hopes you will believe.

“The negotiations over the [arms deal] settlement…were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home,” according to John Kirby of the State Department. “Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side.”

“The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a long-standing claim at the U.S.- Iran Claims Tribunal at The Hague,” Kirby said, and were not related to secure the release of the hostages.

 In this handout photo provided by the White House, President Barack Obama speaks with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran during a phone call in the Oval Office September 27, 2013 in Washington D.C. Getty Images

According to what is being reported, the cash transfer was the first installment paid in a $1.7 billion settlement reached between the Obama administration and Iran to resolve a failed 1979 arms deal occurring prior to the Iranian Revolution.

As luck would have it, another fluke also occurred when the settlement over the 1979 arms deal coincided with the formal implementation of the recent Iran nuclear agreement. Again, you heard the Obama administration. Nothing to see here. Case closed.

We can surely trust that the Obama administration is being transparent with the American public about the cash payment to Iran because Obama promised his administration would be the most transparent in history.

What has actually happened though is that Obama’s administration has been the most secretive. Did I mention that the exchange of $400 million with Iran was secretly arranged?

Not only was the exchange done surreptitiously but President Barack Obama also did not disclose the $400 million cash payment on January 17 when he announced the dispute had been settled. He also failed to disclose how the $1.7 billion was paid out to the Iranians, except he did reveal that it was not paid in U.S. dollars.

It is being reported that the Iranian payment was made in euros, Swiss francs and other currencies due to the fact it is against U.S. law to transact with Iran using American dollars.

Forgive my sarcasm but I’ve truly had enough of being expected to believe what I’m fed by this administration. I’ve learned that whenever the American public is told something by an official administration source then we’d better look to see what card trick is being played or what’s underneath one of the shells on the table. I’m not falling for an official “blame it on a video” statement again.

What’s really going on? I don’t have a crystal ball and I’m not privy to classified information as are some in government, but if I had to guess I’d bet it is connected in some way with an attempt to force Israel into an Israeli-Palestine peace agreement.

Obama has made no secret of the fact that he would like nothing more than to leave a legacy of being the president who paved the way, at least, for a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. Obama gave up trying to reach an agreement in the remaining time he has left as president.

To move toward accomplishing this goal, it stands to reason that the more money Iran has, the more money Hezbollah, who is also a staunch supporter of Palestine, can be paid by Iran to support and promote the recognition of Palestine as a nation.

More money in the hands of Iran would enable it and Hezbollah to apply added pressure on Israel to enter into peace talks and ultimately give back the land it captured from Palestine in 1967. The more funds Iran receives the more it can invest in carrying out threats against Israel in the event Israel fails to comply. Iran recently threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz which would negatively impact Israel and others within the region.

Was the timing of the $400 million to Iran just poor planning on the part of the Obama administration because it appears Saudi Arabia may have taken steps to successfully beat the administration to the political punch?

Recently, Saudi Arabia who is at odds with both Iran and Hezbollah because of an oncoming Sunni-Shiite Muslim feud, took it upon itself to approach Israel about re-opening the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

If successful, this initiative would recognize Palestine as a nation and bring peace to the Middle East without further involvement from a U.S. president who is desperately seeking to attribute success in the peace talks to his administration.

Saudi Arabia may also be strengthening its relationship with Israel in an attempt to thwart further action from Iran, regardless of how much money it receives in the future from the U.S. “for an old 1979 debt.” Only time will tell.

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