Sen. Bennet Feeling Heat From Both Sides Of The Iran Nuclear Deal
DENVER (CBS4) - The debate will go on but the Iran nuclear agreement appears to be a done deal in Congress. A Maryland senator announced her support, which means there are now 34 votes for the accord and any veto can't be overridden. But the heat is still on Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet.
"My service was good and honorable. I cared about the people in Iraq," Marine veteran Robert Bartlett said.
For Bartlett the deal with Iran is deeply personal. He says it lifts sanctions on an Iranian general responsible for killing 500 Americans and injuring thousands more like him.
"So the very people who killed me and my buddies are going to get $150 billion. It goes directly to them and to the general who killed me," Bartlett said.
Bartlett is part of Veterans Against the Deal in Iran, a group that met with Bennet's staff in Colorado. It's lobbying every undecided senator and those who've come out in favor of the deal. It's a deal they say lifts sanctions on terrorist generals while leaving three Americans in an Iranian prison.
"The joint comprehensive plan of action involves seven countries," former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart said. "This is not a bilateral treaty negotiation between the United States and Iran."
Hart is also lobbying Bennet, but he's in support of the deal that has divided veterans.
Jason Crow also served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"For me, not having a deal and relying only on the threat or the use of military power would be irresponsible," Crow said.
"There's been a lot talk in Washington about, 'We can't trust the Iranians.' Well, substitute Soviet Union, and I heard all this for many years in the Cold War era," Hart said.
Hart says even if the U.S. withdraws the other countries have given no indication they will.
"Politicians and people running for president constantly talk about international leadership," Hart said. "Well this would be the worst possible abandonment of international leadership if we withdraw from this."
"Are we an international leader now? We got them to table with the sanctions, right?" Bartlett said.
Bennet's staff told CBS4 Political Specialist Shaun Boyd the details really matter in an agreement this important. They say he is spending time reviewing it carefully, asking questions and consulting experts.
A vote is expected as early as next week.
