President Joe Biden’s decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil revenues is intended to bribe the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to release hostages. Iran has unsurprisingly hailed this deal, which will bring it substantial benefits, as one of “honorable diplomacy.” But it contradicts decades of U.S. counterterrorism policy centered on the understanding that Washington should not pay terrorists.
Instead of taking all necessary measures to protect Americans, the Biden administration excuses its transfer of $6 billion in Danegeld on the grounds that it will be used only for humanitarian purposes. This is delusional and naive. Money is fungible, and so a payment in one area frees up money in another. And then, of course, there is the fact that the regime in Tehran routinely breaks its word. Biden’s payment of a terrorist regime rewards terrorism and thus endangers Americans everywhere.
Qatar, which is a nominal U.S. ally and an Iranian partner, will supposedly supervise the account holding the $6 billion to ensure funds are not diverted to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or other such organizations. But only a fool or the most willful Biden ideologue believes this safeguard will succeed.
How is Qatar to verify and police what is going on? Do we seriously expect Qatar, which does its own terrorist funding, to risk its relationship with Tehran to keep the U.S. happy? The two Middle Eastern neighbors are giving the Biden administration a pretense of deniability about the $6 billion, which is what it wants.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/biden-gives-iran-a-6-billion-payday