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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW New Talent Community Center to be dedicated during Harvest Festival Saturday ... Ticket Availability ... Inner Peace: Get over yourself — it's not all about you ... New Talent Community Center to be dedicated during Harvest Festival Saturday ... Ticket Availability ... Inner Peace: Get over yourself — it's not all about you ... LOCAL TAKE Local Take: Is the Iran deal a peace step or misstep? Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 23, 2015 at 7:39 PM Updated Jul 23, 2015 at 7:40 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 23, 2015 at 7:39 PM Updated Jul 23, 2015 at 7:40 PM » Social News Ever since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, that state has been a wild card in the perpetual tensions and violence of the Mideast. They see nuclear-armed Israel as their main enemy and would like to even things up by making their own nuclear bomb. No way, says the United States, which is the main benefactor of Israel. So, the U.S. leads trade sanctions on Iran — and Iran keeps tinkering around with weapons-grade plutonium. What to do? Secretary of State John Kerry and President Barack Obama just cut a deal where Iran rolls back its nuclear ambitions and the U.S. other countries lift trade sanctions. Good? Bad? Are we suckers? Will Iran secretly plow ahead with The Bomb anyway? Obama’s many foes in Congress denounced the deal, claiming it’s dangerous to our national security, as it will allow Iran to prosper and spend new wealth on an arms race. Leading Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush called it “appeasement” of the world’s chief sponsor of terrorism. GOP presidential candidates said they would vote against it in Congress and, if they gained the White House, would reverse it. In a highly partisan standoff, Obama said he’d veto anything the GOP-dominated Congress passes against the deal — and he seems to have enough Democrats in Congress to sustain the veto. We asked Ashlanders: Is this a historic opportunity to preserve peace and avoid a nuclear arms race in the Mideast, or a terrible mistake that will lead to Iran getting the bomb and possibly using it against Israel? Rad Welles — Anything that starts to convince Israel that they don’t run the United States is a good idea. Iran, despite all they’ve done, is probably a far more enlightened country than any in the Mideast. We might get lucky and have the treaty work. But some in Congress say they want boots on the ground and we don’t need boots on the ground anymore. Is it perfect? No. Perfect is the enemy of the good. Jasmine Lillich — My mom is very pro-peace and has been talking about this. If I dwell on it too much, I could get to a pretty dark place, but if I think about it, well, I work with autistic children and I want the kids I know to grow up in a place with love, where people respect each other and everyone’s beliefs can be appreciated and they don’t look down on each other. That’s why we’re in this mess. I want to resolve it without explosives. As my mom said to us kids, “never bite back.” L. Citizen — The diplomatic approach is the wisest, obviously. I’m grateful we have a president who respects diplomacy and can work out a treaty without sending our youth to war again. I believe the Republicans want war and that’s why they’re upset. War feeds the military-industrial complex. Marie Bowman — (declined photo) I don’t trust Obama or any of them. They all manipulate everything to serve the powers that be. It’s all power games. Diane Werich — I’m going to trust that we have our own interests and we’re not stupid. It could turn out good or bad. I really like the Iranian people I’ve met and would love to reconnect with them in the world. I’m in a wait-and-see mode on this. A lot of the rhetoric around this is just political balderdash. I’m not entirely happy with Benjamin Netanyahu. I understand why Israel is afraid. I’d be afraid if I were anywhere in the Mideast, though. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 23, 2015 at 7:39 PM Updated Jul 23, 2015 at 7:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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