SICK JOKE OF THE DAY

I don’t think the Baltimore Gazette is into satire.

CLINTON, KERRY NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR IRAN DEAL

http://baltimoregazette.com/clinton-kerry-nominated-nobel-peace-prize-iran-deal/

<Oslo, Norway> – Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, each have long histories in public services with many accomplishments to show, however today’s news out of Oslo, Norway reportedly adds Nobel Laureate of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize to their resumes.  According to multiple sources, the two have been awarded theNobel Medal for their part in negotiating the Iran Deal.

The nuclear deal clinched between Iran and six major world powers caps more than a decade of negotiations.  The “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran Deal, aims to restrict uranium enrichment for 15 years, cut the stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, reduce the number of gas centrifuges by two-thirds over a 13 year period and opens all such facilities to monitors within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  In exchange, Iran received a large cash payment and will receive relief from the US, European Union, and United National Security Council sanctions.

Awarding the prestigious award to Kerry and Clinton fits a pattern of nuclear-themed peace prizes.  As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made Iran a top priority talking at great lengths about the importance of pressuring Iran to discontinue nuclear activity, including tough sanctions and an arms embargo.  During her time at the State Department she led diplomatic lobbying efforts to get other countries to join in the US plan to increase pressure getting both Russia and China on-board.  Clinton then passed the torch to the current Secretary of State, John Kerry, who worked aggressively with all parties involved and was able to get the JCPOA agreed upon July 14th, 2015.  At the time of its signing, President Barack Obama, who won the prize in 2009 for promoting nuclear non-proliferation, hailed the Iran deal as a step towards a “more hopeful world”.

The deal received a large amount of criticism from the Republican Party after details outlining a substantial cash payment to Iran appeared to have been a payment made in exchange for release of Iranian held hostages.  Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has evolved from a position of immediate repeal to are negotiation of the deal if elected.  Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani stated “Donald Trump will make sure that any agreement with Iran meets the original goals of the U.N. and our allies, and that is a non-nuclear Iran.”

The Nobel Peace Prize has been given out annually since December 1901 to those who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction in standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”.  This year saw 376 candidates for the price, out of which 228 are individuals and 148 organizations.