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| Kaine Defends Iran Payment: We ‘Paid a Portion of the Claim and We Got Hostages Home' |
| 2016-08-08 |
| [Breitbart] Sunday on on NBC’s "Meet the Press," while commenting on the $400 million dollar payment to Iran by the White House at the same time American hostages were released, Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) bragged the U.S. government had "bargained it down to a fraction and paid a portion of the claim" and added "we got hostages home." Kaine said, "Chuck, here is the only thing new about this. This arrangement, the settlement of a claim with Iran, the payment of a portion of that settlement, hostages coming home, thank God. This was brief to Congress and the American public months ago. The only thing new this week, the only thing new is Donald Trump’s claiming to have seen a non-existent video of cash being given to the Iranians." He continued,"I understand why Donald Trump is trying to make something out of it but look, you have two important issues. The first one is there was a legitimate claim against the United States. The United States bargained it down to a fraction. We’re making claims in international tribunals and we are having claims made against us all the time. We bargained it down to a fraction and paid a portion of the claim, and we got hostages home. Both of those things are appropriate. I understand why Trump is trying to make something out of it, but there’s just no there there." When asked if it looked like a ransom, Kaine said, "No, absolutely not. We don’t pay for hostages. We don’t negotiate for hostages, absolutely not. We’re a nation of laws and if there is a claim we think we owe something on, we try to bargain the best way we can." |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #16 Ha! Stupid Iranians didn't know we would have paid the full initial |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2016-08-08 21:29 |
| #15 One female university professor One dual-citizen male Not sure about anyone else |
| Posted by: Pappy 2016-08-08 20:30 |
| #14 I thought they were some students suspected of criminal activities. Hikers. Or was that some other 'hostage crisis'? The hikers were a while back, Bobby. They were eventually returned, as I recall. The ones that were traded as part of President Obama's clever negotiation were mostly dual citizens who 1. had gone there to visit relatives, 2. were journalists sent for their language skillz, or 3. went there to do good works, eg. Christian ministers. The CIA contractor is still there, I believe, and a new set of hostages has been picked up from the categories above. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2016-08-08 18:48 |
| #13 I understand it's pretty well known that the US government facilitates private ransom payments. And I wouldn't be surprised if a good portion of the money comes from the government. But this sure makes it formal that the US government from now on will be involved. I wouldn't be surprised if both sides knew from the beginning that it would be this way. I can't imagine what Obean could have done to make things worse than he has for every facet of this interaction. And I have a feeling this interaction still has some loose ends that need tying up . . . . |
| Posted by: gorb 2016-08-08 14:51 |
| #12 Don't pay the ransom. I'll escape. |
| Posted by: Lowspark 2016-08-08 13:15 |
| #11 Very simple, Senator - hostages + cash = ransom |
| Posted by: Bobby 2016-08-08 13:00 |
| #10 So it seems that all agree that if this were a ransom payment, it would be inexcusable. And if there were a video of cash being given to the Iranians, that would be bad. So now all we need to do is wait. |
| Posted by: gorb 2016-08-08 11:23 |
| #9 How many more "claims" are there? |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2016-08-08 10:32 |
| #8 And that is called paying the Dane-geld; But we've proved it again and again, That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld You never get rid of the Dane. |
| Posted by: Slusing tse Tung7013 2016-08-08 09:45 |
| #7 "...The only thing new this week, the only thing new is Donald Trump’s claiming to have seen a non-existent video of cash being given to the Iranians..." actually Iran did make a video of this - Trump probably didn't see it when he made the statement but a video does exist |
| Posted by: lord garth 2016-08-08 09:32 |
| #6 Kaine: "I feel like I've been kidnapped." Well, at least he's not in denial of his status. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2016-08-08 08:30 |
| #5 Bend over and spread 'em, Kaine. |
| Posted by: Greanter Creater1877 2016-08-08 08:22 |
| #4 Hostages? I thought they were some students suspected of criminal activities. Hikers. Or was that some other 'hostage crisis'? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2016-08-08 07:26 |
| #3 What exactly was the claim? |
| Posted by: phil_b 2016-08-08 03:30 |
| #2 Great. You negotiate with terrorists and despots, give them money and think you did well. Some leader. More like the head sheep negotiating with the wolves. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2016-08-08 01:40 |
| #1 Kaine! Kaine! Come back home Kaiine! Fuck you Kaine! /Brandon Bewildered |
| Posted by: Shipman 2016-08-08 00:19 |