Casey and Coons anguished over Iran nuclear deal

WASHINGTON - Pennsylvania's Robert P. Casey heard from critics who invoked the Holocaust, the anguish of their ancestors, and the worry that America was opening the door to a threat to Israel's very existence.

Delaware's Chris Coons, a lawyer with a master's degree from the Yale Divinity School, cited nuclear scientists, policy experts, his own reading of the international nuclear deal with Iran, and Scripture.

In the end, the two Democratic senators on Tuesday vowed to support the agreement, bringing it to the brink of winning enough support to withstand congressional objections.

On Wednesday, the 34th - and likely deciding - pledge of support came from Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D., Md.), whose backing gave President Obama enough votes to block a potential rejection by Congress this month.

But even as they provided critical "yes" votes, Casey and Coons expressed anxieties that illustrated the lingering concerns and anguished deliberations about an agreement that has sharply divided lawmakers.

In lengthy statements, Casey and Coons each criticized some terms of the deal, worried about how it will play out, and expressed sympathy for its critics. But they also concluded that the agreement is still the most realistic option for constraining Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Each saw their votes on the pact as among the most consequential they have cast.

"It has caused all of us involved to contemplate the futures of our children and grandchildren. It has also reopened old wounds stemming from the horrors experienced by parents, grandparents, and loved ones of previous generations," Casey wrote. "The intense feelings felt by sincere people, whatever their views, have not been lost on me."

Opponents and supporters both want to avert the threat of nuclear war, Coons said in a speech at the University of Delaware. "The decision before us is whether this deal is our best option to achieve our shared goals."

The senators' concerns at times threatened to overshadow their support.

Casey wrote that he remained "skeptical" that Iran would abide by the agreement. Coons spent much of his speech outlining flaws: "Frankly, this is not the agreement I had hoped for."

The deal has clearly weighed on Democrats inclined to support Obama but wary of Iran.

Some of the president's most enthusiastic supporters, including New Jersey Sen. Cory A. Booker and Philadelphia Reps. Robert Brady and Chaka Fattah, have yet to announce decisions.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is planning a rally Thursday in Livingston, just a few miles from Newark, Booker's hometown. Former Sen. Joe Lieberman will be the keynote speaker.

Booker's vote could still have an impact: Obama backers now hope to secure 41 Senate votes to block a resolution of disapproval entirely, sparing the president from having to use a veto to preserve his agreement. But Booker could also now oppose the plan without killing it.

Other Democrats have broken with the president, including New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, Philadelphia Rep. Brendan Boyle, and South Jersey Rep. Donald Norcross.

Several have explained themselves at length: Casey announced his decision with a 17-page statement that read like an academic paper, with 27 footnotes.

"It had to be substantial. I don't think it was something I could do in three or four pages," he said. "I felt like I had to do it almost like a legal brief."

Menendez revealed his plans in a 6,000-plus-word speech with a detailed analysis of centrifuges, sanctions policy, and Iranian missile capabilities.

Coons got a letter from the administration making several pledges to address his concerns. He also recalled Bible lessons "in which we are encouraged to pursue diplomacy before resorting to conflict."

He and Casey both said the results of the deal are uncertain and will depend on U.S. vigilance.

"I support this deal with my eyes wide open," Coons concluded, "aware of its flaws as well as its potential."