Foreign policy trust

Hopefully, the recent agreement between the United States with five other countries and Iran is a step forward in addressing the years of neglect toward resolving the issue of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. National security experts, like Adm. Joe Sestak, have come out in support of the agreement.

Joining Adm. Sestak are notable diplomatic and military experts such as former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, Gen. Anthony Zinni, former Sen. Dick Lugar, Adm. William Fallon, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. James Cartwright, among others.

Unfortunately, 47 Republican senators including Sen. Pat Toomey sent a letter to Iranian leaders in an attempt to undermine the negotiations.

Remember, these were many of the same senators, along with their supporters, who said the war in Iraq would be over in a year, would cost only $1.5 billion and would bring peace and stability to the Mideast. Should we believe them again?

President Ronald Reagan’s excellent secretary of state, James Baker, recently condemned the letter to the ayatollah as not helpful. Sadly, the foreign policy expertise of Mr. Baker, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz and Mr. Lugar are no longer welcome in today’s Republican Party. They have been replaced by foreign policy illiterates like Sens. Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Pat Toomey, among others.

Adm. Sestak is running for Senate in 2016 against Sen. Toomey. On matters of foreign policy, Adm. Sestak is clearly more capable in protecting our national interests. ED BELFOURE Washington, Pa.