You know that old saying…If it walks, talks, and acts like a duck, then it IS a duck? In this case, the duck is the $400 million ransom payment to Iran in exchange for American hostages.

New details of the $400 million U.S. payment to Iran earlier this year depict a tightly scripted exchange specifically timed to the release of several American prisoners held in Iran.

The picture emerged from accounts of U.S. officials and others briefed on the operation: U.S. officials wouldn’t let Iranians take control of the money until a Swiss Air Force plane carrying three freed Americans departed from Tehran on Jan. 17. Once that happened, an Iranian cargo plane was allowed to bring the cash home from a Geneva airport that day.

What was that about walking like a duck again?

This sounds very ransomy https://t.co/DGrVet5kOD

— Tom Gara (@tomgara) August 17, 2016

Right? As our readers know, we’ve been writing about how stupendously wrong it is and has been for the US to enter into ANY kind of deal with Iran. We, along with many others, knew that it was going to come back to bite us…BIG TIME.  It has. And it is. Its not only that Iran has test fired multiple ballistic missiles since the sign/non-sign of the deal. Nor is it the fact that Iran and Russia are now great pals, which should scare the bejeezus out of all of us. Its the fact that the Obama administration is playing both ends against the middle and hoping that Americans are just too stupid to notice that Obama is doing everything he can to compromise and jettison our national security and any foreign policy gravitas we have left.

Once the original story came to light about the payment, we wrote about it here. Meanwhile, after repeated questions from Americans and some of the media, Obama had had enough and decided a lecture was in order on August 4th.

Petulance – check. Whining – check. I know better than you – check. Nothing to see here, move along – check. Yep, he pretty much covered all the bases. Sadly for him, it didn’t work.

Remember that time the Obama administration said they cut a great deal with Iran? Yeah, it comes with some strings attached.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 3, 2016

@WSJSolomon wonder what they'll spend the extra cash on this time, long range missiles or sponsoring more terrorism. Thanks Obama.

— Joshua Hano (@therealjoshhano) August 3, 2016

The State Department even tried to help!

Reports of link between prisoner release & payment to Iran are completely false. @POTUS statement from Jan: https://t.co/5yuzGxD14s

— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 3, 2016

He’s talking about this victory lap from Obama.

Normal right? SURE it is.

https://twitter.com/idrinkyourtears/status/760836997812523008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Coincidence?? Not likely!

https://twitter.com/whythetruth/status/760836902815608832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Once the WSJ broke the story about the ransom realities this morning, the ‘see I told you so’s’ took flight. All of which led to this lovely bit of news this afternoon. Yes Virginia, this particular duck was most definitely a ransom payment.

Q on #Iran: "You wouldn't give them the $400 mil. until the prisoners were released? @statedeptspox: "Yes." pic.twitter.com/XUZV1TjygS

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 18, 2016

WOWWWWW. Lets take a look at that again.

But you know, we had to do it because people were bugging us!

State Department blames attention and criticism of ransom payment to Iran on the media https://t.co/naQl2HuQ03

— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) August 18, 2016

John Kirby was not enjoying his time in the hot seat this afternoon. That’s ok – there were some helpers trying to spin on his and Obama’s behalf. Good thing there were more than a few ready to call them out.

U.S. cash to Iran was dependent on Americans being freedhttps://t.co/o5f2816nVX

— Dr. Ali Bakeer (@AliBakeer) August 18, 2016

Only one problem.

Ransom
noun ran·som ˈran(t)-səm

Money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped https://t.co/Y2kQJvUjBG

— Jim Hanson (@Uncle_Jimbo) August 18, 2016

This takedown by Brit Hume is classic.

State Dept. might as well just admit it was ransom at this point. Everyone can see that it was: https://t.co/Yjx7dzYXlo

— Brit Hume (@brithume) August 18, 2016

Cue the ‘helper’ and Brit’s reply.

Brit, it was Irans own money. Therefore it isn't ransom by definition.

— #HTownTakeover (@Coogcheese) August 18, 2016

Sorry, definition of ransom is simply money paid to gain a captive's release. https://t.co/N9vLtpWR01

— Brit Hume (@brithume) August 18, 2016

Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark.

I know Obama wants to see this go away. Problem is, he’s the one that made this particular duck walk and talk like the ransom payment it was.

Yes, Iran there is a Santa Claus. His name is Obama and his dubious gifts include ransom payments of $400 million in cash and $1.7 billion in lotto winnings.