British and French leaders in 1938 have been condemned rightly for caving in to German dictator Adolf Hitler’s demands. It was appeasement that strengthened Hitler’s hold over his own country and emboldened him to launch World WarII.

But at least the Munich agreement – “peace in our time,” according to then-British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain – bought Europe a one-year delay before Nazi troops stormed into Poland.

President Barack Obama’s proposed deal with Iran could allow that aggressive enemy of both the United States and Israel to build nuclear bombs within three months.

Conservatives in the Senate want more in exchange for dropping economic sanctions against Iran. They are proposing various limits on Obama’s power to conclude a pact.

During a speech Monday, Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman warned against any interference with the White House. Without Obama’s proposed deal, Iran would be able to develop nuclear weapons within two to three months, she said.

Does anyone not wearing rose-colored glasses believe Tehran will give anything away in agreeing to the Obama plan? In other words, can there be any doubt that even if the agreement is finalized, Iran will retain the ability to go nuclear within that time frame?

Opponents of Chamberlain were decried as warmongers. The same thing is happening to senators worried about Iran. Appeasement, it seems, is a weakness that never goes out of style.