Just when you think the Obama administration couldn’t possibly do anything further to compromise our nation’s safety and security, it blazes a new trail of incompetence.

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As reported by The Wall Street Journal and multiple news agencies, the Obama administration “secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran” in a time frame that coincided with the January release of four Americans detained in Iran, according to officials and congressional staff briefed on the operation afterward.

Reportedly, the money was the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement the administration reached with Iran to resolve a dispute over a 37-year-old arms deal.

Stories splattered the airwaves last week describing a covert operation in which wooden pallets stacked with euros, Swiss francs and other currencies were flown to Iran on an unmarked cargo plane. The U.S. reportedly obtained the money from the central banks of the Netherlands and Switzerland, according to these officials.

Of course, serving up its usual course of intellectual dishonesty, the Obama administration promised the American people the window of the two transactions was a complete coincidence and they had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

During a press briefing, White House press secretary Josh Earnest even added the payment to Iran was delivered in cash on pallets because the two nations “do not have a banking relationship.”

I suppose loading up the cash and delivering it on an airplane was the next best answer for this administration – brilliant.

Now, I’m not going to waste my time trying to convince naysayers this wasn’t an obvious U.S. ransom payment to the mullahs of Iran for the release of four Americans. Anyone who believes otherwise has obviously been partaking of the liberal Kool-Aid libation for way too long to think clearly.

I’ll only add that we know the hostages were released literally the same day the cash arrived. And according to The National Review and other sources, one of the hostages even reported they were detained “an extra several hours” and not allowed to leave until the arrival of another plane, presumably carrying the ransom.

But let’s give the Obama administration the benefit of the doubt for a moment.

Suppose these Iranian deals, the payment of the $400 million and the release of the hostages were indeed “unrelated.” Then how stupid can they possibly be?

It isn’t nearly as important whether it was or wasn’t a ransom payment as it is how the world and Iran perceive it! Wouldn’t one have considered separating the two deals in an effort to avoid the appearance of impropriety?

So either this is a ransom payment to terrorists or another case of poor judgment by this administration emboldening terrorists and endangering U.S. citizens.

America simply doesn’t win with Barack Obama’s deals.

And Hillary Clinton will be more of the same.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.