Democracy Arsenal

« In 2004, McCain Admitted We'd Leave Iraq if the Iraqi's Wanted Us To | Main | Afghanistan and Data »

July 08, 2008

Trading With Iran
Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

You'd think that if you were going to base your entire strategy for getting Iran to give up it's uranium enrichment program around sanctions you'd at the very least, ya know, sanction them.  But in a surprising and odd development it turns out that U.S. trade with Iran has increased ten-fold over the past eight years. 

U.S. exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as he accused Iran of nuclear ambitions and helping terrorists. America sent more cigarettes to Iran — at least $158 million worth under Bush — than any other products.

Other surprising shipments to Iran during the Bush administration: brassieres, bull semen, cosmetics, fur clothing, sculptures, perfume, musical instruments and possibly even weapons.

Now, in my view sanctions alone do not have a huge impact in changing a regime's behavior.  And these numbers are small by comparison to U.S. standards (Although as the Center for Arms Controls and Non-Proliferation points out Iran is also pretty small by U.S. standards).  If you are going to spend five years stubbornly bumping your head up against a wall and refuse to engage in direct talks.  Then insist that somehow economic pressure alone will bring the Iranians to the table and cause them to give up their enrichment program.  If you are going to pursue that policy then you could at least try to actually follow through.

Then again, this could be part of a sophisticated Neocon regime change policy.  Send the Iranians cigarettes and bull semen (which yes is used for making cattle.  I didn't know.  But apparently it's a big industry).  Then kill off the regime with lung cancer and too much red meat.  I guess all the brassieres and perfume is to corrupt the pure virtues of the Islamic Republic.   But I don't really understand how the weapons fit into this equation...

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451c04d69e200e5538eed5a8833

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Trading With Iran:

Comments

Welcome to our game world, my friend asks me to buy some Hellgate London gold . I do not know how to use the Hellgate gold ; my friend tells me how to use. I will thank for my friends bringing me in this world. I am not regret to buy buy Hellgate Palladium . We all love game, if you want to play it, please cheap hellgate gold and join us. Please do not hesitate to have game.

really a nice post i have added your blog to my watch list and i just want to tell you regarding your blog moderation there are some irrelivents comments on your blog about cheap wow .

When you have Anarchy credits, you will become strong. With Anarchy Online credits, you can upgrade and admire by others. You can use Anarchy gold to start the journey of the world. So, do not hesitate, let us move to buy AO credits

Welcome to our shadow of legend Gold center. We can provide all what you want if you want. Our sol gold are specialized, professional and reliable website

I hope i can get twelve sky Gold in low price,
Yesterday i want to buy 12sky gold for my friend.

I always can get some aion gold from my friends. I buy aion kina with my spare money.

I buy aion kina with my spare money.

I always can get some aion gold from my friends. I buy aion kina with my spare money.

The comments to this entry are closed.

Subscribe
Sign-up to receive a weekly digest of the latest posts from Democracy Arsenal.
Email: 
Powered by TypePad

Disclaimer

The opinions voiced on Democracy Arsenal are those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of any other organization or institution with which any author may be affiliated.
Read Terms of Use