Toothless Sanctions on Iran, Part 47
As Iran heads towards becoming a nuclear state, the United Nations has passed a new round of sanctions after a year of U.S. attempts to engage Iran — with nothing to show for it. Unfortunately, little has been achieved with all the time spent trying to make the UN implement tough measures. The Iranian regime is dismissive, with Ahmadinejad saying they “should be thrown into the trash bin like a used tissue,” and comparing them to “annoying flies.” The U.S. and its few allies willing to confront Iran must now decide whether to act outside the UN or to accept a nuclear Iran.
The sanctions resolution sounds tough on the surface. It calls on the international community to sanction 40 more Iranian entities, 22 of which are connected to the nuclear and ballistic missile programs and 15 of which are part of the Revolutionary Guard. Three are part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, which is connected to both. The head of the Esfahan Nuclear Technology Center, a key nuclear site, had his assets frozen and was hit with a travel ban.
The resolution requests the inspection of ships suspected of carrying technology related to those programs, as has been done with North Korea. It also bans the sale of eight types of conventional weapons to Iran, including missiles, tanks, warships, some artillery systems, and attack helicopters.
These sound like tough measures, but in practice, they don’t make much of a difference. Ken Timmerman, best-selling author of Countdown to Crisis: The Coming Nuclear Showdown with Iran and executive director of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran, tells PJM:
The latest round of UN sanctions are seriously flawed because they contain no enforcement mechanism, and because they do nothing to restrict Iran’s access to international capital for its oil and gas industry.
The resolution urges, but does not force, members of the UN to engage in the inspection of possible WMD-related cargo ships. Member states are required to place sanctions on Iranian entities that are “proliferation sensitive.” However, this gives countries that are reluctant to act plenty of room to demand unreasonably high standards of proof, and they are technically not required to do anything.
The U.S. went to great lengths to win Russian support for the resolution. Sanctions on four Russian entities known to have been connected to Iran’s nuclear program and arms sales to Syria were lifted. Two of the organizations had originally been listed by the Clinton administration in early 1999. The sanctions were also watered down, and do not take advantage of Iran’s reliance upon imports of petroleum-based products — gasoline in particular. Iran’s oil exports, which account for 90 percent of the regime’s foreign income and 60 percent of its state budget, are unaffected.
I can always tell the really wimpy parents at the restrraunts, parks, wherever. Their kids ignore them, then threats are made and the kids dismiss those threats with absolute distain. The kids know the wimpy parents are never going to carry through with their threats and they have nothing to fear and no reason to obey. I almost never threaten my kids, however, they know there are immediate and substantial consequences for crossing me and any threat I make will be carried out. No idle threats, no bluffs.
The Iranians know liberal Democrats are wimpy parents. They actually kidnapped 52 of our people for a year and a half with no consequences. Reagan made them nervous. They took a few more liberties with Clinton and the Bush’s. With Obama, they know the good old days of wimpy parenting are back. Obama’s threats are jokes to be laughed at.
Ryan: as you or may not know I am from Iran and things are really f…up there. I talked to sister yesterday. she live in Tehra. yesterday was the first anniversary of Neda’s death.. remmeber the young woman who was shot in the head… my sister said that all hell was breaking loose. Please click on the link before…
it is an interview with a very high ranking revolutionery gaurd general who defected to Turky. it is eye opening.
I also want you and there readers here know that the Iranian people regardless of the affiliation and regardless of weather they are for this government or against, are very much united when it comes to
nuclear technology. they think it is their.. Just fyi..
very intresting world cup!! no
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2010/jun/11/iran-revolutionary-guard-defectors
Neda was shot in the chest. Not in the head. The blood on her face came from her mouth and nose as she choked to death on her own blood. You don’t seem to have remembered her very well.
We should be dropping Liberator pistols from B2 bombers all over the populated areas of Iran. Regime change would take care of itself.
Iran infiltrated the Bush Administration and pentagon, planted information the Bush administration relied upon to Invade Iraq. Much of the Billions missing in Iraq ended up in Iran, and the US military removed the biggest obstacle to Iranian Nuclear programs, which was Saddam.
We broke it, we bought it.
Obabma keeps getting the UN to set sanctions this is not helping it would be better to get both countries to agree on some terms Iran wants technology and energy America does not want bombs so stop the bombs but give them the energy not hard!
Regards
Mandy Parts
Kitchenaid Dishwasher Parts
“Noticeably absent is the most bold but efficient option of vigorously supporting the Iranian opposition.”
Even more noticeably absent is the correct option, which is to beat the living crap out of the Mad Mullocracy with an all-out military attack.
Which is what we should have done 31 years ago.
Never too late to make up for past mistakes.
Mad Mullahs delenda est.
“1. Old Soldier
I can always tell the really wimpy parents at the restrraunts, parks, wherever. Their kids ignore them, then threats are made and the kids dismiss those threats with absolute distain. The kids know the wimpy parents are never going to carry through with their threats and they have nothing to fear and no reason to obey. I almost never threaten my kids, however, they know there are immediate and substantial consequences for crossing me and any threat I make will be carried out. No idle threats, no bluffs.”
OMG..that is most of American children today! All this BS of counting…little johny im going to count to 3.. She counts to 1 then 2 then 2 1/2…and kid has NOT changes his behavior…what does mommy do?? Thats right.. nothing…this was an example that i actually saw.
So…i see our whole county turning major wimpy! Need to get these idiots out of your schools who teach this nonsense of “everyone” is a winner.
AS for Iran….not only do they see a wimpy pres…i think they now know for sure our country is full of them. Now that being said are military men and women are still tough…but they dont make the decisions on where or when to go…the wimps do!
#1 Old Soldier: Right on, brother. The UN wants to disarm everyone except rogue countries wanting to get the bomb. UN sanctions are laughable. They’ve never been enforced, never will be and Iran will go on getting closer to having nuclear weapons. The U.S. should withdraw from the U.N. pronto.
#3 Alex: please share with the rest of what are you smoking?