Saturday
Aug082009
How Not to Help Iran: The Folly of US Sanctions
Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 14:16
The Latest from Iran (9 August): Once More on Trial
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Throughout the Iran crisis, we have referred to US-based efforts to manipulate the conflict for a much different objective: confronting Iran over its nuclear programme.
Part of our annoyance is that this objective --- whether cynical or disingenuous --- demeans the issues of importance to Iranians. There is potenti
ally, however a damaging economic costs. US Congressmen and other politicians, and behind them pro-Israeli lobbies, are pressing for expanded sanctions. In particular, they are hoping to cripple Iran by limiting its imports of refined petroleum products.
In an analysis for The Huffington Post, Patrick Disney of the National Iranian American Council argues that this move would not punish the Iranian regime but those "ordinary" Iranians whom US political activists claim to support:
When All You Have is a Hammer, Every Iran Problem Looks Like a Nail
For most of the month of August, Congress will be on recess. Consider this the calm before the storm.
Most in Washington are aware that September will bring with it the biggest push for Iran sanctions in years. AIPAC has been lobbying for months on the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (IRPSA), and on September 10 the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations will kick off a massive nationwide lobbying effort, which they compare to the "Save Darfur" movement. All of this will culminate at the end of the month when, conveniently enough, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in New York for the UN. General Assembly.
Yes, right around the time Ahmadinejad is at the podium in the UN, Congress is expected to impose what it calls "crippling sanctions" on Iran's economy. The plan is to blockade Iran's foreign supplies of gasoline, hoping that an increase in the price per gallon at the pump will cause the Iranian people to rise up and demand a halt to Iran's nuclear program.
But this plan has number of obvious flaws.
First, the Iranian people have already risen up against the government's hardline leadership. What we have witnessed in Iran for the last two months is unprecedented. To think that marginally higher gas prices will mean anything to a population willing to risk their lives for freedom and democracy is at once naïve and hubristic. According to Juan Cole, imposing broad sanctions on Iran will likely only destroy Iranian civil society and bolster the state's repressive apparatus--as it did in Iraq.
What's more, even if the Iranian people were to demand that the government halt its enrichment program--which they wouldn't, since the vast majority of Iranians support Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology--does anyone think that the government will actually go along with it? Has Tehran been particularly responsive to the wishes of its citizens lately? No, in fact, that is what these people are fighting for each and every day: to have their voices heard.
Read more....
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
Throughout the Iran crisis, we have referred to US-based efforts to manipulate the conflict for a much different objective: confronting Iran over its nuclear programme.
Part of our annoyance is that this objective --- whether cynical or disingenuous --- demeans the issues of importance to Iranians. There is potenti
ally, however a damaging economic costs. US Congressmen and other politicians, and behind them pro-Israeli lobbies, are pressing for expanded sanctions. In particular, they are hoping to cripple Iran by limiting its imports of refined petroleum products.In an analysis for The Huffington Post, Patrick Disney of the National Iranian American Council argues that this move would not punish the Iranian regime but those "ordinary" Iranians whom US political activists claim to support:
When All You Have is a Hammer, Every Iran Problem Looks Like a Nail
For most of the month of August, Congress will be on recess. Consider this the calm before the storm.
Most in Washington are aware that September will bring with it the biggest push for Iran sanctions in years. AIPAC has been lobbying for months on the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (IRPSA), and on September 10 the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations will kick off a massive nationwide lobbying effort, which they compare to the "Save Darfur" movement. All of this will culminate at the end of the month when, conveniently enough, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in New York for the UN. General Assembly.
Yes, right around the time Ahmadinejad is at the podium in the UN, Congress is expected to impose what it calls "crippling sanctions" on Iran's economy. The plan is to blockade Iran's foreign supplies of gasoline, hoping that an increase in the price per gallon at the pump will cause the Iranian people to rise up and demand a halt to Iran's nuclear program.
But this plan has number of obvious flaws.
First, the Iranian people have already risen up against the government's hardline leadership. What we have witnessed in Iran for the last two months is unprecedented. To think that marginally higher gas prices will mean anything to a population willing to risk their lives for freedom and democracy is at once naïve and hubristic. According to Juan Cole, imposing broad sanctions on Iran will likely only destroy Iranian civil society and bolster the state's repressive apparatus--as it did in Iraq.
What's more, even if the Iranian people were to demand that the government halt its enrichment program--which they wouldn't, since the vast majority of Iranians support Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology--does anyone think that the government will actually go along with it? Has Tehran been particularly responsive to the wishes of its citizens lately? No, in fact, that is what these people are fighting for each and every day: to have their voices heard.
Read more....
tagged Congress, Huffington Post, Iran, Patrick Disney, US in Middle East & Iran
Congress, Huffington Post, Iran, Patrick Disney, US in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (4)
NIAC is a well-known lobby of the Islamic regime, and Patrick Disney's analysis is completely misleading. Iranian economy has been severely deteriorated during the last four years, and economic sanctions would further accelerate this collapse. Just remember the SU and GDR, both crumbling down because of their fatal economic situation. Sanctions are the last resort before engaging military actions.
This is what Khamenei and Ahmadinejad really want, trying to engage all superpowers in a global war by putting foreign hostages on show trials. Just wait for the next show trial with the three American hitchhikers.
[...] post: US Sanctions and Iran | Enduring America Tags: government, people-were, since-the-vast, the-government, vast-majority [...]
It's all very well to throw out economic sanctions against Iran, but what other course of action could the US take instead, Patrick Disney doesn't suggest any...
What we need political isolation and prosecution/arrest of perpetrators of these crimes against humanity, the current farcical "Show Trial" we must act strongly with condemnation on illegality of these confessions, PPL demand freedom of all political prisoners and Justice.