EU Increases Sanctions On Iran While U.S. Increases Trade
One would think that economic problems from simple minded austerity policies within Europe would at least lead to policies that increase exports to solvent customers. But no. The European Union, under pressure from the U.S. and Israel, just increased the sanctions on Iran thereby cutting off all exports to a good customer:The Council prohibited all transactions between European and Iranian banks, unless they are explicitly authorised by national authorities under strict conditions.Others are benefiting from this policy:There will be a ban on short-term export credits, guarantees and insurance. Medium- and long-term commitments are already banned.
U.S. exports to Iran rose by nearly a third this year, chiefly because of grain sales, according to U.S. data released last week, despite the tightening of U.S. financial sanctions.The U.S. wants to achieve regime change in Iran. It presses for Europe to adopt more sanctions and to cease all trade with Iran. At the same time it is using the loopholes in its own sanction regime to increasing its trade with Iran.The jump to $199.5 million in the first eight months of 2012 from $150.8 million a year earlier, according to Census Bureau data, ...
It is beyond my how and why those European politicians can fall for this scheme. Any ideas?
Posted by b on October 15, 2012 at 14:20 UTC | Permalink
It is beyond my how and why those European politicians can fall for this scheme. Any ideas?
I'm afraid the answer is that Europe is not an independent "country." We can similarly ask why Erdogan is pursuing policies that are clearly in the worst interests of Turkey.
Bevin accurately points to the methods of how this independence is lost.
Posted by: Lysander | Oct 15 2012 15:01 utc | 2
The EU is an atlanticist vassal.
So, good guy - henchman on the block, lt shows hysterical rigor when prodded, coerced, e.g. against Iran.
How all that falls out on the ground is another matter. Maybe the effects are quite minor...? The EU has been in the past big on announcements and lax on the ground.
Problem: it is impossible to figure out what is really going on with trade. That is deliberate.
Naturally there is no question of halting commerce with Iran for the US. That goes on under the radar, with allowed exceptions, etc. Sanctions on Iran, I think, even serve to control and bar competition inside the USA. Remember Kerry wanted to normalize relations with Iran? That was part of his prez. platform.
Palestine.
The crazed hysteria about Iran provides a fantastic distraction for Netanyahu to scare-monger, alert, accuse, alarm, etc. about Iran, with cartoonish bomb sketches and so on.
Meanwhile, attention is drawn away from what is happening in Israel.
Neither Isr., the US, or NATO, will attack Iran.
It is a distraction maneuver. So the EU itself bows done to the hegemon by seeming on board...but expects nothing to follow.
Posted by: Noirette | Oct 15 2012 15:24 utc | 3
The U.S. and Canada are pumping up their dollar to sink the EU. The EU is a LAP DOG jumping at every command by the U.S. and ignoring the suffering of both EU citizenry and Iran's citizenry. EU countries need cheaper oil from Iran and in turn need to increase exports to increase productivity and create desperately needed jobs. EU members are working against their own best interests by ceasing trade with Iran. Meanwhile Americans are cashing in and laughing all the way to the bank while Europeans suffer. Europeans need to get wise to the players across the pond that are helping to sink their economies.
Posted by: kalithea | Oct 15 2012 15:25 utc | 4
Earlier I meant to say that the U.S. and Canada are pumping up their dollar to sink the EURO.
Posted by: kalithea | Oct 15 2012 15:29 utc | 5
Italy and Greece, in the midst of "austerity" policies, cut their imports of cheap Iranian oil, and confirmed the purchase of useless military equipment
Italy confirmed the purchase, for 16 billion euros, of 131 F-35 fighters
Greece still has the second highest military spending-to-GDP ratio in Nato, after the Us; it cancelled pending purchases of military equipment from Italy, but not from France and Germany (link in Italian)
Italy joined the Anglo-French aggression at Libya, with which it had excellent trading agreements
... well, there are hierarchies to be respected, I suppose
Posted by: claudio | Oct 15 2012 15:36 utc | 6
Perhaps it may be that European leaders are even more corrupt and stupid than we thought
We thought we knew about the awful Blair but he has been worse than expected...now he seems to be ambarked on a range of vain andd silly policies...on Palestine/on Libya ...whatever ..and a complete puppet of Washington
Posted by: Tom Skene | Oct 15 2012 15:40 utc | 7
Even Mitt Romney traded in shares of a company that did business in Iran.
Posted by: ralphieboy | Oct 15 2012 15:51 utc | 8
No one wants to be the first "White" man to call out the perma war maidens for their destructive bloodlust. This is why revolution is always bloody.
Crash the economy that supports their rarified lifestyle? Who wants to fly coach these days?
Posted by: L Bean | Oct 15 2012 16:21 utc | 9
Italy confirmed the purchase, for 16 billion euros, of 131 F-35 fighters"
So one F-35 is $12.213.740, right? Funny figures.
It is either lapsus digitus or lapsus lingue. Try with Trillions. In case of Zionist settler state, they get them for free, financed by KSA and Golf Emirates money.
Not sure, but you cannot buy MiG-21 for that kind of money, could you? That jet F-35 is between 150 and 200 millions dollars, depending of package.
Posted by: neretva'43 | Oct 15 2012 16:25 utc | 10
The British (and other European languages) and the language spoken in the United States disagree on what is a billion neretva'43. I guess it has got to do with British/European understatement.
"In American English, a billion means 1,000,000,000. That's 109 or 10 to
the 9th power in scientific terms.
In British English, a billion means 1,000,000,000,000. That's 1012
or 1,000x of the American version."
Posted by: somebody | Oct 15 2012 16:47 utc | 11
Turkey forced down an armenian passenger plane today
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-295349-armenian-plane-en-route-to-aleppo-searched-in-turkey.html
Posted by: nikon | Oct 15 2012 16:48 utc | 12
In American English, a billion means 1,000,000,000. That's 109 or 10 to the 9th power in scientific terms. In British English, a billion means 1,000,000,000,000. That's 1012 or 1,000x of the American version.
The use of 'billion' to mean 'thousand million' has been firmly established in English since 1974, when Harold Wilson committed the UK to the American sense of the word (incorrectly using as an excuse that the rest of the world had already done so when in fact no such thing had occurred). The old meaning of 'million million' is by now almost never intended. This is not the case on the Continent, or in a number of other places in the world, however, as this Wikipedia article indicates. If you want to be unambiguous, use SI units, scientific notation, or write the number out.
Posted by: NomadUK | Oct 15 2012 18:06 utc | 13
"One can effectively sum up U.S. policy on this issue as follows: outside the spread of informational materials which promote the free flow of ideas between the countries and the sale of humanitarian goods such as most foods, medicines and medical supplies, the United States generally does not want U.S. persons to do business with Iran. As such, once you become a U.S. person you effectively have to sever business ties with Iran. It may be very fashionable or convenient to live in the United States but live on money you make in Iran, but realize this can lead to exceptional civil and criminal liabilities under U.S. law. Note that you can apply for a specific license from Iran to sell your commercial interests in Iran (be it a company you owned, shares of stock, rental property, or inherited interests in a business venture, etc.).
Despite the many economic problems in Iran, the reality is that Iran is a very rich country with high liquidity and plenty of business opportunities. However, the more significant reality, arguably, is that Iran is under comprehensive U.S., and increasingly European Union (EU) sanctions. Given the hostilities between the United States and Iran, it should be expected that commercial relations are very limited. There’s a reason you don’t see direct flights, banking relations, Starbucks Coffee, the Gap, McDonald’s, Wells Fargo, Accenture, General Motors dealerships, or Crate & Barrel etc. in Iran (further, it’s not so odd that you do see many non-U.S. chains like Benetton, Mango, and Carrefour, which are not limited by U.S. sanctions). Be sure that it has already occurred to most U.S. giants that Iran could be profitable. Many people have already wanted (and already have, when relations were better) thought of exporting Caterpillar bulldozers and Levi’s jeans to Iran. (I should note some of these types of goods are in Iran legally, but there is an exceptionally complex story behind that). The sanctions are not a government-to-government matter, and having dual citizenship does not give you special rights."
Iran trade is sour grapes for the US and EU anyway, I do not see how EU countries can compete with India or China on most items - technological and otherwise. What you can buy in India and China (or the UAE) you can buy in Iran I suppose. As is Iran seems to run up a trade deficit with India - exporting more oil than importing
and there is this :-))
"EUObserver reports on the European Union's new Iran sanctions--and investigates whether Sweden diluted them to benefit telecommunications giant Ericsson: "
"Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has hotly denied the accusations. In Stockholm, the government called in the Israeli ambassador to complain about what it believes are leaks from the Israeli foreign ministry on the matter. "
Posted by: somebody | Oct 15 2012 18:15 utc | 14
@neretva'43
calc.exe gives me:
16,000,000,000 (nine zeroes, as in common usage)
divided by 131 =
122,137,405 (approx. to unity)
don't want to recalculate by hand, if you tell me it's wrong I'll write directly to Bill Gates for a refund
Posted by: claudio | Oct 15 2012 18:45 utc | 15
I just noticed that the Bertelsmann group, who are the EU's largest media conglomerate & run things through a 'non-profit' NGO, have a program called the "German-Israeli Young Leaders Exchange" ( http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/cps/rde/xbcr/SID-EEF74398-CCF8F6E7/bst_engl/xcms_bst_dms_34243_34244_2.pdf - page 50).
Kind of hilarious in a sick way for the former largest publisher of Nazi propaganda, but they might have a bit to do with shaping attitudes on this - Bertelsmann run an enormous array of influential economic workshops for the elite promoting the "Social Market Economy".
I just put a post about them earlier in the 'October Surprise' thread.
Posted by: KenM | Oct 15 2012 21:37 utc | 16
The problem about how much billion is, reminds me of an anecdote:
At a morning report to American President about the state of world affairs:
"...three Brazilian soldiers were killed"
"So horrible, so horrible... By the way, would you remind me how much brazillion is?"
Posted by: sasha | Oct 15 2012 21:50 utc | 17
claudio @ 15.
My Casio scientific calculator (fx-82SX) agrees with your (rounded) figure returned by calc.exe. I'm particularly fond of the Casio because, unlike most ordinary calculators, if you divide 10 by 3 and then multiply the answer by 3, it gives the correct answer 10, instead of the more common 9.9999999999.
If I could find/activate calc.exe that would be my first evaluation test.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Oct 16 2012 3:37 utc | 18
While I was only semi-serious about Bertelsmann, differences in structure between the EU NGO/thinktank nexus & it's US counterparts are likely a major factor.
The EU ones tend to take longer to build momentum in these campaigns, but are much harder to shift once they get going...
- Where-as their US counterparts tend to be much nimbler, with large numbers of competing tracks fighting it out in the background for the next new American vision, already packaged & ready to sell.
Posted by: KenM | Oct 16 2012 6:46 utc | 19
@Hoarsewhisperer: it worked! never thought of that kind of test, thanks
Posted by: claudio | Oct 16 2012 7:32 utc | 20
Jerry Jones, owner and GM of the Dallas Cowboys, has a great and wise saying, "don't let your money get mad." The US is too wise to follow the principled example Carter established by cutting grain sales to the Soviets. It shows that even the bureaucracy can learn.
Posted by: scottindallas | Oct 16 2012 12:38 utc | 21
KenM | Oct 15, 2012 5:37:38 PM | 16
Seems you are new to the concept of philosemitism
"Daniel Goldhagen, Harvard scholar and author of the controversial Hitler's Willing Executioners, argues that philosemites are often closet anti-Semites. His detractor Norman Finkelstein agrees. The thesis is that Jew haters feel a need to talk about Jews, and with anti-Semitism no longer being socially acceptable they must instead make exaggerated positive statements."
Apart from that - the German political scene is very diverse and original - take the "http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antideutsche">Antideutsche"
"Antideutsche originate from radical left wing tendencies. Antideutsche fight against a specifically German kind of nationalism, that was strengthened by reunification. Antideutsche positions include solidarity with Israel and opposition to antizionism, anti-americanism and anti-imperialism. These positions lead to controversy amongst the left wing movement."
Posted by: somebody | Oct 16 2012 16:40 utc | 22
maybe its an attempt by the US to enforce the Blockade by becoming Iran's only trading partner.
Posted by: heath | Oct 17 2012 0:18 utc | 23
@somebody 22. its a very odd way of putting a group of people down, this working together for mutual benefit.
Posted by: heath | Oct 17 2012 0:22 utc | 24
"It is beyond my how and why those European politicians can fall for this scheme. Any ideas?"
Those who are not with us are against us, a famous American said some 10 years ago - remember? It was not a joke.
Everybody knows what happens to those who are against.
Posted by: Kerstin | Oct 17 2012 2:15 utc | 25
The George Bush statement - "You're either with us, or against us.", was the final push that made me come out publicly as a muslim convert. No way I was going to pay lip-service to the American crusade, where proportionallity means 3000 American lives are worth 300000 muslims.
Still, in this part of the world, we still honor US foreign policy before our national democratic will - it's the unofficial price for our NATO-membership.
Posted by: Alexander | Oct 17 2012 12:01 utc | 27
Europeans need to get wise to the players across the pond that are helping to sink their economies. - kalithea @ 4.
Oh yeah.
The pols are in the mirage grip of Big Money (banks, free flow of capital, loopholes for scammers, importance of stock market), an outdated, stereotypical, cynical economic model (competition, free market, plus targeted state control, etc.), a sort of pandering to power, the hegemon, to assure non-aggression, being in the in-crowd, part of the top players.
I posted some ways back about salaries to EU experts and parliamentarians.
It is so easy to create a cadre or top dogs with a few perks - it costs almost nothing - and they will turn about amongst themselves and support their ‘gig’, their salaries, etc. And support the US / isr / humanitarian intervention etc.
Posted by: Noirette | Oct 17 2012 15:51 utc | 28
Actually am new to the concept of philosemitism - well. I suppose it takes all kinds of fruitcakes to make the go... well, somewhere (not a crack at you, by the way).
They & the Antideutsche movement sound like very easy crowds to manipulate to me, & while I'm a big supporter of everyone's right to believe whatever they want no matter how odd, I suspect they spend much of their time being 'useful idiots' to a much sharper crowd.
Posted by: KenM | Oct 17 2012 20:23 utc | 29
@somebody 26 you're right its not, its fucked in the head.
Posted by: heath | Oct 18 2012 2:37 utc | 30
why is the eu acting against its own interest ?
the same reason why the aussies would join an amerikan posse against their biggest customer, china.
*Australia's role is especially curious. Its economy relies heavily on China. Yet Canberra has yet to see an anti-China trade and military alliance in Asia that it did not like. This constant reluctance to accept China as an important Asian nation is getting ridiculous*
n participated in the rape of iraq
*Howard's is the only government in the world willing and eager to join the Bush/Blair assault on Iraq, a faraway country that buys Australia's primary produce and with whom Australians have no quarrel.*
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/28339
as for the japs
why would they turn a win win situation , whereby china get the investment n technology while japan gets cheap labors, into a lose lose disaster ?
http://tinyurl.com/8cq73m7
http://tinyurl.com/9vnnjcx
just like the aussies, why'd the japs pick a fight with their largest customer ?
theorom 2
*fukus is behind every conflict in the world*
ask washington
*if you want to understand the antagonism between Beijing and Tokyo, you have to start in Washington and, in particular, Washington state*
http://tinyurl.com/685g3w
P.S.
i've been quoting john pilger in many forums
*yanks are like mushrooms.....kept in the dark n fed bushit all day*
Posted by: denk | Oct 24 2012 5:23 utc | 31
atho this thread is about eu
my posts about japan n australia aint ot
coz its all about amerikan vassals shooting themselves in the foot
to serve the overlord in washington
****************************************
white face speaking in forked tongue
exhibit 1001
*We are worried that persistent high-level tensions are eating away at Sino-Japanese goodwill, at enormous linkages that have developed people to people, on culture, on business ... it is stirring negative feelings on both sides ... We recognize that damage has been done, and we're worried about it*
http://chinamatters.blogspot.sg/2012/10/us-learns-hard-lessons-of-asia-pivot.html
for appointments like state dept spokesman, diplomats, prez
they might as well state in their job requirement
*only those who can keep a straight face while lying thru their teeth need apply*
Posted by: denk | Nov 1 2012 6:49 utc | 33
remember classus ?
+We’ve seen this many times before from the two-faced Uncle Sam. Even as he postured for peace and asked for cooler heads, he poured gasoline.+
http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/10/post-election-bombs/
Posted by: denk | Nov 1 2012 7:34 utc | 34
The comments to this entry are closed.
"Charles Maier has defined empire as '..a form of political organisation in which the social elements that rule in the dominant state...create networks of allied elites in regions abroad who accept subordination in international affairs in return for the security of their position in their own administrative unit.'"
So says Partha Chatterjee in The Black Hole of Empire, an exceedingly interesting and useful discussion of the origins of our present discontents.
The good news is that, as time passes, these comprador-quisling elites become increasingly indistinguishable from their metropolitan masters: Bandar bin Sultan, just another Dallas Cowboys fan, albeit a very rich one, Joschka Fischer no more than a visiting scholar at a "think tank" in Washington, Stephen Harper one more 'libertarian crank', Tony Blair an unusually empty suit. Eventually they become the Americans that they have always been afraid of, purchasing their new status with the living standards, livelihoods and lives of a few million of their countrymen.
Posted by: bevin | Oct 15 2012 14:55 utc | 1