Sanctions

Home - Poker Rooms - Strategy from Professionals - Free Software Favorite Titan Poker In a delivery issued behind on Monday daylight, the Kahnawake betting Commission announced sanctions forced as a answer of the insider cheating scandal at eventualBet. Named specifically in the announcement was UB endorsed Russ Hamilton, described by KGC as an

US Imposes Sanctions on LRA Leader Joseph Koney a Victim of the LRA Washington ramps up pressure on Lord’s Resistance Army and its supporters. By Rosebell Kagumire in Kampala (AR No. 185, 05-Sep-08) Joseph Koney Leader of the LRA In an apparent response to calls for increased international pressure on the Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA, the United [...]

The Associated Press reports this morning that Secretary of State Rice has announced that the Administration will not pursue the U.S.-Russia civil nuclear cooperation agreement in light of Russia's invasion of Georgia. As the AP notes, Congress was probably unlikely to approve the agreement before it adjourns later the month and President Bush leaves office. But the action could move a new Iran sa

Dans une contradiction des plus loufoques, l’Union Européenne envisagerait de mener des sanctions contre la Fédération de Russie pour ses attaques envers la Géorgie et pour son appui à l’indépendance des deux États indépendants, indépendants depuis les années 1990. Or, l’Union Européenne, comme nous le disait récemment Salim Lamrani dans un texte* bien structuré et [...]

Introduction There is nothing as glorious in the history of resistance to colonial oppression as seeing one man being able to successfully combine the will to resist, the ability to resist and the opportunity to resist, to finally win independence for his country. This is how heroes are created in a scenario of upheaval. There is [...]

Spyware is one of the biggest problems to ever infest he lives of Internet users in addition to viruses and trojans. And there have been many concerted efforts from many sectors to control and inhibit the effect of this phenomenon that violates user privacy and impairs the surfing experience of thousands of people worldwide. More: [...]

Iran has begun a new charm offensive to head off, or to mitigate, possible new international economic sanctions following its latest refusal to suspend, or even slow down its uranium enrichment program. Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave an interview to NBC news anchor Brian Williams, which was broadcast tonight, denying that Iran had any nuclear weapons ambitions and stating that Ir

The United States expanded its economic sanctions against the brutal regime of Robert Mugabe in an effort to tighten the screws of outside pressure. President Bush made clear the determination of the United States to support aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe for their right to decide who is their president. Mugabe, after losing [...]

The madness will not prevail and thousands of more Americans will not be sent to their deaths. Maybe Bush’s propaganda campaign will falter and cease to coax people in buying war bonds, signing up, and cool some eagle hawks tempers. Yet what most Americans don’t realize is that Obama has contributed troops to [...]

Last week, I posted on the prospects for Congressional action on a new Iran sanctions bill before the end of the year and discussed two versions under consideration. Now comes word that the Senate Banking Committee will act tomorrow on its version of such a bill (the Senate Finance Committee already approved another version, as I reported last week). The draft bill, titled "The Comprehensive Iran

Sadly, a proposal for sanctions against Zimbabwe has been voted down.Sanctions can sometimes do more harm than good.Take Iraq, when an embargo on medicine caused great hardship among innocent civilians.But not in the case of Zimbabwe, where an arms embargo, an assets freeze and travel restrictions were proposed to put pressure on the despotic President Robert Mugabe.The idea of anyone selling arms

China has defended its decision to veto proposed UN sanctions against Zimbabwe's government saying they would "complicate", rather than ease, conflict in the troubled African country. China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to impose international sanctions on key members of Zimbabwe's government, damaging diplomatic efforts to isolate the regime and inflicting a histo

The Group of 8 countries with large economies - representing perhaps 60% of world GDP, have supported stronger action against Zimbabwe. The G8 leaders have agreed to push for UN trade sanctions against Zimbabwe, British officials have confirmed. Italy and Russia have fallen into line with demands to extend existing sanctions, after initially opposing tougher action against the African country, wh

US President George W. Bush Saturday criticized the presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe, calling for sanctions and a weapons embargo against the government led by President Robert Mugabe. In a declaration from the White House, Bush denounced the Zimbabwe presidential polls in which Mugabe was the sole candidate as a “sham election” and repudiated “the Mugabe [...]

(Par Salim Lamrani) Le 23 juin 2008, après d’âpres discussions, l’Union européenne a décidé de supprimer définitivement les sanctions politiques et diplomatiques contre Cuba en vigueur depuis 2003 et suspendues depuis 2005. Imposées à La Havane suite aux pressions exercées par Washington, ces sanctions se justifiaient officiellement en raison de la « situation des droits [...]

With President Bush by his side, Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced new sanctions against Iran this morning, finally looking to freeze the assets of the mullahs’ Bank Melli. Good news, except there’s a very real problem in implementation: It comes two days and $75 billion short. You see, once again the West — ever reluctant to act decisively, even on sanctions — has missed t

Time Britain will freeze assets of Iran's largest bank in a further move to discourage the country from developing nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday. Brown, speaking at a news conference with President Bush, said Britain will work to persuade Europe to follow suit. The British leader said that assets of Iran's Bank Melli would be frozen. Last year, the United States

LUXEMBOURG (AP) — European Union nations agreed Monday on the need for a new round of stronger sanctions against Iran to discourage Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said earlier Monday at a London news conference with President Bush that Britain will freeze the assets of Iran’s largest bank, Bank Melli, and [...]

A surprising consensus has now been reached by the US and the EU on imposing financial sanctions against Iran, if Iran doesn't immediately take action to shut down profliferation efforts. According to Reuters , the EU-U.S. summit in Slovenia today will announce EU support for sanctions on Iranian banks. The EU is preparing an asset and funds freeze on Iran's biggest bank, state-owned Bank Melli, a

Gold has some unusual friends but has not previously counted the Islamic Republic of Iran among them. Times change and with 25 per cent inflation a gold hedge for part of Iran’s $80 billion reserves looks logical. Mohsen Talaie, the deputy foreign minister in charge of economic affairs, told Iran’s Etemad-e Melli newspaper: ‘Upon the decision [...]

I am sure most of you have already heard that Jack Thompson walked out on his hearing today.  As a result of walking out, it looks like Florida is going to move for “advanced” disbarment” according to Kotaku which means he’ll more than likely lose his right to practice law in Florida for 10 years.  [...]

I had an article in the Summer 2008 edition of The Washington Quarterly on Iran sanctions. In the piece, I look the development of the US government's Iran strategy, evaluate its effectiveness, and make recommendations for how to improve the current approach. Here is an excerpt of the article: For most of 2007, concerns about Iran grew louder. This situation changed dramatically in December, with

The revelation that Iran is training thousands of Shia terrorists inside Iran for operations inside Iraq is likely to markedly increase support on Capitol Hill for tougher U.S. sanctions against Western businesses conducting business with the regime. The specter of hordes of Iranian-trained and armed terrorists intensively targeting our troops in Iraq, especially during the height of the election campaign, haunts Members of Congress who have patiently hoped that financial sanctions would change Iranian...(read more)

The United Nations Security Council has voted to impose more sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The move was made after Iran refused to suspend nuclear enrichment and other sensitive activities.

After months of diplomacy, haggling, and delays, today the United Nations finally approved a third round of sanctions against Iran. The sanctions come in response to Iran’s continuing refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment program (which could theoretically be used to produce materials for nuclear weapons). Honestly, I was surprised to see the sanctions passed [...]

Word is out that today’s last ditch efforts to come up with new Security Council sanctions measures on Iran have failed. The Political Directors of the Security Council’s Permanent Five Members ( US, UK, France, Russia, China) and Germany reportedly threw in the towel following a fruitless international conference call between them earlier today. The matter will now be referred up the line to Foreign Ministers to see if anything can be salvaged. This time round it appears that China was...(read more)

In a move subject to no publicity whatsoever, and so far not reported by the press, the UN Security Council today without explanation removed Ahmed Idris Nasreddin and 12 of his companies from the terrorist sanctions list , freeing them from sanctions on a global basis. The UN action followed a similar action by the United States dated yesterday. The move reflects a 180 degree change from previous assessments of Nasreddin, as articulated by the U.S. Treasury when he and his companies were designated...(read more)

It looks like China is taking a hard line against further sanctions: China has dealt a blow to Western efforts to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran over its nuclear program by dropping out of a meeting to discuss tougher sanctions against Tehran. Russia, which like China opposes further U.N. sanctions against Iran, added fuel to the fire by announcing on Friday that the U.N. nuclear watchdog would soon start inspecting and sealing atomic fuel bound for an Iranian reactor. The West fears Iran wants to develop atomic weapons but Iran denies this. Tehran says it wants only to generate electricity. Political directors from Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia and China were due to meet on November 19 to assess reports about Tehran’s nuclear program from the United Nations and from EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. “I think it’s partly related to genuine travel difficulties, but also linked to resistance on the broader question of sanctions from that

A major debate is ranging in European capitals on how best to deal with the growing prospect of confrontation with Iran over its ongoing nuclear weapons development program. Last month French President Sarkosy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on their EU colleagues to impose new EU sanctions against Iran. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner also warned that dire consequences could result if Iran were permitted to continue unimpeded on its presence course. G7 Ministers meeting in...(read more)

Flamboyant Myanmar tycoon Tay Za Monday denounced US sanctions against his airline and other firms which he said would only hurt the people of the impoverished nation of Southeast Asia. US President George W. Bush last month ordered sanctions against seven companies with ties to Myanmar's ruling junta. Tay Za's Air Bagan was among seven firms blacklisted to pile more pressure on the regime after its bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests in September which left 13 dead and thousands locked up. "I hereby condemn the sanctions which were recklessly imposed and only hurt the people of Myanmar," Tay Za told officials, staff and businessmen in a speech for celebrations to mark Air Bagan's third anniversary. "The sanctions are misguided and unfair. Air Bagan Ltd is a legally constituted company with funds earned through 100 percent legitimate means," he said. "No government officials or party outside Htoo Group of companies owns any shares in Air Bagan." The charismatic tycoon

Andy Katz is a senior college basketball writer for ESPN.com. His “Daily Word” is a staple of ESPN.com’s college hoops coverage. He is also an on-air reporter for the World Wide Leader’s coverage of college basketball and the NBA draft. We recently caught up with him and got his take on the upcoming IU season, how Kelvin Sampson is perceived by his peers, Rob Senderoff’s resignation and a few other topics. We thank Mr. Katz for his time. Inside the Hall: With D.J White returning and the arrival of Eric Gordon, IU is back in the preseason top 10 for the first time since the 1994-1995 season. Is this team capable of a run to San Antonio and which player, White or Gordon, is the key to getting them there? Andy Katz: Both. The Hoosiers need balance to make it to San Antonio. They haven’t had those two working parts in concert in years. If the Hoosiers get an all-American season out of White and what should be a one-and-done stellar season out of Gordon

(Editor’s Note: The complete report in PDF format can be accessed here.) From IU Media Relations: BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana University Department of Athletics today announced its release of all documents relating to its discovery and subsequent investigation, and self-disclosure of recruiting violations and issues with the sanctions involving the men’s basketball coaching staff. “When reviewed as a group, these reports provide a very clear picture of what took place in this matter. Accordingly, we have chosen to impose very significant self-imposed sanctions that we are operating under currently and have recommended to the NCAA,“ said Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan. (more…)

At first blush, some may find it easy to shrug off today's Treasury sanctions on Iran as not being meaningful on the ground that these designations are unilateral by the United States and so far have not been joined by any other country. It's also accurate that as a practical matter, the effect on U.S. companies and persons in the U.S. is probably minimal, because such U.S. persons could not have done business with them previously under OFAC’s Iranian Transactions Regulations to the extent...(read more)

Today, the State and Treasury Departments announced a new package of sweeping unilateral sanctions targeting multiple entities in Iran, including three banks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Qods Force, the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, several IRGC-affiliated companies, and eight individuals. Can such sanctions be effective in halting Iran's nuclear program? If they are used as part of a comprehensive strategy to create diplomatic leverage, absolutely. Absent...(read more)

Fires continue to flare in SoCal. Yesterday during a cabinet session, VP Dick Cheney caught some Zs, and today George Bush flew out to view the damage caused by the fires. I guess that kiss means he’s “compassionate”, right? Condoleezza Rice, today Meanwhile, Secretary of Condoleezza State Rice made an angry face during her testimony on the war in Iraq before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In other foreign policy news, Secretary of State Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced new sanctions against Iran today. China’s economy announced 11.5% growth in the third quarter, while investor Jimmy Rogers told the Daily Telegraph that the U.S. economy is in a recession. According to a UN report released today, Humanity is to blame for putting the Earth (and its inhabitants) at risk. Oil reached a new high above $90 per barrel. Yikes! The Red Sox crushed the Rockies 13 to 1 in the first game of the World Series. The House failed to pa

Today’s announcement of new US sanctions on Iran follows months of reporting that the US is seeking to convince foreign governments, banks and business to pull away from the Iranian marketplace. The Washington Post reported last August that the U.S. was intent on placing greater economic pressure on Iran’s leadership by hitting directly at the all powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). But how is the United States to make this more than a symbolic act, given the fact that...(read more)

George Bush proves once again he is planning on attacking Iran. Today he formally declared the Iranian National Guard is "supporting terrorism," and "proliferating weapons of mass destruction."From the New York Times:"Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the new sanctions at a State Department news conference.Ms. Rice said the measures were intended “to confront the threatening behavior of the Iranians.” As the Bush administration has many times before, the secretary drew a distinction between the Iran government and the country’s people. “We in the United States have no conflict with you,” she said."That sounds suspiciously like what this administration said to the Iraqi people before we destroyed their country and launched them into a civil war.We have to wonder if Bush will make jokes about not finding Iran's WMD's after he starts another war, like he did with Iraq's phantom WMD's at a presidential dinner. What a disgusting

Today, the State Department designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) for their proliferation activities. The Treasury Department joined also designated numerous Iranian parties for proliferation concerns: nine IRGC-affiliated entities and five IRGC-affiliated individuals; two state-owned banks, Bank Melli (its biggest) and Bank Mellat; and three individuals affiliated with Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO)....(read more)

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury (FinCEN) has issued an advisory to financial institutions , warning them of "threats of illicit Iranian activity related to money laundering, terrorist financing and weapons of mass destruction proliferation financing. The advisory puts financial institutions on notice that Iran is attempting to use such devices as shell companies, free trade zone activity, and entities controlled by Iran but based elsewhere, to attempt to access the international...(read more)

CFR Debate: Can Sanctions Be Effective in Halting Iran's Nuclear Program? This is the second of three posts for this debate. My first post is available here . The full debate can be accessed here . Weigh in on this debate by emailing the editors at letters@cfr.org . To view other online debates click here . The IAEA process illustrates that Iran is less than forthcoming, and certainly not forthright, in negotiations over its nuclear program. As our European partners have insisted, a direct negotiation...(read more)

(Editor’s Note: The Indianapolis Star has revealed secondary violations that have taken place in the last 15 months. You can read that report by clicking here.) Updated, 10/16, 7:15 AM: Those of you hoping for a “this too shall pass” resolution to yesterday’s news regarding Kelvin Sampson’s latest sanctions for violating NCAA phone call rules are in for a rude awakening. It’s not happening, folks. Fan message boards are being overloaded, radio talk show lines are lighting up and talking heads from across the country are calling for, gasp, Sampson’s head. A survey of prominent viewpoints from across the land revealed the following thoughts about Sampson: Andy Katz, ESPN.com: Sampson has plenty of friends in the business. And when I say plenty, I would argue that the majority of coaches really do enjoy his company. But a number of them are perturbed by these latest violations. Some of his good friends even told me that they do think this will put

This week I am participating in a week-long online debate for the Council on Foreign Relations on the question "Can Sanctions Be Effective in Halting Iran's Nuclear Program?" I will post my three contributions as they go live, and encourage readers to read the full debate online . Can sanctions be effective in halting Iran 's nuclear program? Absolutely, if used as part of a comprehensive strategy to create leverage for diplomacy. Asking Iran nicely to kindly halt its nuclear program is not going...(read more)

The following press release was issued by Indiana Media Relations: The Indiana University Department of Athletics today announced that a series of recruiting sanctions and corrective actions are being imposed on men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff. The new limitations on recruiting efforts, which include loss of a scholarship next year, were imposed by Athletics Director Rick Greenspan after he determined that Sampson and his staff last season had exceeded certain NCAA limitations on telephone calls to prospective student-athletes or their representatives. “We determined that the impermissible calls occurred because some staff members did not fully comply with the sanctions they were operating under,” Greenspan said. “We are addressing that problem, and we are voluntarily extending these limitations on recruiting for another season to ensure that the full effect of NCAA restrictions on recruiting is realized.” Greenspan also announced that Sampson has volunt

If the United States and other countries are really serious about trying to use economic and political pressures instead of military action to head off Iran’s drive toward nuclear weapons, it is time to consider sharply cutting off Iran’s air links to the outside world. Two little known U.S. laws might help.(See below.) Next week , officials from the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia will meet to discuss tightening UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic, State Department spokesman Sean...(read more)

When have economic sanctions ever worked?   No, really.  Tell me an example of when economic sanctions have influenced political change.  At a stretch I can possibly point to South Africa, but really I know better.  The end of apartheid was the result of a spectrum of reasons: the foremost being that black South Africans were starting to understand the power of the majority.  A close second is that white South Africans also figured out the same thing. No.  I need a better example.  I cannot think of one. My natural reaction to the recent Saffron uprising in Burma is to require some sort of sanctions, because I don’t know any better way of punishing a nation.  War is out for the same reason, each punish the people for the leadership’s crimes.  So, I accept neither, especially when I read this from the London Times: Burma is a tiny sore, a snag in the woodwork that occasionally trips us up and begs the question: why did we not mend this problem years ago? Tellingly

The Japanese government is upset at the killing of a Japanese journalist who was covering events in Myanmar, but it is uncertain what to do about it. Prime Minister Fukuda urged the Burmese military to investigate the shooting. A spokesperson said: “We will strongly demand(the military government) not to repeat an event like the again. Unlike other nations, Japan has made no move to impose sanctions of the military junta. However, there are rumors Japan might recall its ambassador from Myanmar. It is sad when the murder of someone is described as “an event.” An event is going to a concert, a murder is the death of a human being. Myanmar is governed by a bunch of thugs who has stolen billions from their own people and killed and slaughtered thousands. Those are not events, they are the murderous actions of some sick criminals.

Soudan : Les civils en butte aux attaques dans la lutte confuse pour le Darfour L’ONU devrait imposer des sanctions si Khartoum poursuit ses attaques et sa politique d’obstruction     (New York, le 20 septembre 2007) – Alors que les Nations Unies et l’Union[…]

If you're interested in continued business and care very little for or even recognize the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, be sure to visit:"BERLIN - A conference entitled "Iran - Business Opportunities for German Exporters" is opening tomorrow in Darmstadt, Germany, under the auspices of the Hessian state government and an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, and to the chagrin of Israeli diplomats, who have accused Berlin of sending a message of "business as usual" to the regime in Tehran."Today from Berlin chief government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said:"We are adhering to efforts for a negotiated diplomatic solution, all other options are not presently at disposition."The question will likely remain; would serious and invasive economic sanctions deter negative moves on the part of Iran with regard to its nuclear ambitions? We'll probably never know, however, were Iran's number one trading partner play along, adherence to "efforts for a negotia

The lies about domestic violence Some time in the early 90's feminists brought statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice to Senator Joseph Biden regarding domestic violence and intimate partner abuse. I'm not clear on what the precise stat was, but it was something to the effect that nearly all of the DV phone calls made to the police were women calling to report their abusive husbands and boyfriends. Senator Biden accepted this information from the feminists and drafted a law which was eventually voted in and passed in 1994. The law is called The Violence Against Women Act, more commonly known as VAWA. The problem with this law is the fact that it only protects females and labels males the sole perpetrators. What does this mean for men? Your female partner can hit, punch, shove, slap or even pepper spray you, and as long as she tells the police she "felt threatened" (yes, VAWA says that specifically) YOU get arrested and NOT HER. I can not stress that enough. Men get arrested

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Oklahoma isn’t looking for sympathy. The Sooners’ latest run-in with the NCAA is nothing compared to what they overcame last season. This month, the NCAA ruled that the Sooners must vacate eight victories from the 2005 season and cut two scholarships for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. The sanctions stem from the case involving quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, who were kicked off the team in August for being paid for work they didn’t perform more…

Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif look set to escape any further doping sanctions after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it was unable to hear their case. In a statement released today, CAS said it was forced to dismiss an appeal brought by the World Anti-Doping Agency since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not recognise the court in its regulations. Shoaib and Asif were handed two-year and one-year bans in November 2006 by the PCB's Anti-Doping Commission after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, but the punishment was controversially lifted one month later by the board's Anti-Doping Appeals Committee. Announcing its decision "with considerable regret", CAS said its rules "require that a direct reference to the CAS be contained in the statutes or regulations of the body whose decision is being appealed." Reuters

Sanctions this week on the Sudanese government mark a much-needed victory for the Bush administration. The on-going violent situation in Sudan's Darfur has been declared a genocide. The world and popular media has paid little attention, except when "pop" stars like Angelina Jolie make a comment about it in Hollywood. President Bush announced the sanctions last Tuesday from the White House. For

By CLARENCE ROY-MACAULAYThe Associated PressWednesday, May 30, 2007; 12:57 PMLUNGI, Sierra Leone -- Britain supports a U.S. proposal to impose U.N. sanctions against the government of Sudan for its role in Darfur's bloodshed, a spokesman for Tony Blair said Wednesday as the prime minister arrived in Sierra Leone.President Bush announced Tuesday the United States would draft the U.N. resolution, saying the Sudanese government has been complicit in atrocities against civilians and has been uncooperative with international efforts to end the Darfur crisis.Britain "fully supports U.S. efforts to address the desperate situation in Darfur in the Security Council," the spokesman said before Blair arrived in Lungi, near Sierra Leone's capital of Freetown."We hope that all members of the (U.N. Security Council) will work with the U.S. to create a resolution which will effectively address the challenges in Darfur," he said on condition of anonymity in line with British government policy.Aides

President George W. Bush is keeping a promise to follow through on recommendations for ending the genocide in Darfur, suggesting more aggressive actions are needed. This is probably an issue that most Americans can agree on. From the far left to the far right, there’s very little wiggle room in the debate. The world knows Sudan’s president Omer al-Bashir has not “met his obligations” to stop the killing, as Bush declared during a Tuesday address in Washington, D. C. Estimates place the number of dead at more than 400,000. Before Bush even spoke, Voice of America reported that Sudanese officials were calling the sanctions “unjustified.” Bush says the U.S. Treasury Dept. will add 30 companies owned or controlled by the government of Sudan to a list of Specially Designated Nationals. Another company that has transported weapons to the Sudanese government and militia forces is also being added to the list. This action means none of these companies can participate in the U.S. f

Minister of Oil Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said on Thursday that sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iran on the international level will provide domestic industries with a good chance of development. According to Oil Ministry's Public Relations Department, Hamaneh made the remark in an address to the Seminar of the Entrepreneurs of Oil Industry. Hamaneh said that Iran has now provided exceptional opportunity for employers, contractors and consultants to benefit from vast national technical and engineering potential for the sake of development. Turning to firm determination of the ninth government to use domestic potential, Hamaneh said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the cabinet underline the need for exploiting domestic technical and engineering abilities. He referred to the goals of the 20-Year Vision Plan, noting that with envisaged projects as well as plans and investments made in the country, the avenue is prepared for domestic contractors to contribute to implementation of th

Minister of Oil Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said on Thursday that sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iran on the international level will provide domestic industries with a good chance of development. According to Oil Ministry's Public Relations Department, Hamaneh made the remark in an address to the Seminar of the Entrepreneurs of Oil Industry. Hamaneh said that Iran has now provided exceptional opportunity for employers, contractors and consultants to benefit from vast national technical and engineering potential for the sake of development. Turning to firm determination of the ninth government to use domestic potential, Hamaneh said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the cabinet underline the need for exploiting domestic technical and engineering abilities. He referred to the goals of the 20-Year Vision Plan, noting that with envisaged projects as well as plans and investments made in the country, the avenue is prepared for domestic contractors to contribute to implementation of th

File this one under WhodathunkitFrom the Jerusalem PostSarkozy calls to tighten sanctions on Teheran"French President Nicholas Sarkozy called Wednesday for sanctions on Iran to be tightened if the country does not adhere to the West's demands to cease its nuclear agenda. If Iran attains nuclear weapons, Sarkozy warned, a road to an arms race will be paved that could endanger Israel and southeast Europe, he said during an interview with a German magazine. Sarkozy announced that France will join the official US-led struggle against head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei, who recommended that Iran be allowed to enrich uranium in some of its nuclear plants. On Tuesday, American officials urged allies to back a formal protest against ElBaradei, saying his comments could hurt UN Security Council efforts to pressure Teheran over its enrichment program."Looks like we have our old ally back.

The economic one, two punch of sanctions on Iran would do much to weaken the already pathetic wallet that is Iran. However, without the 100% compliance of the member states it is as hollow a threat as any other from the United Nations. Whether it is threats of action, military action, or sanctions the UN is about as worthless as a wooden nickel. “WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Companies and government agencies in three dozen countries have struck more than $153 billion in deals with Iran since 2000, investment that could offer important leverage to help persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear program, a new study says.The research by the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank may be the most comprehensive attempt to publicly identify corporate and government investors whose withdrawal could potentially affect Iran's nuclear policy.The data comes as the U.N. Security Council considers new sanctions against Iran and momentum grows in the U.S. Congress and in state legislatu

On April 18, 2007, senior Treasury and State Department officials testifying before Congress were criticized for failing to employ sufficiently tough economic sanctions against Iran. This failure was partly attributed to Washington’s fear of upsetting foreign allies. Ironically enough, the Bush administration could use such congressional pressure as leverage in its efforts to forge effective [...]

Victor Comras is one of a number of distinguished witnesses who will testify at a special Congressional hearing today on the subject, “Isolating Proliferators and Sponsors of Terror: The Use of Sanctions and the International Financial System to Change Regime Behavior.” Two U.S. House subcommittees of the Foreign Affairs and the Financial Services Committees [...]

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the sanctions imposed by the UN on Iran over its nuclear program were not the main goal as they were a persuasive measure to make the country ready to negotiate. "The sanctions are not the main goal. The sanctions must be persuasive in nature to make the country change its position through negotiations," the president said when delivering a speech at a function commemorating the Prophet Muhamnmad`s birthday here Friday night. According to the president, the process to settle the Iran nuclear crisis was still underway and the Indonesian government would continue calling on all parties to show fair attitudes and prioritize dialogs or negotiations.

Tough U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme could create instability in the Middle East, Indonesia's president said on Friday. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he had called the Iranian and South African presidents to discuss a draft U.N. resolution on sanctions against Iran, drafted by Germany and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. "We view that the situation in the Middle East is already very tense and every move on Iran or other Middle East countries, if not carefully thought over and calculated, could create new problems," Yudhoyono told reporters. While major powers said their proposed text was a final version, changes are still likely before a vote that British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said was planned for Saturday. The resolution demands Iran halt uranium enrichment that can be used to build a bomb or for peaceful purposes. The United States and other nations suspect Iran might be developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian

The American Coptic Union is calling for sanctions against Egypt for their discrimination against them. Here's a newsletter from SliwaNews: American Coptic Union Calls for U.S. Sanctions Against Egypt Escalating Oppression Seeks to Destroy Coptic Christians Contact: R. Iscandar, American Coptic Union, 201-798-1451JERSEY CITY , NJ , Mar. 20 -- The U.S. has turned a blind eye to Coptic Christians, as they continue to suffer human rights abuses under Egypt 's regime. In lieu of the escalating violence and oppression against the Copts, the American Coptic Union is asking Congress to intervene on behalf of those victimized, and impose economic sanctions against Egypt . Since the current U.S. foreign policy appeases Egypt 's regime actions against Coptic Christians, it will inevitably endanger America 's interests in Egypt and the Middle East because the eventual eradication of Coptic Christians in Egypt will cause the U.S. to lose its political leverage in the region.Recent Acts of

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Friday that new sanctions won’t force Iran to give up its right to enrich uranium, and he blasted the U.N. Security Council as an instrument used by “bullying” Western nations against Tehran. “We have achieved the nuclear fuel cycle. We won’t give it up under pressure. You can’t stop the Iranian nation from this path through meetings,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by state media.But even as he reiterated Tehran would pursue the controversial enrichment program, he has asked to speak before the U.N.’s most powerful body on the day the Security Council votes on a new resolution on stepped up sanctions against his country. Security Council members have raised no objections to Ahmadinejad’s request, said South Africa’s U.N. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, who holds the rotating council presidency. Source You know, I doubt many (with any intelligence) in the US believe that

When God sanctions killing, the people listen New research published in the March issue of Psychological Science may help elucidate the relationship between religious indoctrination and violence, a topic that has gained renewed notoriety in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. About this Image Aztec priest war god HuitzilopochtliIn the article, University of Michigan psychologist Brad Bushman and his colleagues suggest that scriptural violence sanctioned by God can increase aggression, especially in believers.The authors set out to examine this interaction by conducting experiments with undergraduates at two religiously contrasting universities: Brigham Young University where 99% of students report believing in God and the Bible and Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam where just 50% report believing in God and 27% believe in the bible.After reporting their religious affiliation and beliefs, the participants read a parable adapted from a relatively obscure passage in the King J

Nothing much to say on this except that it feels like the same old tepid response from the UN which will not change the situation. As it takes all of the permanent members (P5) to approve a resolution, at least the fact that both China and Russia signed on to it shows some unity among the P5. China and Russia are the closest allies North Korea has right now, but even they can't (or won't) lay the

And yet, "Mickey D'Orsay", as Phillipe Douste-Blazy is nicknamed, proved to be as bad and insulting as his own boss, Chirac. From the AP Wire:PARIS - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ended his European tour Saturday without persuading any country to end crippling economic sanctions based on his power-sharing deal with the rival Islamic militant Hamas.The bright spot in his trip was a promise Saturday from French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy to work with a government that includes Hamas and Abbas' more moderate Fatah party. His comments were more positive than those of other European leaders during Abbas' four-country tour. But Douste-Blazy made no commitments on resuming aid frozen since Hamas won parliamentary elections a year ago.Enough pushing the "moderate" tommyrot already, AP. As for Douste-Blazy, while he may not have made any commitments on aid, he's still a disgrace if he's willing to work with Abbas (and I wouldn't be surprised if Britain's government was

United Nations, Zimbabwe warned on Thursday that a proposed UN resolution imposing sanctions on its leadership because of a violence-marred election could start a civil war and turn the country into another Somalia. The warning, in a letter to the Security Council from Zimbabwe's UN mission, came as disagreements continued within ...