New US sanctions bill targets Iran's partners(Senate agrees early Sat am)

[maddezmom]

~snip~

The bill that passed by the Senate in pre-dawn hours Saturday by voice vote and cleared the House of Representatives a day earlier came as Iran and the European Union are engaged in delicate negotiations designed to persuade Iran to halt its enrichment work and avoid a major international showdown.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to confer with EU foreign policy coordinator Javier Solana and her counterparts from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia over the weekend to take stock of progress reached in these talks.

Following the carrot-and-stick approach adopted by Washington, the Iran Freedom Support Act states that it should be the policy of the United States "not to bring into force an agreement for cooperation with the government of any country that is assisting the nuclear program of Iran or transferring advanced conventional weapons or missiles."

The measure calls for this policy to remain in effect until Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities, committed to verifiably and permanently refrain from such nuclear work in the future or the targeted country has severed ties with its Iranian partners.

The president has been granted the right to waive provisions of the bill, if he finds that US national security interests warrant it.

more:http://uk.news.yahoo.com/30092006/323/new-sanctions-bill-targets-iran-s-partners.html

[HereSince1628]

1. So, just what did we promise to help Russia with, anyway?

And is this cooperation as of the signing date or retroactive, thus taking away cooperation with Pakistan because of A.Q. Khan.

And is an executive signing statement planned to make specific exceptions for those who assist the Demander in Chief?

[MrPrax]

2. Ridiculous...

Clearly the move is aimed at escalating tensions and aimed at countries that might be in a position to negotiate a settlement. The PNAC gameplan moves merrily along without a political bump in the road.

Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and the top Democrat on the House International Affairs Committee, argued that the world should use every peaceful means possible "to defeat Iran's reckless nuclear military ambitions."

"If we fail to use the economic and diplomatic tools available to us, the world will face a nightmare that knows no end: a despotic, fundamentalist regime wedded both to terrorism and to the most terrifying weapons known to man," Lantos said.

It must be sweet being a rightwinger who happens to be a democrat -- you never catch flak and you never have to explain why you accept bogus intelligence reports as fact. You can actively promote an illegal war on behalf of the PNAC and no one is the wiser.

[katinmn]

3. I'm sure supporters will find an excuse for these votes, too.

America is one jaded country.

[acmavm]

4. Someone needs to tell Kindasleezy that America ain't the powerhouse

that it used to be. And the American government doesn't carry the clout and have the credibility it once did.

And who's fault is that?

[OneBlueSky]

5. unbelievable . . . now Congress is providing Bush with . . .

signing statements . . . he won't need to bother . . .

"The president has been granted the right to waive provisions of the bill, if he finds that US national security interests warrant it." . . .

unbelievable . . .

[teryang]

8. It's a lose-lose situation, they're looking for a way out

bushco can capitulate or wage war; sanctions aren't going to work - everyone has contracts on the table with Iran, including the EU 3.

if he starts a war - they can say I was for sanctions; which is meaningless under the circumstances. We are diplomatically isolated. This is a bad situation, bushco loses massive face or goes to war, again.

[thecrow]

6. "pre-dawn hours Saturday by voice vote "

In other words, after all the other senators had gone home to sleep, the RW senators had a "vote" that was not recorded and passed this thing?????????

Shouldn't something as important as this have had at least equal representation bu BOTH parties and a recorded vote???????

unfuckingbelievable

[oblivious]

7. Norm Coleman sounds like a madman.

In a separate statement, Senator Norm Coleman said: "The Iranians have demonstrated that they are deceitful, obstructionist and bent on destroying Israel and all of Western civilization.

There's no way of reasoning with wackos like Coleman that exaggerate beyond all reason.

[Moderator]

9. Kick

[spooked]

10. Bush Signs New Iran Sanctions Bill Targeting Iran's Allies

While we're busy talking about Foley, look what happened late yesterday:


With no debate on Saturday, the Senate passed and Bush signed the "Iran Freedom Support Act" also known as the "Iran Sanctions Bill"

This bill will now allow the US to sanction any country supplying Iran with goods or services that could be used in a nuclear program, and the bill is being seen as a clear warning to China and Russia.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=4E401556-E2DF-4BE2-913B-DF01A0E12BF7
President signs Iran sanctions bill

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/945EF42F-10AE-4B40-8AE0-EAE041476442.htm
US set to punish Iran's partners

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=110577&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17
US sanctions bill targets Iran allies

"Although it does not name any countries, the measure is seen as a clear warning to Russia and China, two key members of the UN Security Council that have been resisting calls for new international sanctions against Tehran in response to its refusal to halt uranium enrichment...

The bill, passed by the Senate in the pre-dawn hours by voice vote after clearing the House of Representatives a day earlier, came as Iran and the European Union are engaged in delicate negotiations designed to persuade Iran to halt its enrichment work and avoid a major international showdown...

The Iranians have demonstrated that they are deceitful, obstructionist and bent on destroying Israel and all of Western civilisation. We know where this path is going to lead. Aiding Iran to become a nuclear power, even inadvertently, is unacceptable..."

[xchrom]

11. lol -- r-i-i-i-ig-h-t, we're going to sanction china.

not in this life time.

[JCMach1]

12. This cannot be enforced

Shipping goes into Iran without sanction all the time. This includes indirect imports from the US via the UAE (see it every day). You would have to have a blockade to have any effect.

[INdemo]

13. This a Hoax...

[bemildred]

14. Posturing.

The Bushites had to do something, they were looking impotent.

[leftchick]

16. Viagra would work better.

:)

[bemildred]

18. I did NOT need to think about that ...

:hi:

[leftchick]

19. me either

:hi:

[leftchick]

15. lol! The US is threatening China?

I believe China has had the US by the balls for a few years now.

:rofl:

[FloridaPat]

17. Is Halliburton still supplying items to Iran? Are we going to sanction

ourselves?

[spooked]

20. Bill will also fund pro-democracy radio and television in Iran!

While their at it, Air America Radio could use a grant!


http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/10/01/bushsanctiona.shtml
U.S. Bush Signs Sactions Bill Against Iran’s Partners Targeting Russia, China

"Under the measure, the U.S. government may also award grants to pro-democracy radio and television stations that broadcast into Iran."

[0007]

21. A no fly zone will be the next rhetoric - junior is showing the

world that he is dangerously insane.

When you’re dealing with a creature, like junior, as insidious as a suppressive, you’d better know how to spot his 1.1 behavior before he can wreak any havoc with the world! Or is it too late?