Iran commander claims sanctions are helpful

Associated Press ^ | 7 Dec. 2012 8:32 AM ET | Ali Akbar Dareini

[Olog-hai]

A senior commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard claimed Friday that Western sanctions are helpful because they promote Iranian self-sufficiency and insisted the country’s leaders should welcome the measures.

Oil and trade embargoes have helped Iran reduce its reliance on the outside world, Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi told worshipers at Tehran University in a pre-sermon speech.

The remarks echoed the defiant mantra of Iranian conservatives who say the economy is strengthening and that Iran is developing more modern technologies—including building missiles, drones, satellites and advancing its uranium enrichment program—precisely because of the West’s punitive measures. …

[Olog-hai]

And all that aid from Russia, Red China et al that offsets any embargo hasn’t hurt either, right?

[Boogieman]

Sell a nation a scud, protect them for a day, teach them to build scuds, protect them for a lifetime?

[SunkenCiv]

Great, now imagine how much good we’ll do when the mullahs heads are all on poles along with everyone in the “Revolutionary” Guard. Thanks Olog-hai.

[trebb]

Gee - maybe it would be a good thing for the “47%” in our own country...