Posted on 09/08/2009 4:55:53 AM PDT by Jabrown
Since Israeli intelligence, working with an Iranian dissident group, first disclosed Iran's nuclear program in 2002, the United States and Europe have held one wild card up their sleeve in case diplomatic negotiations with Iran broke down. That wild card was a final sanction to be levied against gasoline imports into Iran. Western powers have always have always relied upon Iran's lack of refining capabilities as a final plan for choking the belligerent nation into submission. However, news surfacing in past days has intelligence officials concerned that gasoline sanctions will no longer apply enough pressure to challenge Iran's pursuit for nuclear weapons.
Since 2002, Iran has been engaged in a private war against UN inspectors by consistently testing the resolve of the UN and effectively buying time to increase its technology to produce weapons-grade nuclear materials. However, with a change in the U.S. administration and subsequent easing of pressure by President Obama, Iran has taken the opportunity to crack down upon dissent within its borders, violate international sanctions against weapons importation and taken the steps necessary to minimize the eventual impact of gasoline sanctions.
This past weekend,Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reached an agreement with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which Chavez would initially provide Iran with...
(Excerpt) Read more at politicallydrunk.blogspot.com ...
Challenge..Name one time sanctions have worked. Anywhere.
Embargoes that rely on the good will of the nations never work anyway. At some point greed and venality of weak willed nations prevail - most often with the euros (ref the oil for food scandal).
If we were serious we’d blockade Iran but O doesn’t have the stones for that, if indeed he wants the Iran nuke program to fail at all.
There is a much more effective way to stop venezuelian oil from reaching iran...”shipment lost at sea”. Give our nukes some target practice.
“As gasoline sanctions will no longer be effective, the only alternative is an embargo and subsequent blockade of Iran. Unfortunately, I believe we all know where that road will lead to.”
Chavez can’t ship enough if we can get cooperation from other countries not to deal with Iran.
Tell us where a blockade will lead
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.