White House opposed new Iran sanctions

[jimnyc]

This administration is weak on foreign policy, and unpredictable. They tout sanctions against Iran and claim no options are off the table to prevent them from producing nuclear weapons, and then act in a different manner. This is why so many of these crap countries wanted Obama re-elected.


The White House announced its opposition to a new round of Iran sanctions that the Senate unanimously approved Friday, in the latest instance of Congress pushing for more aggressive punitive measures on Iran than the administration deems prudent.

On Thursday, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which the Senate passed 94-0. The new legislative language would blacklist Iran's energy, port, shipping, and shipbuilding sectors, while also placing new restrictions on Iran's ability to get insurance for all these industries. The legislation would also vastly expand U.S. support for human rights inside Iran and impose new sanctions on Iranians who divert humanitarian assistance from its intended purpose.

"The window is closing. The time for the waiting game is over," Menendez said on the Senate floor Thursday night. "Yes, our sanctions are having a demonstrable effect on the Iranian economy, but Iran is still working just as hard to develop nuclear weapons."

But the White House told several Senate offices Thursday evening that the administration was opposed to the amendment. National Security Spokesman Tommy Vietor sent The Cable the administration's official position, explaining the White House's view the sanctions aren't needed and aren't helpful at this time.

"As we focus with our partners on effectively implementing these efforts, we believe additional authorities now threaten to undercut these efforts," he said. "We also have concerns with some of the formulations as currently drafted in the text and want to work through them with our congressional partners to make the law more effective and consistent with the current sanctions law to ensure we don't undercut our success to date."

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/11/30/white_house_opposed_new_iran_sanctions

[jafar00]

Well, they have a point. Tougher sanctions will only hurt the innocent as the current sanctions do nothing to deter the Iranians from their Nuclear Power scheme anyway.

[Kathianne]

Take the money from Egypt the US is 'giving' and give to Israel. It seems they will have to deal with Iran, the US won't.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Take the money from Egypt the US is 'giving' and give to Israel. It seems they will have to deal with Iran, the US won't.

Great ideals like that are never even allowed to be brought up in the obama destruction regime. -Tyr

[jimnyc]

Well, they have a point. Tougher sanctions will only hurt the innocent as the current sanctions do nothing to deter the Iranians from their Nuclear Power scheme anyway.

What you mean to say is, the Iranian government hurts their citizens by refusing to give up their ambitions of possessing nuclear weapons. It's a shame they would rather see their citizens suffer than work with the rest of the world, but I've seen the selfishness in many Islamic countries. Some live in splendor while those in charge couldn't give less of a shit about the rest of the country.

[fj1200]

Well, they have a point. Tougher sanctions will only hurt the innocent as the current sanctions do nothing to deter the Iranians from their Nuclear Power scheme anyway.

Sanctions are not a very effective method of coercing a country to your will.


What you mean to say is, the Iranian government hurts their citizens by refusing to give up their ambitions of possessing nuclear weapons. It's a shame they would rather see their citizens suffer than work with the rest of the world, but I've seen the selfishness in many Islamic countries. Some live in splendor while those in charge couldn't give less of a shit about the rest of the country.

It's not just the Iranians or even Muslim countries in general. Dictatorial regimes suck.

[jafar00]

What you mean to say is, the Iranian government hurts their citizens by refusing to give up their ambitions of possessing nuclear weapons. It's a shame they would rather see their citizens suffer than work with the rest of the world, but I've seen the selfishness in many Islamic countries. Some live in splendor while those in charge couldn't give less of a shit about the rest of the country.

Regardless of how the Iranian govt is treating their people, the sanctions are not working at all. If the sanctions end up indirectly hurting innocents because of a corrupt government, what is the point of having them? The sanctions were designed to halt the Iranian Nuclear Power program. Instead they have been EXPANDING it.

[Gaffer]

Regardless of how the Iranian govt is treating their people, the sanctions are not working at all. If the sanctions end up indirectly hurting innocents because of a corrupt government, what is the point of having them? The sanctions were designed to halt the Iranian Nuclear Power program. Instead they have been EXPANDING it.

What's the next logical step after sanctions don't work?

[jimnyc]

Regardless of how the Iranian govt is treating their people, the sanctions are not working at all. If the sanctions end up indirectly hurting innocents because of a corrupt government, what is the point of having them? The sanctions were designed to halt the Iranian Nuclear Power program. Instead they have been EXPANDING it.

It's hurting them, just not enough. Now they need to ramp things up so that they have no choice but to stop. It's either that, or send over jets and obliterate any hope they have of a nuclear weapon. Either way, the actions of their corrupt government will hurt their citizens, but they do have the ability in their hands to put it all to a halt. Don't blame that on the people trying to stop corruption from attaining nukes.

[jafar00]

It's hurting them, just not enough. Now they need to ramp things up so that they have no choice but to stop. It's either that, or send over jets and obliterate any hope they have of a nuclear weapon. Either way, the actions of their corrupt government will hurt their citizens, but they do have the ability in their hands to put it all to a halt. Don't blame that on the people trying to stop corruption from attaining nukes.

You know, I always wondered why the US or other power didn't offer to help the Iranians build a nuclear power generating infrastructure instead of just threatening them and accusing them of building a weapon?

I don't agree with any sanctions let alone ramping them up. History shows that sanctions only end up hurting the innocent when aimed at tyrannical regimes.

[jimnyc]

You know, I always wondered why the US or other power didn't offer to help the Iranians build a nuclear power generating infrastructure instead of just threatening them and accusing them of building a weapon?

I don't agree with any sanctions let alone ramping them up. History shows that sanctions only end up hurting the innocent when aimed at tyrannical regimes.

Iran has been an unreasonable country since nuclear technology to the household has been in business. Iran has been nothing but a pain in the worlds ass for as long as I can remember. I believe it's now, and always has been, up to them to come to the table with concessions to stop sanctions, not the other way around. The world has backed of harsher action for years now, waiting at that proverbial table to work with Iran for a better ending, and they've been flipping their nose at the world the whole time while continuing on a path that everyone knows will only lead to more sanctions. Even if they don't want the US involved in the development of anything, they can take the claws out by simply coming to the table and welcoming world inspectors without barring them from ANY area. That's the simplest of moves and impossible any issue could come from it - unless they have something to hide.

[Voted4Reagan]

Well, they have a point. Tougher sanctions will only hurt the innocent as the current sanctions do nothing to deter the Iranians from their Nuclear Power scheme anyway.you really are an unthinking mouthpiece for these people... arent you?

You spout the rhetoric better then they do!