H.R. 1400 Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 [1] was introduced by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) on 3/8/2007 and passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 397-16. This latest Congressional ruse was just like many other Bills and Resolutions with clever and appealing titles like USA PATRIOT [2] or Clear Skies Act [3] which were initiated and passed, sometimes with little to no debate and away from any meaningful media attention or public scrutiny.
The first paragraph introduces the resolution as “A Bill to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by imposing additional economic sanctions and for other purposes.”
The word “diplomatic” is derived from “diplomacy” which is the art of international mediation or negotiation for the purpose of maintaining peaceful relations. Imposing sanctions on a country to enhance diplomatic efforts is as absurd a notion as bombing to preserve peace or engaging in sexual assault to preserve virginity.
In an effort to lay the groundwork for the necessity of such action, under Section 2 titled ‘U.S. Policy toward Iran’, it finds that “The prospect of Iran achieving nuclear arms represents a grave threat to the United States, its allies in the Middle East, Europe, and globally” citing an statement made by Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of Iran on December 14, 2001 that “it is not irrational to contemplate” use of nuclear weapons as solid proof that Iran would indeed attack its neighbors and others if armed with nuclear weapons.
So the rational conclusion from that line of reasoning would be that any time a politician or former politician from a country makes an irresponsible remark that may be interpreted as a threat, the proper “diplomatic” response would be to impose sanctions and have your own president [4] and other politicians [5] take turns at making similar threats toward that nation with the major difference of having the means to deliver on those words and regardless of the fact that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports have repeatedly confirmed Iran’s compliance with the terms of Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and praised [6] its full cooperation with that UN agency.
Despite its disingenuous boiler plate disclaimer that “nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorizing the use of force or the use of the U.S. Armed Forces against Iran”, this resolution provides the U.S. president just the loophole he needs to claim full authority for taking hostile action under the guise of conducting the ongoing “global war on terror”.
Buried in all the new tighter sanctions, mandatory restrictions, expanded definitions, and authorizations; under Title 4, Section 401 it states that “120 days after the enactment of this Act, the President shall determine whether the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps should be designated as a foreign terrorist organization; placed on the list of specially designated global terrorists;” and here is the old coveted favorite phrase “on the list of weapon of mass destruction proliferators”. Assigning Mr. Bush to make such a determination is like putting an arsonist in charge of a bucket brigade.
While H.R. 1400 may not be as explicit as the Iraq war resolution H.J.R. 114 [7] passed in October 2002, it is just what the war-mongers in this administration needed to clear the way for an open and far more catastrophic confrontation with Iran at a time of their choosing.
[1] //www.aipac.org/Publications/SourceMaterialsC...
[2] //www.eff.org/patriot/20020925_patriot_act.ph...
[3] //www.epa.gov/air/clearskies/CSA2003shortsumm...
[4] //www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-08-13...
[5] //www.wsws.org/articles/2007/jun2007/repu-j07...
[6] //www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/30/349...
[7] //www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf
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If US has any credibility
by HOPE is verified (not verified) on Sat Sep 29, 2007 04:35 AM PDTIf US has any credibility left in the world today is because of peace loving people like
Mr. Pourkesali .
Thank you sir.
So many reasons to protect Iran from an attack
by Nazanin Ghasemian on Sat Sep 29, 2007 11:06 AM PDTHere is one reason:
//www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=560341Iran is a great country, despite what frustrated people like the one below consistently say.
I think what Daniel is pointing out is important.
Most Americans, especially Iranian-Americans are unaware of the implications of HR 1400. These bills carry major consequences.
Supercockroach "Daniel"
by rednick's nth cousin (not verified) on Fri Sep 28, 2007 03:51 PM PDTStop desecrating a good Judeo-christian name like
Daniel. You are a hostile alien-terrorist cockroach
infesting this great country, and you'll be exterminated like the rest of your cockroach relatives!
Go crawl back up some mullah's arsehole from whence
you came. Your garbage shit is fit for consumption
by your relative cockroaches.
As for Iranian productivity, anyone iterested can
see for themselves in the statistics from the U.N.,
the World Bank, or the State Department: For a country
with its vast natural resources, Iran's productivity
is one of the lowest in the world, and it's rate of
brain drain the highest in the world.
Thanks to your relative mullah cockroaches, Iran
will shortly be chopped up into Iranstan and a bunch
of other poverty-stricken "stans". Really productive!
Thank you
by Daniel M Pourkesali on Fri Sep 28, 2007 08:19 AM PDTThank you Ali, Tinoush, and Nazanin for your positive remarks and contributions. It's always good hearing encouraging words from true patriots. And you're absolutely correct about the sad state of these nameless, spineless cowards that constantly litter these feedback column sections.
But their pitiful existence does actually serve a purpose. It is a barometer of how effective my article has been. Their behavior is very much like those cockroaches depicted in that offensive cartoon lurking in the dark sewer of their hate and ignorance until shined upon by the bright light of truth and facts which scurry them out of hiding.
How dare you?
by Nazanin Ghasemian on Fri Sep 28, 2007 05:46 AM PDTIranians are busy working hard to look after their families, like most people in the world.
The oil wars
by redneck's nth cousin from ol' 'bamie (not verified) on Fri Sep 28, 2007 05:20 AM PDTIt's about oil? Really? No kidding!
Thanks for restating the grossly OBVIOUS,- yet
again! The way it's been for the last 150 years!
Yeah, it comes down to who's stealing the oil money,-
the the mullahs and the forty theives, or the oil
company cartels.
Either way, it sure ain't gona go to its rightful
owners,- the people of Iran,- they're too busy
kissing their mullahs' asses and shouting "Death
to America", really productive lives!
In addition
by @Peace (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 09:53 PM PDTIn addition,
Salute and Great post Mr. Pourksali.
It's The Oil, Stupid! -- SALIVATE
by @Peace (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 07:53 PM PDTHere is the sentence in the 531-page memoir of former Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan, "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil."
IRAN has it US wants it. SALIVATE!
Forget about democracy, them wrappers are old packaging the inew one is “Nuclear” and the very latest “they are killing our boys”.
Ask, what are you doing in Iraq! Who Sponsored the war; those dual citizen Zionist.
But you would not know it if it was stock up your azz.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfHeYsI3UXc&eurl=ht...
Most Iranians will be very happy to have normal relationship with US.
Peace
war
by redneck's nth cousin from ol' 'bamie (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 07:32 PM PDTIt is common knowledge that, under well-established
international laws, customs and practices, a foreign
embassy is considered an inviolable part of the
sovereign territory of that foreign country.
The embassy is a sacrosanct space, protected by all
international laws and agreements, and cannot be
invaded or intruded into by any agents, persons or
other representatives of the host country.
Any unauthorized entrance into the embassy's premises
by any person or agent of the host country IS AN
OVERT ACT OF INVASION AND AN ACT OF WAR.
By invading the U.S. embassy in 1979, the IRI put
itself in a state of war against the U.S., and this
was rightly considered to be a declaration of war by
the IRI against the United States.
Therefore there has been an ongoing war between the IRI and the U.S. for the last 28 years.
This war is now rapidly approaching the phase when
the U.S. is about to strike back with full military
force.
There are no surprises here: It's only a question
of when, and with which weapons. The time has come
to pay for that despicable invasion and continued
occupation of U.S. territory. We rednecks are ready
to pay you back,- big time!
ONe of these shamless
by abc (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 07:10 PM PDTONe of these shamless professor saw the light and first denied and then resigned from CASMII:
Islamic Republic apologist Mohammad Navab, currently on board of directors of NIAC (National Iranian-American Council) - well known apologists for the fundamentalist regime, has apparently resigned from CASMII where he was serving as a director!
In fact, he has denied even being a member!!
Do these regime apologists think that their crimes will not be exposed? Do they think that once the revolution succeeds and the Mullahs are out of the governmental palaces, we are simply going to forget that they stood up and defended this criminal regime?!
CASMII WATCH:
//www.vigilantfreedom.org/910blog/2007/08/23/...
//cityboyblog.com/2007/08/24/mohamad-navab-no...
jibba jabba 2:more rhetoric from the west
by william warden (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 06:59 PM PDTi am american but i've been told that iran is the greatest nation in the world, and that america stole your democracy. i hope that we may continue to communicate and learn this world together, aside from the political 'theatre' that cloud our peoples judgement. i am not iranian or of any middle eastern ethnic background. actually, i am native american. my people have been here as long as time and continue to do so no matter how dire things are for us here in the u.s. there are many peacefull americans but we are bullied and threatened from within...usually long before our leaders percieve any kind of global-economic threat in any other nation. maybe it's our nature as a nation to consume...i mean more than other nations. don't get me wrong, politics confuse me and i do not have a great education. but be weary and skeptical of our people and what may be percieved in mainstream media. please, i wish for peace and understanding. so let's tread lightly and maybe we won't be thrown into another catastrophy like a major war, and when our leaders make comments about any other people from other nations based only on emotion and fake glory, may we overcome such boasts as we all deserve better, right?
GO TO HELL POURKESALI
by Anonymous1 (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 06:45 PM PDTTHANK YOU PARTHIAN, THANK YOU MOSHTABA, THANK YOU MD, JD.. BUT A SPECIAL THANKS TO ABC....YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE RESTORED MY FAITH IN THE OPPOSITION.
THIS NOUCHEH...LACKEY, ISLAMIC SAVAKI, POURKESALI AND HIS TYPE ARE PAID BY THE REGIME. WHAT MAKES THE SITUATION SO SAD IS THAT THESE NEO-ISLAMIC APOLOGISTS ARE ACTUALLY VERY INTELLIGENT, ELLOQUENT, AND HIGHLY EDUCATED. THIS IS WHAT MAKES THEM ALSO VERY DANGEROUS.
PLEASE MY HAMVATANS DONT LISTEN TO THESE LACKEY...THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT IRAN OR IRANIANS...THEY CARE ONLY FOR THEIR PAYCHECKS AND THE HAND THAT FEEDS THEM (MULLAHS).
OF COURSE THEY WILL HIDE BEHIND NATIONALISM, THEY EVEN SLIGHTLY CRITICIZE THE REGIME, BUT THEIR GOAL IS ULTIMATELY TO BUY SYMPATHY FOR THE REGIME BY CREATING FEAR AMONG OUR COUNTRYMEN.
I THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR READING INTO HIS FACADE. JUST AS AFTER THE OVERTHROW OF THE SHAH A LIST OF SAVAKI NAMES WERE REVEALED TO ALL...SO WILL THE DAY COME WHEN SCUMS LIKE POURKESALI WILL BE REVEALED FOR THE MULLAH LACKEYS THAT THEY ARE.
BY THE WAY NON OF US ON THE AIPAC PAY ROLL OR FORMER SALTANATIS WE JUST KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE AND MAY YOU BURN IN HELL POURKESALI AND FELLOW MULLAH SUPPORTERS.
jibba jabba
by william warden (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 06:40 PM PDTthere is too many similarities in hollywood and american media. first of all it has always framed everyone elses problem as our own though the propoganda minions and puppet masters who control either one speak and point out insignificant and nearly imaginary insults or lack of reason...did i say reason? thats a western word for democracy here in the states. basically, news is just entertainment.. and i read on someone's blog here that democracy is a means to interfear with a nations development, i mean, if that nations economic development doesn't do something to improve our own, because...we all have to live together right. i know this is just rambling, but aside from our leader's uninvolvement in it's own people's suffering, it just seems like indeviduals are not to speak up unless they want to pay for it, either by fighting for your nation or stomaching every little demand by the 'powerful ones' who threaten to take away the freedom that has already been tainted by it's policies....confused. well, obviously so am i...and america. thanks for your time and long live rock and roll. goodnight.
It is a well know fact that
by abc (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 06:17 PM PDTIt is a well know fact that the Islamic Republic has been very smart in using its money in influencing not only the international opinion by placing lackeys (psuedo-intellectuals, fake opposition websites ,fake dissidents, paid and bought professors in prestigious universities, paid and bought journalist, paid and bought bloggers, etc.) but also to make it as difficult as possible for any real opposition to come to surface.
It seems like most of the time is spent on fighting apologists than the regime itself, perhaps a change is needed there? we should start by ignoring fearmongers such as Mr. D...
To Surgical Strikes
by M.D. Ph.D. J.D. (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 05:44 PM PDTI would submit to you that even if, let's say, 100,000 of the regime and their supporters were to be killed in the process, I would say it's worth it. Iran has 70 million people. 100,000 criminals is less than tenth of a percent. I say go surgical strike and bomb 100,000 of the regime and their nochehs...
Surgical strikes
by Vaghe-Bean (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 05:31 PM PDTNo worries. Iran will not be hit like Iraq--different circumstances, context, etc. Most likely some SF units will sneak inside the border and ID sensitive targets for the cruise missles.
Re: Texas man who grabs the bull by the horns
by CowmanAss (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 05:02 PM PDTCowman,
God bless America always. But fu... and as..le like you put this country in shame!
Texas man who grabs the bull by the horns
by Cowman (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 04:05 PM PDTI am a red-neck American from Texas.
I know there a few good Iranians out there and most of them have already become Americanized and assimilated well into the American society.
For the sake of the world peace and tranquility, America should make a one flat parking lot out of the Islamic Republic of mullahs then take over the oil fields and build a permanent base in Iran until the entire society assimilate to the American way of life.
God Bless America and Texas
great post
by tinoush on Thu Sep 27, 2007 04:05 PM PDTKeep up the great job. And the people who support the sanctions should know that they are supporting misery upon the ordinary Iranians and strength for their oppressors. History is a great teacher and if they would only look at the 10 years of genocidal sanctions imposed on Iraq, they would see the same outcome. Ordinary Iraqis suffered while Saddam gained strength and politician in US and UK scored political points.
Excellent post...and ignore the AIPAC agents post here
by no_name (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 03:59 PM PDTSir,
Excellent post. Though we all, dislike the IRI, we even hate the idea of turning Iran into another Iraq.
The other posters here, are either AIPAC agents, MKO, or ignorant decedents who have not followed the current event in the past several years.
If anyone here thinks, that turning Iran into Iraq removes the mullahs, brings a higher level of democracy , improves the lives in Iran, or makes the region more stable, you are an IDIOT.
The plans it turn Iran into Iraq, and people in California are too busy partying that are not paying any attention to these grave issues.
WAKE UP!
One more thing..
by Parthian on Thu Sep 27, 2007 03:31 PM PDTWhy do you IR thugs continually complaining about the U.S sanctions? I thought economics are for donkeys. I thought the revolution was not about the price of tomato. Most importantly, I thought IR wanted to be independent, don't you guys have a direct line with that 9th century wonderful lad who went hiding in a well, and will someday make everything right? I thought especially our beloved president had a direct line with him? This is the government of Allah, and his representatives on earth, why do you have to depend so much of U.S? why are IR cronies like you always condemning the U.S for what it legitimately has the right to do, namely not trade with another country! Government of Allah does not, and should not need the western made goods of U.S.
Danny boy, all your articles are good for two things, to wipe one's ass in the bathroom or better yet, folding them, taking them to that well, and sending it to Imam zaman. He will defeat all kinds of HR you don't like.
go to islamic republic
by moshtaba (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 03:20 PM PDTmr Pourkesali why don't you go and live in your beloved islamic republic. in your every article you defend this regime, why do you live in west anyway.
your kind of people are in power in iran anyway.
Re: H.R. 1400: A recipe for war
by Ali (not verified) on Thu Sep 27, 2007 02:45 PM PDTAs long as the Iranian community in California sitting and waiting for monarchy to return and they don't act and protest Rep. Tom Lantos and recent act by the Governor we should expect the war. This community doesn't realize if our beloved country is attacked many mom's and dad's, brothers and sisters, grand parents would die too (Eva, khoda nekone is not the answer).
Guys call Rep. Lantos and condemn his act.
Just like all your other posts
by Parthian on Thu Sep 27, 2007 02:39 PM PDTIn a typical degenerate fashion, you exagerrate everything! Sanctions are not a recipe for war. IR is been under sanctions by the U.S for the past 29 years, and there has not been any war between the two. Don't exagerate, finally U.S is putting some teeth into these sanction regimes. Get over it, your mullahs have to leave, their regime must be destroyed, and Americans can help the Iranian people to achieve that. U.S is an indepedent country, it has a right to formulate its own policy on trades. If it does not like Iran, it has every right not to trade with it, it also has the right to exercise its influence and power to dissuade others from dealing with your masters in Tehran. That is the right of U.S, and Iranians should not be complaining about it. You are a disgrace to both Iran, and U.S. because your interest lies with neither of those countries, but with bunch of savages who rule Iran. It is about time they are held accountable for their actions.
If your beloved had 1/100 of the power that U.S has at its disposal, and there was a country like Iran messing with their holy soldiers some where on this planet, they would have nuked that country few times over. U.S with all its shortcomings has reacted with much constraint with regards to the mullahs. I know if my boys were getting killed by a bunch of mad looney mullahs, I would have bombed each one of them(not the Iranian people) out of existance.
Mullahs have been getting away with it, and sooner or later they will have to face the consequences of they have been doing for the past 29 years. Sanctions are an excellent way punishing those degenerate, illiterate bazaree bastards who have exploited the Iranian masses in the past 30 years, filling their, and their masters' pockets.