How Smart Are the Iran Sanctions?
AntiWar / Joy Gordon
16-Sep-2010 (9 comments)

In the face of the rising hysteria regarding Iran’s development of its nuclear power facilities, there is talk of preemptive military strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, sanctions on Iran – by both the UN Security Council and the United States – have become increasingly harsh. And to the extent they are successful, these sanctions will harm the wrong people and have little impact on the political leadership.

Yet another round of sanctions doesn’t seem to have caused Iran to buckle. After the Security Council imposed new sanctions in June, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad compared the new resolutions to “a used handkerchief that should be thrown in the waste bin,” and Iran’s envoy to the IAEA said that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program “will not be suspended, even for a second.”

Such responses are not surprising. In general sanctions do not work, in any regard. Almost invariably, they impact the poorest and most vulnerable, while the political and military leaders are insulated from their impact. Although the United States often views itself as providing a kind of moral leadership by sanctioning other nations, that view is almost never shared by the targeted population. Instead, sanctions trigger resentment and resistance among the population and produce greater support for the government in the face of attacks from outside.

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Sargord Pirouz

The inconvenient truth of

by Sargord Pirouz on Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:08 AM PDT

The inconvenient truth of the matter:

//www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php?lb=brme&pnt=652&nid=&id= 


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Bavafa

COP:

by Bavafa on Fri Sep 17, 2010 08:33 AM PDT

I agree partially with your assessment here and as why IRI is able to milk Iranians as much as they have so far.

Although I agree and believe Iranians in general are religious, but don't think they are fanatics (not implying you think this way). Therefore I don't believe the underlying reason for IRI to keep a grip on Iran is religion.

I believe one of the main reason we have not seen any [real] progress in getting rid of IRI is lack of trust and lack of REAL leadership. When you talk to ordinary Iranians inside Iran, they vastly (very vastly) hate IRI, yet they are not willing to risk their neck and they say for what or whom?

I just don't think Iranians see the light at the end of tunnel, they have been lied to and betrayed way too many times to trust. They are very distrustful of foreign interventions due to historical reason and other events around the world which give them enough ammunition. They have also seen how a revolution can turn to a devolution, how they were robbed from their aspirations for freedom and independence. And lastly perhaps cultural ignorance, as refusing to take responsibility for their own action (Taghsir englis hast) . It is always some one else's fault or a reason for their failure.

Finally in regards to the few shameless IRI supporters here, as you said and I agree, there are only a few of them here and they are of no consequence, just like the few on the opposite end of spectrum who cheer for bombing Iran. I pay no attention to them beside once in a while ridicule them for their hatred.

Mehrdad


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Cost-of-Progress

Mehrdad, the reason that IRI

by Cost-of-Progress on Fri Sep 17, 2010 07:58 AM PDT

is still milking Iran and her people is simple: Its called RELIGION.

Most of our people, even the self-appointed so called intellectuals with religious tendencies, embrace religion (islam in this case) as the pillar of their being. Time and again, you see folks posting right here on this site (and after being exposed to progressive ideas) outside Iran, who beat their chests and foam at the mouth for the glory of Islam and the divinity of charlatan clerics (grand or otherwise).

This is the very essence and platform on which these people base their existence. Unfortunately, those who oppose them - and there are many - have no means to assert their will and therefore are marginalized in the process. Those who can, leave, and those who can't, stay and keep their mouth shut so they can live and function in an obsurdly unjust scoiety. That's why shameless apologists here claim that there are only a fraction of population that actually oppose the filthy regime and even thsoe are the North Tehranis. The more people leave, the more the regime likes it. You see their shameless supporters here talka bout that from time to time.

This regime's lifeline is ignorance, not necessarily the kind that comes from being uneducated, but the kind that comes from decades and centuries of brainwashing and forceful conversion.

I know many educated and seemingly progressive folks who still believe that the Tazi book is their book and cherish the legacy of murder, rape, destruction and invasion. A book which they couldn't even understand had it not been for translations and interpretations by others with an ax to grind, or a score to settle.

Persian are hated by the arab world, yet we blindly follow their path to oblivion. 

____________

IRAN FIRST

____________


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Bavafa

Cyclicforward:

by Bavafa on Fri Sep 17, 2010 07:42 AM PDT

It is smart to ALMOST guarantee, otherwise one would wonder… if 99% of Iranians are guaranteed to do anything, how come they can not manage a simple strike which is the lease dangerous resistance to the people.

With such certainty as you describe, it is mind boggling as why IRI is still ruling over Iranians?

Thoughts are welcome

Mehrdad


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mahmoudg

precisely why sanctions wont work, and we need

by mahmoudg on Fri Sep 17, 2010 07:05 AM PDT

surgical military strikes.  Islamic Rapists will not leave our country voluntarily.  If they see no recourse they will commit genocides of unparalleled proportions to cling to power.  So the path of least resistence would be to attack their assets and military sites and break them down from within.


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پیام

IMF, since you are a traitor to Iran

by پیام on Fri Sep 17, 2010 01:37 AM PDT

Even though you are a non-Iranian, you must have enjoyed this article. lol


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cyclicforward

So the suggestion is

by cyclicforward on Fri Sep 17, 2010 01:02 AM PDT

That we should let IRI does whatever it wants. I can almost guarantee you that 99% of Iranians are willing to do anything just to get rid of this garbage called IRI.


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iamfine

You are right

by iamfine on Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:20 PM PDT

Just came back from Iran. The sanction is impacting poor and average Iranian. It will develop hate and resentment toward the USA.


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default

How smart of sanctions is it?

by IranMilitaryForum.net on Thu Sep 16, 2010 06:29 PM PDT

"There is nothing “smart” about such a strategy. A similarly
shortsighted approach in Iraq reduced funds for the military, but also compromised all critical public services dependent
on state funding. It led to layoffs of civil servants and the personnel
staffing electricity generation, water treatment, and telephone systems.
Teachers, doctors, educational supplies, and imported medicines for
schools and health clinics were all at risk."


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