Iran gobbles up U.S. wheat
By Tim Lister and Emily Smith CNN
Iran is buying American wheat for the first time in three years as it seeks to hedge against the growing impact of sanctions and weather-related crop shortages. Some 120,000 tonnes of hard red winter wheat grown in the Plains is on its way to the Islamic Republic, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The sale of another 60,000 tonnes has been finalized, according to trade sources, and Iran may ultimately buy some 400,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat this year.
The purchases are part of a massive effort by the Islamic Republic to build up its grain stockpiles amid growing difficulties in financing imports of everything from steel to palm oil. At the same time, Iranian companies are devising elaborate workarounds to find new markets for crude oil exports.
Exports of U.S. wheat to Iran are legal. U.S. and European sanctions against Iran exempt agricultural products. The major U.S. commodity traders - Bunge, Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill - won't comment on whether they were involved in the deals, but Cargill told CNN that it "does sell agricultural commodities to Iran as food is specifically excluded from the sanctions" implemented because of Iran's nuclear program.
"We take great care to ensure that these sales respect both the spirit and the letter of the law while trying to make sure that ordinary people are not deprived of basic foodstuffs," a Cargill spokeswoman said.
According to USDA figures, 1,564,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat were exported to Iran in 2008, when the country was suffering a drought, and 312,000 tonnes the following year. Iran has also bought smaller amounts of U.S. soybeans and corn.
Once again, analysts say dry weather is in part driving the sales.
"Iran's appetite is driven by drought, a desire to build up grain inventories and hedging against the future impact of sanctions," says Shelley Goldberg, director of global resources and commodities strategy at Roubini Global Economics. "Inventories were getting quite low last year."
State-owned and private Iranian companies are devising ways to overcome the shortage of hard currency, using barter, gold and currencies such as the Indian rupee and Russian rouble. Traders say it also appears that Iran's Central Bank has stepped in, making foreign exchange available to facilitate imports.
Iranian importers are also looking to Pakistan for several hundred thousand tonnes of rice and wheat this year as part of a complex barter deal. Pakistan has a wheat surplus.
A spokesman at Pakistan's Ministry of Water & Power, Tanveer Alam, told CNN Monday that Pakistan was planning to export one million tonnes of wheat in exchange for iron ore and fertilizer.
Such elaborate deals are making up for difficulties with more conventional trade relationships. "Even though wheat and agricultural products are not targeted by sanctions, there is a growing reluctance to do business with Iran. It's a case of bad karma,' says Goldberg.
In recent weeks, several cargoes of grain destined for Iranian ports have been diverted to other countries because of payment problems, according to commodity traders. U.S. and European sanctions against some 30 Iranian banks have produced what financial sources call a "chilling effect" - with banks and currency dealers less willing to provide letters of credit for Iranian imports and exports.
Over the weekend, Iran was further isolated from the global financial system when many of its banks designated by European sanctions were blocked from using SWIFT, the messaging system that supports international bank transfers. Those banks include Mellat, Post, Saderat and Sepah as well as the Iranian Central Bank.
Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz was quoted in Israeli media over the weekend as saying that cutting off SWIFT was a "dramatic step that is liable to bring about the collapse of Iran's economy."
Trading and banking sources contest that view, saying Iran has proved ingenious at circumventing sanctions and mitigating their effect. They said it is by regional standards a diversified and self-reliant economy.
The Islamic Republic is also finding new destinations for its crude oil, although analysts speculate that it often has to sell at a discount to market rates. Shipping sources say Iran is increasing deliveries to Asian customers - especially in China, South Korea and India - as the European Union prepares to ban all imports and Japan diversifies its sources of crude.
The European Union ban comes into effect from July 1. But that ban, agreed in January, might yet be revised to provide Iran a significant loophole.
Originally it covered Iranian crude carried on any ship insured in the European Union. More than 90% of the world's oil tankers are covered through insurance "clubs" in London. But one reinsurance source in London says he expects the proposed sanctions to be diluted when EU foreign ministers meet later this week to exempt ships that are owned outside the European Union even if insured there. This would make it easier to move Iranian crude.
India has lobbied for a revision of the sanctions regime and made it clear that it will only abide by U.N.-mandated measures.
Chinese shippers have already made it clear that they will continue to take Iranian crude and if necessary seek other sources of insurance. About one-fifth of Iran's crude exports go to China. Hong Kong media quoted a senior official of the China Shipping Development Co. as saying Friday that the Chinese government would take measures to ensure the volume of oil imports from Iran would not drop.
Even so, financial sanctions against Iran continue to complicate the country's trade.
In Gulf trading houses, the unofficial value of Iran's rial has declined by half over the past year. Currency exchange firms in the Gulf emirates are reluctant to trade in the rial for fear of being tainted by association with banks sanctioned by the United States and European Union.
CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
GOD WILL NOT HELP THEM THE WICKED JUDGMENT DAY
We need Leaders that put GOD then Family then Country in that order for with out GOD and Family NONE will have A Country.
Miss led Middle Easterners have threatened to kill and take measures against Christians sounds like bullying bad boys. That their Mother and Father never showed them right from wrong. All the good on Earth want peace Not War. If you cannot have your way you are going to hurt someone this sounds like a mad men to most of the world.
If someone really cares for them, give them a Bible with red letter print. That is a red letter edition words that were spoken by are Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. With a Pray for them the lost maybe they will be saved, and not go to hell.
Remember for over a Thousand years you have taken you life at risk from the
wicked for carrying a Bible. They have burned the Bible in public many times they have cut off the head of anyone carrying one many a times. They have bombed many a Christian Church, Killing many.
The Persecution of Christians in the Middle East has gone on for over two thousand years.
The Leaders of many Christian groups have criticizes Muslim leaders and Leaders of governments for failing to intervene after series of deadly attacks on Christians and their Churches in many countries around the World, each Christmas.
Killing at least 35 Christians Christmas day Church, Nigerian 2011. Killing over 20 Christians New Year's Eve mass Egypt 2011. 50 killed Christians at a Catholic Cathedral
Baghdad 2010. Over 200 injured Christians Imbaba region by Cairo 2011. The list goes on
and on and has for many years now. Have you for got so easy many American's like Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr. that was kidnapped and then beheaded in Saudi Arabia in 2004. While thousands gathered and prayed for the wicked to let him go, Till all heard the sound coming from THE PATRIOTIC TRUMPET PLAYER, Monica D. Key Lindbergh playing taps.
How many Muslim Churches have been attacked or bombed while they are in there
church by Christians? Answer 0
The World wants Peace not more wars.
If you think the wicked want peace read this then go look at some of their web sites!
There is a video on official Hamas TV that calls for Allah to all kill Jews, Christians,
Communists and any of their supporters they can find. This video asks Allah to "count
them and kill them to the last one, and don't leave even one."
Hamas TV. You will have Air mail incoming very soon. It is Very Sad you do not want
peace and ask for WAR.
If you think or believed that Israel-Iran relations will improve or Iran with The
Persecution of Christians World Wide.
Just read this
1997
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami,
called Israel an
"illegal state and a "parasite,"
The Iranian Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps,
"The IRGC"
Mohammad Ali Jafari
said "Israel was within the reach of Iranian missiles".
IRGC is listed by the U.S. Government and our CIA as a terrorist organization.
With many ties to an assassination campaigns in the
1980s and early 1990s with paid mercenaries from many countries
that targeted many opponents, and rigged elections.
December 2000
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei he has called Israel many things even went as far as to say it is a
"cancerous tumor" that should be removed from the region.
"Act Of War" against Israel.
JULY 2008
Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki said "that Israel was
not capable of an attack".
JULY 2008
Ahmadinejad.....he said, "The Iranian nation never recognized Israel
and will never ever recognize it.
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei he stated, "It is incorrect, irrational,
pointless and nonsense to say that we are friends of Israeli people...
we are on a collision course with the occupiers of Palestine and the
occupiers are the Zionist regime. This is the position of our regime,
our revolution and our people."
February 7, 2010, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said
"the destruction of Israel was assured" According to the daily newspaper Teheran Times.
Another "Act Of War" against Israel.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei,
said "that if Israel attacked Iran it would be destroyed within a week"
Iranian Funding of the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah
A mural in Tehran, Iran. The mural depicts the emblem of Lebanon's Hezbollah,
and quotes the founder of The Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, saying:
"Israel must be destroyed."
Another "Act Of War" against them.
Iran has been for years supplying weapons and political support to Hamas an
organization that is committed to the destruction of Israel by Jihad According
to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, "Hamas is funded
By Iran.
It has claimed it has been financed by peace loving donations, but the donations
they get are nothing at all like what it receives from Iran for its
Wicked Deeds and acts. All the Big Bankers of the World can see this.
Another "Act Of War" against Israel.
Iran is also supplying another enemy of Israel, the well know terrorist organization
Hezbollah with more then what you would call just a substantial amount of financial
support and weapons, explosives and training of how to use them and political,
diplomatic, and organizational aid while persuading Hezbollah to take wicked actions
against Israel. Hezbollah's 1985 manifesto listed its four main goals as "Israel's
final departure from Lebanon as a prelude to its final obliteration" According to
reports released in February 2010, Hezbollah has received $400 million dollars from
Iran. That the World knows about.
Another Clear "Act Of War" against Israel.
October 11, 2011 the CIA AND THE FBI Of the United States Of America stopped a
terrorist plot by the Iranian Government Leaders that included (bombing the Israeli
"as well as Saudi"
Embassies in Washington, DC and Buenos Aires).
All Nations involved do claim this as
An "Act Of War" against them.
Can you carry a Bible in Iran without them trying to kill you.
Devil at war with GOD.
Israel Will Strike Iran, British Intelligence is now saying.
The 43rd President George W. Bush’s National Security Adviser and Chief Foreign Policy
Adviser Stephen Hadley is now Warning the world. That there clearly exists a very high
risk to say the least that Iran and the United States very soon will most likely end up
in a military conflict. As the deterioration of views and political relations between
Iran and many other countries as Iran Leader acts more like a little kid. Making all
the Middle East more unstable.
With growing reports out of Israel that an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities is likely,
former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Ron Kessler of Newsmax's in an one
on one interview that she has no doubts in her mind that Israel will take the necessary
actions to stop Iran's mullahs from making or getting Nuclear Weapons. Condoleezza Rice
has a book, Called "No Higher Honor" A Memoir of My Years in Washington," reveals her
insights into the war against Al-Qaida, what really happened in Iraq, and the real rising
threat of Iran.
From her work as the National Security Adviser with President George W. Bush in his first
term before succeeding Colin Powell to become Secretary of State in his second term.
May our Lord Jesus Christ and GOD the Father that is in Heaven,
Guide and Watch over us.
In this time of TRIBULATION, Strengthen your Faith, and encourage
all to pray for their souls. The strong in the word of our Lord will Now
Help the World and be the disciples of our Lord's Word.
United We Will Always Stand That
In GOD We Trust
True Patriots
The Lord's Little Helper
Paul Felix Schott
PS.
Further diligence is required stay on your guard and watch. The LORD’s Amy will come soon enough.
GOD Bless You and Your Love ones
Give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ every day.
READ
Luke 21:20-22
IRAN ... The World is going to Renewable Energy with all the SUNLIGHT we get SOLAR Energy would be very easy to do hear. Do you think the rest of the world will see what we are really doing building more Reactors then we could ever use in a country this size?
@Paul: Newsmax is a propaganda outlet. If God made the whole universe and all the wonders therein, do you really think God needs a little helper? Conservatism is contrary to everything that Jesus Christ preached. Jesus said do good to those who persecute you. Jesus said, if someone asks you for something, give him more than he asked for. Jesus said help the poor. Jesus said, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to get into heaven. Jesus said judge not, lest you be judged. Jesus said be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves. Jesus said turn the other cheek. Jesus preached compassion and pacifism. Jesus would not be welcome at an NRA rally. Or on Fox News. Sending wheat to Iran is a very Christian act. It's also good capitalism, so call this a win-win for American wheat producers.
I agree Alex, but rightwing cross burning confederates who called themselves christians wouldn't understand the teachings of Jesus Christ simply because they actually believe that the Bible sanctioned slavery and that slavery was justified and accepted in Christianity! Let's face it, any offspring of the confederay that supported jim crow and the lynching of the descendants of African slaves who labored for them and helped to build the American south are evil in the eyes of God! I'd rather feed a camel than a confederate!
Paul.
What you are referencing is good and great, it also leaves an avenue for something else. But it's that something else I fear you may lead to, espically in terms of energy. I cannot reveal this publicly at this time, but consider this, it will be in a riddle, but look at what I reference.
In Tron, Cora is an Iso.
Cora does not ask for Clue's arrival.
Clue, wants to destroy Cora, to create perfection.
The Creator of Tron says to Clue "The thing about perfection is that it's unknowable. It's impossible, but it's also all around us, all the time!"
Paul, look this up.
How compassionate! How altruistic the U.S. is!
BWAHhahaha!
All Monsanto wheat!
What a way to win over "enemies!" Destroy them from within!
Hey muslims, I guess iran cant live without the great satan like you want to believe...
Uhhh...they wouldn't have had sanctions against them without her.
Here we go ..!! Jerks like you "JJ" to make things worst..Do you happen to know that Jesus was from the Middle East Muslim country ? and didn;t speak your language..but Hebrew or Aramie..!! Plus he was sensible and loving..not hate monger like you..
It's not the Great Accuser, rather, "the little kid who believes the world's funds belongs to him" ever notice it...?
Wouldn't be ironic if Iran also buys corn, the source of US alternative energy ?
Who are the idiots that think obama is doing a good job? he is a failure on all counts......just look at his approval ratings......he trades food to north korea to dismantly their nuke program and after the food is delivered to their MILITARY, they are now readying to launch a satellite (code for testing a long range missile) now he sends food to iran??? Ya great job buddy......dumb ass lefties get your lips off his ars...
@JJ: actually, it's you who sound like a failure on all levels. Why are you at CNN? You should be post8gn at FoxNews, where nutty diatribes like yours are more welcome. Seriously you didn't like the gutsy call that the President made to Seal Team 6 to take down Osama bin Ladin? You don't like the fact that the economy was in a deep recession when the President was elected and the economy has been in recovery since his first full year in office? You don't like the fact that he ended the Bush Era practices of using torture, secret prisons and warrant-less wiretaps, all of which are forbidden by the Constitution? Sir, you need serious mental help. You have lost touch with reality and with patriotism.
If the economy is improving, then why haven't I seen a raise in 6 years?
You go Alex! Tell them confederate rednecks!
@ JJ
You don't have to state that you are envious and jealous of the black President's success you rightwing cross burning hood wearing confederate scumbag! Your opinion don't count because you don't qualify to be an American! A matter of fact, you don't even qualify to be alive you moron!
@JJ: One more thing, President Obama's aapproval ratings are higher than Ronald Reagan's were before Reagan was re-elected in a landslide. You do remember Reagan, right? The conservative Republican President who granted an amnesty to 3 million illegal aliens in 1987? Reality just doesn't match the mindless rhetoric that you conservatives spout. Get help, son. Seriously, there are meds than can help you come back to sanity.
Thanks Alex Gessong!
Hey idiot ! Take your head out of your bottom part and check out reality! Obama is doing great job except for assholes like you with your ignorant views dripping poison !
we feed em- then we nuke em???? this world has gone nuts
Yes, because we're getting ready to 'nuke em'. You're a classic idiot that finds your own narrative in everything.
Interesting – Great Satan's food is apparently OK!
This nation can be stupid, full of idiots, and nearly fatalistically greedy and power hungry. Yet that doesn't mean it's evil, just in a dissary and likes to "be noticed by every nation in existence" (XD). It'll run around the globe trying to get opportunities to whoever looks good enough, and court whoever seems to give the biggest offer. (KEY WORD- SEEMS) If it doesn't feel like "it's in the lime-light" it'll control every1 until it GETS that way. (yes, it's a habit, a childish habit.) What it needs to do is work at home until it has enough confidence to go out trading with other nations without being such a sore bisness-owner who feels the need to hold the planet's nations. It may be the land of the free, but the land be a free what?
@sigh
You don't like Obama because he don't care about the American people? You must be joking right or perhaps smoking someting real bad! Or perhaps another rightwing conservative lunatic who is envious and jealous of President Obama's success! Just do real Americans a favor and vote for the republican candidate!
What success has obama had? Only failures as far as most of us AMERICANS can see....you dont sound American...
@ JJ
What success has Obama had? Just read my comments below you rightwing moron! In under four years President Obama has had more success at home and abroad than that of any eight year administration in US history! And that is why President Obama is undeniably the Greatest President in US history!
Obama success? You mean like launching on Libya? You mean like Obamacare? You mean Like signing NDAA(indefinite detention)? You mean like stepping up the drone wars? You mean like not closing GITMO like he promised? You mean like adding another $5 Trillion to the national debt? You mean like preparing to attack Iran/Syria? Those kind of successes? No wonder he got the Nobel Peace Prize. I'd hate to see if he was a failure.
You miss a whole lot, like restoring America's image and trust worldwide! Stabilizing and fixing the economic crisis he inherited, saving the Auto industry, helping small and large businesses to resurface, reducing the unemployment rate and putting millions of Americans back to work. Ending the illegitimate Iraqi war, inspiring and helping to bring about democracy to Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and inspiring more democratic changes around the world!
Safeguarding America from another terrorist attack, killinhg OBL, Awalaki and Ghadaffi and making America and the world a whole lot safer. Subsequently, preserving the lives of thousands of American service women and service men lby not comitting them to some unjust and illegitimate pointless invasion like Iraq and Afghanistan. And if you say that is a bad thing, then you're a plain blatang and bigoted racist envious of the greatest President in US history.
And if you think that phrase is stretching it a bit, then do you remember what Bush inherited when he was appointed to the presidency by the US supreme court? Well, if you forgot, Bush inherited an surplus and a thriving American economy from President Clinton. But when he left office, he left President Obama with two deadly and costly wars along with the worst economic crisis in American history. And taking into consideration all the deliberate roadblocks and policy delaying tactics by the rightwing confederates in congress to see that President Obama fails, he has defied all the odds and overcame the obstacles to still lead America forward! Hey that is leadership deserving of a mother-f-ing Noble Peace Prize! Hey, President Obama is without a doubt the greatest President in US history! Hahahahaha!
Aee you Americans commenting here really that stupid? U have surrounded Iran with 100s of ur bases there and Israel threatening it all the time and u holler when Iran calls u enemies. You gotta be the worst 2 countries- Israhell and US.
the us or israel could wipe iran off the map easily israel is the only nuclear power in the middle east
Wrong! We would get destroyed in this war. Russia and China will back Iran and the US is stretched to the breaking point. All empires fail, and they go down because of their insatiable appetite for war.
IDIOT and Idiots like you...nothing else can be said better. !! or yes..cowards is another word for you and people like you. Do you know how many of atomic weapons has Israel..? and how many supplied by USA to Israel..? Wonder why then they worry if ..if..Iran wants or plans to have one of his own..? Only cowards are concerned, knowing that some retaliation could come their way too..if others had something like what they have.
Imagine..if the Afghanis had some sophisticated weapons..they would have inflicted far more and badly !! Without weapons they have brought failure to the NATO and USA armies..!! War, Invasion and Coloniasm are not acceptable to others any more..!! Live and let live..and mind your own business ..is the right thing to do
The US IS the greatest nation on earth. Iran is at the bottom. Islam is a plaque ! The truth is that all religions and cultures are NOT equal. Islam and Arabic culture is the most backwards,barbaric tribal culture in the world. In the name of Allah there are so many horrifying barbarities done to people around the world every single day. the civilized world must fight this menace to humanity. Islam goes against every principle of freedom, equality,and basic human dignity that we hold sacred in Western culture. It deserves no respect as a belief system,it is a cult with world domination as it"s stated goal. Freedom of religion is one thing,freedom to practice this hateful cult is another. Don"t believe that "Religion of Peace,BS,read the Quran,it is not peaceful by any means,learn about the principle of abrogation in the quran and you"ll understand. The intention of Islam is to subjugate any nation in which Muslims gain a population foothold. Where Islam is the dominant religion, it also expects to be the law of the land, rejecting a secular approach to government. Wherever there is Islam there will eventually be fundamentalism and oppression.
Have you ever read the Torah? Just asking, because it is more violent than the Quran.
Hey stupid American....you are dead wrong you dummy..........
US--Israel-–UK
Axis of dEvil
Anus...You have the perfect name!
Mirka makes a great point, but that's pushing it...
Only evil devil worshipping baby murderers are the muslims.....
JJ stop, it's stuff like that leads to sh!t in the first place. I mean heck, what good comes from a generalization like that? Look deeper, I'm sure something else lies below your opinion...
JJ you represent the failure of education to teach reasoning and proper communication skills. Too bad America can't take idiots like you and "relocate" you to other locations like Iran or Pakistan ..... you wouldn't last 2 hours in those countries!
I first read this as US gobbles up US weed. LOL. I was gonna say dannnnnng. The Iranian are gonna get baked.
A bushel of wheat for a barrel of oil. Back at cha!
LET THEM STARVE
then BOMB THEM HARD
"get off the page and make my day!"
Hi.
do you WANT som1 to do that to you?! Be honest 'nopretenders' I don't think the cold war should ever be repeated, no matter WHERE or WHO is involved. Nuclear war, or even radioactive offense is a big deal, so if you're willing to stoop so low, why don't you ask yourself what that means. That's right, imagine it, no, if you wake up in a dream, try thinking about it, let me forewarn you, it's sick, twisted, and the means of doing so is wretched. So if you still want it so bad, than be sure if you want to be miserable.
Another Israeli trying hard to think ? Why are you tribists so bloodthirsty ?
How stupid to allow iran to purchase food from the US...let those devil worhipping cult muslims starve....they cant do anything themselves without the US help.....they are garbage...whats the point of sanctions if you allow them to buy wheat? Iran thinks they are self sufficient, but they have to buy food from the "great satan" ....what a joke iran is...
Take a look at Israel. They claim to be self sufficeint but they would collapse within 1 year if not for US aid. This blind alliance has to be the most one-sided in history. We give them at least 100 billion a year in aid ( yes, count all forms of aid, not just the quoted amount that the US gov't gives them in direct aid), all sorts of military secrets, and protection from any external threat. What do they give us? Let's see, they sell our technology to China, Russia, and South Africa. Sounds like a great deal.
This wouldn't be an issue if they were making Yellow Cake instead of Yellow Cake Uranium.
They have a right to under NPT. Many other industrial countries do it. It is needed to fuel reactors.
The combination of loopholes and China/Russia are why sanctions will not work. They are having some effect but those effects are on their people and not the government. And since the government control the military, there is zero hope of an uprising to stop their madness. So long as they have an avenue for selling their oil, they will continue to spend that money on the development of a nuclear bomb.
EXCUSE-MOI-FRANCOIS AT,
BUT WHAT THING INSIDE YOUR SKULL CLAIMS THERE IS NO HOPE??
THAT'S RIGHT, YOU SET IT OFF THIS TIME, EVEN IF YOU CLAIM WE'VE MET ONLY ONCE.....
I mean though a government is controlled by the military, that doesn't mean they're said to have an uprising, oh no. It isn't a wise idea, but if worse comes to worse, and for some reason we mess up on the bread and by the off-shot chance there is an uprising, than hopefully it can be dealt with w/o war, shooting, and other violence. But do not, I mean DO NOT claim "zero-hope" on WHATEVER is said, there is such thing as an opinion and a fact, but who are you with when you claim that? Ever consider the actions possible????
Time to bring back that tune from the 70's by Bobby "Sofine" Butler called "Cheaper Crude, or No More Food"
nothing stops MONEY
Yep, as soon as there are sanctions they will build ways around them. In case no one knows it, they are already at war with Israel and the US. They refer to them as 'the enemy' in every official govt statement. They want to fight and it's only a matter of time before they get what they want.
What country has Iran invaded in the last 200 years? The good ole USA has invaded over 30 in the last 50 years. Who is the real aggressor? They are not building nukes, just ask the head of our CIA and the head of the Mossad. I think they may know more than the ugly Americans.
Actually, some sanctions actually work – i.e. South Africa was sanctioned successfully
If Iran loses western Europe altogether, it may be in a bad situation
If the God fearing people of Kansas, and Nebraska knew there crops were going to the Islamic Republic of Iran, they might would drop dead on the spot.
I think it's really easy to villify an entire people, but the problem here is with the Iranian government. You do NOT want to starve a country's population, because one that happens, the government can spin that stuff however they want (i.e. the US/Israel is the reason you don't have any food, ...). You also don't want to punish the GOOD people of Iran (yes, there actually are people there who are NOT fanatical terrorists - amazing, huh?). Throwing around generalizations of Iranians is just as bad as their throwing around generalizations about us. We're all people, for eff's sake. We need to figure out how to take out the evil folks over there without killing innocent and good people who ARE on our side. And that's the hard part.
Grow up and check your facts. The ignorant Americans only get there news from CNN, FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC. All are bought and paid for by the Zionists. Wake up! Iran is in no position to hurt America in anyway, in fact we should open our trade with them.
Make bread, not war!!!!
I wish the story about the US Navy saving the kidnapped Iranians got bigger press a few months back.
Gret comment, much appreciated by the sailors involved (if they see it).
Good news doesn't sell copy.
Nice guys finish last.
No good deed will go unpunished.
you know the drill.
The U.S./Euro action which cuts off Iran from SWIFT will end up negatively impacting U.S. and Euro grain exports to Iran, with knock-on effects for farming in the areas which are imposing the sanctions. It's another example of sanctions cutting the throats of those imposing them. Since the actual situatoin is being dictated by Israel that country should compensate the afffected economic sectors – and not by using "aid" dollars. Meanwhile Iran is devising methods for evading sanctions by dealing with countries which are ignoring the sanctions. At least those countries will benefit.
Little do they know that the grain is treated with chemicals that will make them sterile! HAHAHAH!
That isn't funny.
Perhaps the USDA can be more accurate and thorough with it's screening of wheat and make sure what is paid for has quality. A IPM farm could also be used in conjuncture to this so that the pesticides are removed from the equation greatly. Stop wandering around the pit of agony aimlessly, no good comes of it unless balance is instated with it.
Let's face it, GWB had his day for eight long years and all he brought us and the world was heartache and pain! Shouldn't we allow President Obama an opportunity to do his job for a change without scrutiny and disrespect? Our President hasn't even been in office for four full years but the rightwingers sem to have expected him to fix all the problems he inherited in his first one hundred days in office! GWB's foreign and domestic policies failed America in big time and yet you people are still coming to his defense?
I don't believe for a minute that President Obama is a Democratic or Republican President or a Liberal or Conservative President but rather an American President! And whether you like him or not, when he gives the State of the Union address, both sides of the isle is present as our constituution requires! When one American state is affected by tragedy, we are all affected in some way or the other! And it is sad that the only time we seem to feel some kind of empathy for each other is when tragedy strikes us! One can only imagine how much more powerful and prosperous America could become if all Americans were to one day put their differences aside and come together as one nation! That would be something!
This may be the dumbest thing I have ever read. Do you carry a picture of Obama around in your pocket too? You bash GWB, but at the same time expect Obama to simply get a pass? How's that work?
I bash Bush but expect Obama to get a pass? Well, did Obama lie to the American people about bogus and nonexistent WMD's in Iraq and murdered thousands of our troops? Did Obama deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war ro invade Iraq? Then years later our troops are committing all sorts of atrocities in Afghanistan, killing civilians, burning Qurans and pissing on corpses like they did in Iraq because they are stressed and stretched to the limit and GWB and companty laugh at them! A few months ago, Dick Cheyney went on CNN and said openly and without restraint or remorse that he has "no regrets whatsoever" while thousands of our soldiers died in their illegitimate wars and continue to do so today! And Dick Cheyney didn't have the integrity or common decency to admit that they failed the American people!
Furthermore, we cannot forget that near a million Iraqi and Afghan civilians have died as a result of Bush's deliberate and unjust foreign atrocities and they continue to die today as we speak. And by the way, how many Americans have died as a result of the foreign and domestic policies of Obama administration? I'll help you...that's zero! To answer your question, no I don't expects racists like you to give President Obama a pass because I wouldn't trust a cross burning confederate at my President's back! You see real Americans have got President Obama's back! And while we may all consider ourselves Americans, if we were ever to be invaded by a foreign nation, I'd rather defend myself than have a hood wearing cross burning confederate watching my back!
Because George W. Bush, unless you failed to notice, was undeniably a bad president. Whether or not you like Obama, it's not partisan to bash on Bush because he was pretty terrible (convincing the American public to go to war with Iraq via false WMDs is my main issue)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep blaming Bush for your boy's ongoing failures. It's the only defense you have.
@ change the record
For what failures? Jealous envious Idiot!
so are you saying we shouldn't have expected Obama to do anything in 4 years because it took GWB 8 years to mess it all up?
your logic is fail!!!
@ Kirk K
Because it took Bush eight years, we shouldn't expect Obama to do anything in four years? Well lets' revisit my logic Kirk! Stimulus package stabilized the economy, averts a depression, keeps large and small businesses afloat and reduces the unemployment rate while returning millions of Americans back to work.
Healthcare reform, ensures an additional 30 million Americans, keeps American kids on their parent's premium until the age of 30! Implements clauses to safeguard against discrimination of those with pre-existing conditions! Reduces premiums on prescription drugs, especially for our seniors and for our service men and women! And safeguarding against skyrocketing healthcare costs! And this legislations is also geared towards reducing our national deficit by half a trillion dollars over a ten year period! Talking about fiscal responsibility!
Financial reform implemented to safeguard against fraudulent businesses practices and to regulate and keep wall street in check to safeguard against another heartwrenching economic crisis caused by corporate greed! That's just the tip of the iceberg as far as domestic policies!
Foreign Policies: The illegitimate and unjust Iraqi war is over! Obama got Osama and Obama got Awalaki! And Obama got Ghadaffi! And America is now at the safest its been in a decade as our trust and credibility abroad has been restored!
Arab Spring: Obama inspires and brings democracy to Tunisia,Egypt, and Libya and democratic change continues to spread across the Arab world!
And that's just the tip of the iceburg, despite what President Obama has inherited! So you still think "Obama hasn't done anything in four years?" You better check your logic, you rightwing cross burning envious confederate!
To Karl K:
So bringing the end to Bin Laden (which GWB couldn't manage), bringing our troops home from Irag (where Bushytail sent them in the first place), and beginning to bring an end to unemployment is NOTHING? I'd say he's doing a great job of turning Bushytail's deficit-laden freight train around (especially since he's had to do it alone) since Congress won't help.
So let me see if I get this right. Obama is the president of all Americans and therefore I can't disagree with him or denounce him. But GWB was the president of all Americans before him and it's quite alright to denounce and disagree with him? One is a democrat while the other is a republican. Now I understand...it's so simple when you think about it.
It may SEEM like a loop-hole, but think about rather than state the obvious. First, sanctioning EVERYTHING leaves no further cards. Second, it's already well known that sanctions hurt innocent people far more than governments. In fact, sanctions are really meant to hurt people – to get them to rebel, protest loudly, etc. (what's worse than the economy being bad for any incumbent? Answer: Nothing. ) Thirdly, the warmongers on here must be the biggest non-thinkers around. It's easy to risk the lives of others when you are save at home in your air-conditioned room isn't it? War is stupid, and is the VERY last resort of any sane rationale species. Iran may have attacked others, they may have some idiots in the country – but they are not IDIOTS. There are very very VEERRYY smart people there just by the laws of probability – just as many per capita as in the US - they know - KNOW, that the US is fighting 2 wars, and is seeing a failing economy. They know time delays will work, and that the US will hold out until the last second to make an attack (they don't know exactly when that last second is, but they probably have reasonable intelligence estimates). As the general said, Iran is a 'rational actor'. Of course they'll get away with as much as they can before they get spanked hard enough – but is it too much to spank someone with a bazooka? Probably for now. First you call a timeout a few times, sit them in the corner, play a mind game, then spank with a hand, then belt, then gun – THENNN the bazooka. Why? Because war hurts everybody – and is and should always be the very last resort if other, lesser things may work. Just the exact same way someone who tries pot doesn't get hanged in america.
@ Oh Please Ppl
Very good points! But how do you reason with rightwingers who still come to the defense of the Bush's policies that have caused us two deadly and costly wars, a very bad economic crisis and a broken worldwide image? These people are very delusional and are always in denial because they were born bigots and racists! These rightwingers seem to think that only one race and religion of people built America! They seem to forget that we are a melting pot of a societ that was built by just about every nationality, racie, creed and religions of the world!
You know, every now and then I like to tell people to google Dr. Michael Debakey and see for themselves what this medical pioneer contributed to America and the world! Dr. Michael Debakey was a Professor of Tulane University and he was born to Lebanese parents who migrated to the United States in the early 1900's! Professor Debakey designed, pioneered and patented the first pacemaker used in hospitals around the world today and several other key heart instruments used in hospitals today. Yes, Dr. Michael Debakey was born to Muslim-American parents who came to America as immigrants! Likewise, the majority of the engineers and workers who built the Panama Canal and the Brooklyn Bridhge were immigrants from around the world and many of them didn't speak a word of english when they entered our shores! So before you rightwing conservatives continue to spill your bigotry, racism and hate, just remember that America was built by every race, color creed and religions of people of the world! Finally, while you continue to bash and disrespect Muslim-Americans, just remember that there are Muslim-Americans in our military putting their lives on the line each and every day to defend our freedom!
I didn't like Bush, nor do I like Obama. I think they are both idiots, but most in politics are. Know why? Because they are more into their own ambition than in helping their fellow people...no matter how much they preach otherwise. You need to get off your high horse about politics and have an open mind on the global view instead of one stupid individual being the sole cause to the worlds problems. If you can't see that, then you shouldn't procreate so that our species can evolve in a positive direction.
Bush cost you 2 wars?? Oh really? So you wouldnt have gone after al
Bush cost you 2 wars?? Oh really? So you wouldnt have gone after al qaeda and the taliban that were harboring them? Obama has been a failure...raised the defiit more in 3 years then Bush did in 8, everyone that I know that voted for obama wont be again...and look at his approval rating...
YOU SHOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Jews are the curse on this earth. wish Hitler had killed them all.
How is this anti-semetic garbage allowed to sit on the message board? No filters CNN? Nobody monitoring the boards?
AnUS – Have you ever even met a Jewish person? You know you sound like a hate-filled idiot right? Nobody cares about your racist ideas, it's 2012, the overwhelming majority of people are done being so narrow-minded, only neanderthal idiots like yourself keep carrying the idiotic creed.
Relax Clinton. The name says it all; this guy has very rectally oriented personal characteristics. In some quarters, referred to as an ....hole.
Your comment to CNN is very appropriate. Some boards have "LIKE" and "Mark As Inaaproriate" markers whcih would certainly assist in cleaner discussions. (We thought all that hate stuff was washed away right? Sad. Really sad.
You are a curse on the earth.
AnUS;
No, stop wanting such twisted things... what do you expect to become? Try isolating your rage and find reasoning why that may be. I mean this is certain, "the only thing that comes out of hate is hate itself" no matter what or who it's directed to. Look inward of yourself and then reflect it outward carefully. Though I need more practice at this, I can tell you for a fact, it's true.I mean if you've seen war, what in your right mind makes death appealing??!
Taking you down with them would be a good start.
Nice screen name. I suppose you already know how well it fits.
Shut up muslim....why you so mad? Jealous of all of the Jews accomplishments? While you muslims have none? Mad cuz Israel keeps kicking your butts over and over again.....?? or are you mad because muslims kill muslims by the thousands? Or are you mad because everyone hates muslims? Or are you mad because you are poor? Look at your name...thats what your face is....
Jews don't invent anything. They steal inventions and claim them as their own.
Of course, you already know your name means that you have s–t for brains, right?
Sometimes I think the destruction of all governments would be the best thing that ever happened to peace loving people.
Jews are the surse in US and the world at large
Hate never helped anyone.
Except Israeli Jews.
You're really AnUS, right? Figures.
To Hate thejoos: I guess you're entitled to your overwhelmingly biased and idiotic opinions; however, your opinion does not make them true. Furthermore, your hate accomplishes nothing, other than high blood pressure, coronary disease, strokes, heart attacks and perhaps, a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Good for you.
Breaking News...Iran has made an unprecedent announcement that it has agreed to relinquish its nuclear program!
This is Dick Chey speaking...No, Obama does not get any credit because it was I and George who influenced Iran to give up its nuclear program!
Hi...This is Dick Cheyn's daughter...Yea, that is the problem with that Obama, always taking credit for my dad's policies!
This is the rightwing base...Blah blah blah, Obama's a muslim, Obama's a socialist, Obama's a terrorist....The nerve of Obama taking credit for all of Bush's foreign policies...
Well, thank God Obama didn't adop any of Bush's foreign policies!
Yea, Obama/Biden 2012!
I understand their need for affordable energy, their people need it. IF and WHEN proof of a weapon appears, then we starve them (and any nation willing to sell to them) of everything under the sun!
Never underestimate the Greed of the American Businessman. If there's a way to make a buck, regardless of whether or not it sells out the country, they'll find a way... Americans really should wake up to the fact that the majority of the big corporations in this country are enemies of the state. They do NOT care about America, they care only for money, they are the epitome of what's wrong with this country, they made fortunes off the American worker and invested it overseas so they can basically conduct legal slavery in foreign nations. We didn't end slavery folks, it just got outsourced... They work against everything America used to stand for, they only care about personal power and wealth... At some point, they will cross the line, bet your bottom dollar on that, The next Revolution in the United States won't be against it's Government, but against it's Corporate owners.
Try defusing the situation, rather than sparking it.
Than work on unions on the US, allowing the worker to defend their jobs FROM being outsourced then, try compromising with businesses preventing the "power/wealth" spiral. *I'm sure you can understand it.* Try unweaving their greed, and keep trying to balance prosperity back to America. I'm sure this is better than slipping into paranoia and anger,
I mean it....
Why is the United States doing sending wheat to Iran. Even if they are buying it. We should completely turn our backs on them until they halt their nuclear program.
USA is the worlds largest food producer and exporter. Also the worlds largest weapons and arms exporter. There are two industries that will never be sent to China.
I like the idea, as long as we keep note of our dept and who's payments we complete; (MORALLY OF COURSE.). I mean if I'm correct, due to the surplus of grain already produced & or sure will exist, we can gently stretch our resources, to increase the value of our grain, donate when it's needed, and make peace with hostile nations. I am aware of what we sanctioned, but personally speaking, if one realizes what one needs, rather than what wants to destroy, one can make more peace, rather than war. I'm not saying to pour out ones hand to every1's needs though, *have you seeeen madness?* but to consider it with hostility around one, tends to be wise...
There is nothing more annoying then reading comments from Americans!!
I know, and I am one.
...so, why are you reading?
to "Americans are annoying"- F- off you trolling towel head, if it wasn't for Americans your ignoramiss comments would never be heard A$$hole. Stick that in your turban and smoke it !
Actually, yes there is, people who just cover everything, assuming b/c you're from a place, means you're as them. If you wanted free grief, just ask...
There's a real easy fix for that. Think for a couple of years and you might just figure it out. On the other hand...
Yes.... but as events change one must get past the end, or one will get stuck in it. And preferably, where one is in good health and living ok...
And in other news "It seems Iranian scientists have figured out a way to complete their nuclear weapons by extracting certain elements from wheat".
Let's see, buy lots of wheat then sell it for cash, buy what you really need.
Well I guess that's one way to win a war, we can kill them with our gmo poisonous wheat.
You obviously haven't taken a genetics or microbiology class. People are so uneducated.
Oh how cute, Monsanto trolls.
Amy;
I don't even need to know what GMO stands for, I'm serious. I mean though that's an action we can take, it doesn't mean it's a good idea. If you're so concerned though, try making sure the quality of the wheat isn't poisoned, and the trade may be better. Try not being so stoic, it's more frustrating than helpful...
I wonder if we can give them sanction-free uranium and they can give us santion-free oil, in return.
So one way for our enemy to compensate for sanctions that impede their military endeavors is to get us to feed their people. That's a play from North Korea.
Who is paying for that wheat?
They told you so? Perhaps they could tell you where Bush hide the WMD's or better yet, where he's hiding out?
Did Korea play the same game while it achieved going nuclear?
Korea is still playing us for food while it starves its people to continue its militarism.
Iran is not using the purchase of American wheat as a compensation for the sanctions! The sanctions against Iran are a stronghold on its entire economy such as a trade embargo on resources that can be used to bolster its nuclear program or arms that can be sold or used against its enemies. Furthermore, these sanctions have also frozen Iran's financial assets and worldwide bank subsidies! No, you conservatives are misled to assume that wheat could be used as a replacement for enriched uranium or as gunpowder to attack its enemies or arm so-called rebels! Typical old rightwing American porpaganda!
By all means, let's not let the imposition of sanctions interfere with good old American commerce. We wouldn't want to actually hurt Iran, lest they not be able to make American farmers wealthier.
India is such a pain in the arse. Meanhile we must have hundreds of thousands of their citizens working in nthis country and all the money gets spent in India. Time to put a stop to this. Especially given the fact that India is proving to be less and less of a friend to the U.S. Keep jobs and money here in the United States.
LOL, you think they are the only ones sending money back home? HAHAH. And there are millions of latinos here that send money home too, what are you gonna do about them?
Bush and company gave us two wars and a very bad economic crisis and murdered thousands of our troops! You think Bush is a friend of America?
iran is the one that killed your troops in iraq and afghanistan....and ANY president would have gone into afghanistan....try again....
Blame your Jew friends. They are the trouble, not regular Americans. Iran like US and most US people don't care about Iran's nukes. Its effing Israelis and Jews who are jumping up an down.
Hey, stupid american, good name.....is that why the UN, IAEA and almost 100 countries in the world are against iran and its nukes? Are you stupid or just a dumb muslim liar? And watch your mouth you dirt bag, before you get sent back to syria.....low class trash welfare case...
Hey there! "Money back home is like money in the bank (almost).Worldwide circulation. Relax.
Sell them all the grain they want, @ $110.00 dollars a bushel. Is't that how it works, supply and demand. Now we have something they need, so lets return the kindness they have shown us over the years. Only fair.
Absolutely.
Barter a loaf of bread for a barrel of oil. Let's see who has the greater need.
If Iran was smart, it would give up its nuclear ambitions, openly denounce that it is a supporter or supplier of terrorism and gain access to the league of nations...and the best time to do it is now simply because the black man in the White House, President Obama is a true and genuine American President who wishes for global peace, stability and prosperity of all nations! The same is to be said of North korea and I will also like to state that this may be Iran and North Koreas's last chance to be accepted into the league of nations because when President Obama leaves office in 2016, there would be no other chance for these countries to be accepted into the league of nations, especially if a Republican gets into the White House!
And while the Republicans in American are calling for war against Iran, President Obama is the only one calling for diplomacy and asking to give peace a chance! If a republican was in office, Iran would have been at war with the west right now And NK would be isolated and bullied even more! Therefore my message to President Adminajed and President Jong UN is to put your trust and faith in President Obama and your countries will achieve peace and world respect and acceptance!
Why are you bringing race into this? Can't you just say the democratic president?
The Democratic President!
League of Nations? seriously?
Yeah they bowl every Thursday...
I'm happy to see Iran blocked from SWIFT. But we have seen no sign that this has deterred Iran yet.
Iran knows this is their once-in-forever chance to get nuclear weapons. They will likely not get this chance again – economic and domestic reasons in the U.S. and the red herring in Iraq have greatly weakened the U.S.'s will to undertake military action against Iran.
And once they get nukes, nobody would be able to reverse this change.
The only thing that can prevent them from getting nukes is a very credible threat to the survival of the Iranian regime. That COULD mean sanctions, if it really appears that conditions in Iran would be so unbearable that people turn against the regime. If not, then despite the sanctions, military action MUST be taken.
At any cost, Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. That would create a permanent, unsolvable problem for the world.
Your are an idiot! Iran has survived sanctions for more than 35 years. They must get nukes to end American and Israeli hegemony.
The funny thing is they are not even trying to build nuclear weapons. The head of the CIA and Mossad both admit that fact. Iran has not invaded a country in over 200 years! How many has the US invaded?
Lets do what Jesus would do cut them off, let them starve or better yet let the War Industry take us to war for their profits and no bid contracts.
Do you have any idea about the Middle East? Can you even identify it on the globe?
Yes. "Middle East" is an arechaic Brit/Euro term for those sandlots at the east end of the Med.
Chinese see middle east as somewhere around Chicago. (Hence the more modern term "Western Asia').
I bet your children wont be sent to die for Oil and Religious lies. Only to profit at all costs, the American Ideals gone mad.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-864522917532871834
Funny to think of all these mid-west rednecks farming wheat to feed Iranians.
no such thing as poor red neck farmer. they are all corp farms getting federal money to only grow what other countries need or to farm nothing while our own people starve and go homeless.
Actually there is such thing as poor farmers, and first of all Corp farms make up less than 3% of all American farms...get informed and get real.
Why does being a Midwest farmer make us redneck? It's people like you who continue to let stereotypes thrive.
OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012 OBAMA 2012
REMOVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOREVER
Yea, just blindly follow one doctrine.....
Don't let Israeli interests get us into another war. We can not afford it.
By "us" do you mean you Iranian jihadists?
Let Israel take out a Chinese Credit card and max it out if they want war. America is Trillions of dollars in debt and owned by China and amazingly its the poor who are suppose to be destroying our budget in America, not the War Industry and the Wealthiest people in our history who dare to call America home.
China owns only $1.16 trillion, 8 percent of Americ's Debt. America owes foreigners about $4.5 trillion in debt. But America owes America $9.8 trillion. So China does not "Own" America.
Here's a quick and fascinating breakdown by total amount held and percentage of total U.S. debt, according to Business Insider:
Hong Kong: $121.9 billion (0.9 percent)
Caribbean banking centers: $148.3 (1 percent)
Taiwan: $153.4 billion (1.1 percent)
Brazil: $211.4 billion (1.5 percent)
Oil exporting countries: $229.8 billion (1.6 percent)
Mutual funds: $300.5 billion (2 percent)
Commercial banks: $301.8 billion (2.1 percent)
State, local and federal retirement funds: $320.9 billion (2.2 percent)
Money market mutual funds: $337.7 billion (2.4 percent)
United Kingdom: $346.5 billion (2.4 percent)
Private pension funds: $504.7 billion (3.5 percent)
State and local governments: $506.1 billion (3.5 percent)
Japan: $912.4 billion (6.4 percent)
U.S. households: $959.4 billion (6.6 percent)
China: $1.16 trillion (8 percent)
The U.S. Treasury: $1.63 trillion (11.3 percent)
Social Security trust fund: $2.67 trillion (19 percent)
Patrick, go home, youre making a fool of yourself.
Another war??? When was the first war Israel dragged you into? You dummy.....stinky muslim slipper wearing pedophile...
In 1978 we were training 20,000 Iranian troops how to fight. They took American hostages at the Embassy and we cut of diplomatic ties. Ronald Reagan sold them arms for hostages in the Iran Contra affair. This illegal act was brushed over by congress. So, Obama is a idiot for sanctions that permit humanitarian aid. So what does that make Reagan a Traitor. I know if I sent arms to Iran I would be convicted. Making defenceless children hungry is sick and disgusting. So who is the smarter President Obama or Reagan?
We payed Russia to develop Iran's nuclear program while at the same time calling them part of the axis of evil. Doesn't that make George Bush a traitor? We created the Iranian problem and now we have to deal with it. Obama is not weak, he just inherited policies from traitorous acts!
u forgot to mention we trained the taliban/al quaida to repel the russians....
the american population is too ignorant to get it.... we are trained and sold arms to every single arab country around Israel and also to Israel.... even funnier is ALL the southern towns named after ARAB cities.... Arab alabma, Cairo..... but all the bigots there try to say it wasnt named after than and pronounce the names differently etc....
Actually not. The Taliban were formed well after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. It was the Saudis that funded the Taliban and Al-Queda. Bin Laden's efforts never received any training or funding from the CIA. The CIA funding sources had already been stopped by this point.
So please lay this myth to rest.
We sent stinger missiles to Afganastan. I know, I was there. So this is Know myth. We were practicing rendition back then too. Oops I better not say anymore the Carlyle group might get upset.
This is a great humaniterian approach and obviously the Iranians will benefit from this. However, the people who really benefit are those in the Revolutionary Guard organization in Iran, They import the American wheat and most probably control the flow to the Iranian users to increase the prices i.e the grand ayatollah will end up getting richer by the American imported wheat.
When will we (US) realize by sanctioning one of the world's biggest oil exporters we are actually sanctioning ourselves. The price of gasoline is constantly going up, our standard of living is quickly declining each day. Iran is a very resource rich country, and it would have been very advantageous to our economy if we were working and had friendly relations with Iran. Have we Americans ever asked ourselves, what are we getting out of our relationship with Isreal? Except for enraging the entire Muslim population towards ourselves. Had we been trading freely with Iran and many other Middle Eastern countries, our economy here in the US would significantly gotten better, but instead we choose to fight the wars of Isreal and send our young men and women to become traumatized in the warfield and many of them to be killed so that we can have a forceful control of the Mideast. If we were a peaceful nation, not sanctioning others, and working to better their lives, then believe me, that kindness would also come back to us in many ways, one of them being economic. I hope that our people in the South, North, Democrat and Republican can start to realize this approach and bring in a new era of American politics sometime soon. What we are doing right now is madness, and we are drowning in our own deeds.
This country will never unite, south, north, east, west republicans, democrats, liberals conservatives, not when there's a black man and black woman in the white house! The reality is that the confederate right could care less if this country is destroyed simply because they're envious and jealous of the successful black presindent and their wish is to see him fail. But never mind though, Obama/Biden 2012!
wow,
Lemmings unite, follow Westward, he and his idol shall set you free. (just watch out for that first step, it's a killer)
Muslims are not the friend of America. Their goal of killing the infidels is quite clear.
What war has America sent troops to fight on behalf of Israel. Your bias is the same as the rest of your kind.
If you want to do something, go help those in Syria, South Sudan, Somalia and all of the other countries around the world where violence is growning.
Sunni's hate Shia's. Kurds hate both. Iran calls for the destruction of a country that will also kill a lot of Muslims in nearby countries.
You're a backwards thinking culture, and one that has made no contribution to the greater good of humanity in hundreds of years.
Jews are NOT friends of US. They only love Israehell. watch al the settler's videos. Jews are sucking US dry and have infested the WH and US
Muslims have contributed much to civilization, including but not limited to Arthimatic, telescopes, astrology, the concept of sanitation, and many other things. However, I don't want to start a conversation about religion, because ALL religions are good in their nature and it is people who corrupt them and misuse them. However, I just must enlighten you with this one thought, in the past 2,000 years, would you say more people in the world were killed in the hands of Muslims or Chrisitians? Keep in mind the WWI and 2, Napoleon, and the countless innocent people murdered by the British Empire, which continues its tierney in the world to this day. The Bush imposed Iraq war killed more Iraqis than Sadam Husain did in his entire life! Also, Iran has never declared war on another country, even Ahmadinejad did not say to kill Israelis or anyone. He stated to allow Palestinians to return to their homeland and simply have an election to see who would win an election, thus restoring Israel to the Palestinians who lived there to begin with. However, Mel, Muslims do not want to kill or take over anyone, we want to live in peace like everyone else, including yourself I'm sure. The reality is that there is much frustration in the Muslim world because of perceived Western influence in their governments, and lives. Think about this, we are shaping our entire Mid East policy around one country. We have created for ourselves so many enemies because of this aliance. However, if we turn our policy toward one of winning the hearts of people around the world through helping them, rather than arming them or thier enemies, we too will see the fruits of our labor. The world has much to contribute to each other, if we focus on that, rather than focus on weakening each other, the minds of people will begin to think in a new more productive way.
Shutit dolt
It is great to hear of diplomatic success!
Premature. Iran hasn't showed any interest in stopping their nuclear ambitions.
@ scranton
And what did GWB do in eight years diplomatically or in terms of putting pressure on Iran? Absolutely nothing!
While I strongly disagree with Obama's domestic policies, I have to say that I am at least moderately relieved that someone in power is willing to use methods other than air strikes, invasions, and ground wars. I don't think it makes him appear weak at all. America has an unfortunate legacy of f*ing up with Iran. They could have become a natural ally of the United States, with it's overwhelmingly secular population, rich culture and history, and modern rational outlook toward the world situation. We've screwed that up perfectly, consecutively, and routinely. Sure, some Iranians in power are strongly anti-west, but America has prodded them into their current role in the world. A rogue outcast, instead of a beacon of hope for a democratic, traditionally secular anchor in the Mid East.
I heard an Iranian speaker recently who fled when the current theocracy took over. He wanted Shah out and democracy in and joined forces with overthrow then found out they were not interested in sharing power. Today they imprison dissenters. Commit genocide against other religions. They are not a beacon of any kind of democracy. They want mooslim caliphate to rule the world. Anything else is unacceptable.
(somewhat related)
I recently bought a book at a yardsale called "Chronicle of the 20th Century," and it is alarming to see the difference in relationship between Israel and the United States. There was a time when Israel didn't breathe unless America said so. Somehow, between then and now it seems that Israel has entrenched itself deep in internal framework of the U.S. The dialogue is completely reversed now. Israel has subversive, duplicitous, almost passive-aggressive tendencies designed to manipulate a considerable portion of U.S. policy and opinion.
@Crum Cake
Well stated!
Crumb cake, you cite a book bought at a garage sale. Just because a book was written, does not mean it is the truth! You can find a lot of books that share a certain perspective! Right leaning, left leaning, centerist.
What do you think about the books denying that global warming is/has occured? The holocaust was not true. There was no genocide of Armenians. There is no slavery problem globally any more.
Then again, when someone want to "believe" in something, no amount of logic or scientific evidence can dissuade them. Like creationism, "Intelligent design", etc., etc. etc.
So what will you rightwing confederate trailer trash do when President Obama gets re-elected?
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Drink Kool Aid
Obama/Biden 2012!
So what would you rightwing trailer trash say if Iran and North Korea were to in fact give up their nuclear programs as a result of diplomatic efforts by the Obama administration? Perhaps you delusional rednecks would turn around and say that Obama had nothing to do with it right? Like when the unemployment rate goes up, its Obama's fault but when it goes down, Obama had nothing to do with it and so on! Rightwing hood wearing cross burning unAmerican scumbags!
Dude,
Obama could walk on water on network-TV, and the republican/conservative/christian/facist mouth-breathers would deny that it happened.
But it all has to do with politics, and not the color of his skin. Right???
I guarantee you that if President Obama was blue eyes and blond you probably would not talk so much garbage. Stop being prejudice. It is 2012. Obama is and will be remembered as one of the best Presidents this great country of ours have had. We are in the mess we are due to Republicans. I will vote for Obama again. I love this country and I strongly believe that his administration is doing a great job maintaining our sinking ship afloat.
West rebuilt Japan and Germany after winning wars. Now they are rich contries. But we see this does not work in middleast due to poor work ethic and constant victim mentality that makes the war with themselves and world always.
The west ended slavery first and pushed the rest of the world but today we still find millions of slaves everywhere except west.
The west ended total domination by Ottoman empire and genocide of Armenians and many muslims treated like dirt for centuries. Now we are the bad guys? Israel is supposed to give Palestinians a country? get real.
You understand nothing about the world, and yet you have the ability to post your ignorance on message boards.
I can smell an Armenian from a mile away.
I did not know New York was in middle east? You sound like you take offense at truth of how Islamic countries have mistreated Africa and each other since beginning of Islam?
And I can smell a muslim a mile away, who cant, asses in the air is called 2nd hand fumes of a religion that stinks of pig balls, you know allah was a pig ball licker, had sex with the swines and camels.
How about we send food to the poor palestinians and invoice middle east. Oh wait I forgot the Turkish ottoman empire ruled for hundreds of years and never gave them their own land but did treat them like slaves.
How about we bill the middle east and opec for all the food and ship it to all the poor countries who have endless starvation like Sudan? Oh I forgot middle east is trying to exterminate and enslave africans for last 1500 years not help them.
Since Wheat and Oil are commodities they need to be the same weight here as the wheat is there. It is real simple, one ton of wheat for one ton of oil. That is how parity is gained in the market...
Cutting of SWIFT was not at all a dramatic step.Because,it was an expected step.It will also not bring the collapse of Iranian economy as said by the Israeli Finance Minister! Probably he is not aware of that there are other methods to settle international financial obligations.Iranian Banks are capable of utilizing such available methods .As regards collapsing of Iranian economy.the Israeli Finance Minister may have to eat his words in the coming days.
When is a sanction not a sanction? Better yet, wtf is a sanction? Hilary? mmmm?
@jrcowboy49
This food export policy toward Iran is NOT Hilary Clinton's or Obama's. That just shows how little you know
This was done years ago by the Bush Administration (2001, 2002, 2006) and the 107th and 108th Congress, and the fact that Agricultural produce were exempt – guess why...because they have a lobby.
So, a sanction means ... all items, well, except the ones we exempt.
It has been done by many Presidents including Bush Clinton and others. As was said already, they do not want to deprive average citizens of access to food. Causing a famine helps no one. This is the same reason the Bush and Clinton did not leverage grain exports as a tool against N Korea. Neither adnminstration wanted to be seen as using hunger as a weapon.
Right on! So:
Sanctions are not real sanctions and can be compromised when:
1: Your constituents are being impinged negatively;
2. Someone else can be blamed for starting it all;
3. Votes are in jeopardy (election year);
4. "If we don't sell it to them someone else will" (same for the arms trade).
It is a nice humanitarian approach though. Very American. .
It is the misunderstandings that hurt America. You need to hire a P.R. agent overseas.
China is laughing all the way to the bank as they buy discounted oil courtesy of America's desire to control the world. Why doesn't the US concentrate on being worthy to lead the free world before running around trying to impose it's will on soverign nations?
We used to be pretty good at that. Somehow that page got ripped out of the textbook. I live in constant hope that someone tapes it back in.
We should probably start with the simple act of respecting our own constitution, seeing as that is the basis of the country. The US constantly touts terms like "freedom" and "liberty" and "equality" and then denies it's citizens of such.
How about trade them 1 ton of wheat for 1 ton of oil.
One ton of wheat is worth more than a ton of oil.
What good are sanctions if they don't include everything? Hungry people will get the desired response more quickly.
Persian girls are hot, don't starve them. Just the nutjobs who keep them enslaved.
I dig the hairy beaver myself. Persian chicks rock the body hair.
Agreed.
WTF! The US is pushing the world not to do bussiness with Iran and we are selling them food. This just does not make any sense, just a case of do as I say, not as I do. Just my opinion.
We've not told other nations to not sell them food.
If the US does not sell its wheat, it will have to DUMP it in the OCEANS to feed the FISHES – and that will not be the SMART thing to do now, would it?
Bio fuel, give it to the drought areas in Africa, or better yet to the less fortunate in the US.
A) The USA grows far more wheat than it could possibly use every year.
B) By selling it overseas, the farmers get money, which means they can stay in business and continue to feed US.
C) The more people you sell it to, the higher the price because demand is higher.
D) We could sell it to someone else, who would in turn sell it to Iran and then THEY would get the higher price instead of us.
F) People who are comfortable(i.e., well fed) are far less likely to start a war. They have something to lose.
G) If Iran wants to waste their money on a nuke, why not let them? They'll never be able to use it without being obliterated. And with it they'll be forced to spend money and man power guarding the stuff.
H) LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE. While the people of the USA may want to operate in a vacuum, it is not possible anymore. At least not without starving half of us and bankrupting the other half.
Yet 23% of this country don't get enough to eat. Why can't we use this surplus to feed our own people? Oh yeh, that's because there's no money in it. Ooops
Wait, not getting enuogh to eat or living below the poverty line. They're not the same you know...
I haven't seen any starving poor people here. They all seem to be grossly obese.
U.S Wheat, Soy + Corn, all GMO. Yeah, that's the ticket. Kill them with heart disease, kidney failure and obesity. We do it to our own!
I'm curious as to how GMO increases the rate of heart disease and kidney failure?
I like the idea of killing them this way. Much easier on the National budget and soldiers. Too bad we couldn't add something to it like a bio.
No such thing as marketed GMO wheat. Sorry.
How are you suppose to have any sort of peace or understanding in the world, if no one wants to have any heart? Let's all face it, idiots.... Obviously, the world is close to its dead end. The weather is an obvious eye opener.. some animals that, used to exist in your childhood books DO NOT ANYMORE! I've never witnessed such nasty and unhuman news, as I have in the past 2 weeks. Half of the worlds population appears drug induced.. I believe OBAMA has a VERY interesting perspective on Iran haha! I mean, think about it... Keep your friends close, yet YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER. Get a grip, America..... Your spoiled.
Its about the election stupid! VOTE OBAMA IF YOUR SCARED . :))
Vote republican if you want two more foreign wars and another economic crisis!
Why are people on here referring to Iran as the enemy? Am I missing something or are all of you posting from Israel?
What are you dumb? iran is the enemy of all free nations....including killing is own people.......did you just learn how to read?
Know why we haven't won a war since WW ll? Know why 5,000 American soldiers are dead and countless thousands more maimed for life in Iraq? Know why we've been in Afghanistan for 10 years with nothing to show for it? Know why America is held in contempt by the rest of the world? Because we no longer have the stomach for war. You can't fight a selective war. You can't pick and choose between your enemies and your friends. War is hell. If it moves, it's fair game. Likewise, it is pure idiocy to think we can bring Iran around with economic "sanctions" and yet sell them thousands of tons of food. Think I'm wrong? Look at North Korea even today. They threaten to launch a satellite into orbit and what do we do? We tell them we MIGHT cut off their food shipments. And they thumb their noses at us. I don't really give a damn whether the world LIKES America. But they should be made to RESPECT us!
Bill Kirby-- Your argument " America is held in contempt by the rest of the world" is a wash. This is argument is used by politicians, naysayers and the left since the American Revolution to bash American foreign policy.
Your limited view on the world may get us (soldiers) all killed. We Americans tout words like Freedom and Honor like a meaningless slogan then apply it only when it is convenient. Have you ever visited Iran or had dialogue with an Iranian (or even looked at it on a map?) Do you communicate with anyone outside your general ethnic group? (like I had to ask)Every ethnic group on the face of the planet loves their children regardless of color, religion or ideology RESPECT does not come from fear.
What a JOKE. There are sanctions on what Iran can sell but no sanctions on what the US CAN SELL. LOL!
It's part of not being in the dumbass club. If the world was fair, the Iranian government would've been leveled years ago
We send our wheat to Iran so that we can pay higher prices for wheat products and they can continue to build their bomb and start WWIII. We sure is the greatest and smartest country in the world. You betchya
Don't be fooled by what other countries are doing. We've long supplied the enemy of our enemy and we've ended up fighting them when we couldn't "control" them. Sadly since Kennedy, we've been on a downward spiral and our so-called government is only in it to protect themselves, not the general public. Obama has just signed more EOs to take away our freedoms and rights after the NDAA. Don't blame other countries when our own "representatives" are planning to destroy our democracy and control us.
WTF is wrong with our government,O bama especially !!! All these so-called sactions ??? Then you feed these slime balls !!! WTF and WTF and oh yeah........W T F !!!
You think this is wrong? Ask the farmers what they think. At least we won't have a surplus like Pakistan. Iranians aren't slime balls, they're goverment is.
Our government sells the grain to Iran because it is all about the money. It is not Obama, it is all of our polticians. All of Congress. They are all multi-millionaires. They want to look good in our eyes with certain sanctions, but they still want to make money for themselves. So there is the loophole. So they invest their money in grain commodities.
You hit the nail on its head! It's all about Congress and the money they make! Obama has been in office for over 3 years. When he came in, his net worth was less than 1 mil. Today, his net worth is between 10 and 11 mil. You figure! He and Congress are loaded with commodities stocks! We're paying higher prices at the pump and higher prices at the bread counters while they force the prices up by buying commodities. We need to throw all the BUMS out!! You should see the raises Obama gave his entire staff and add that to the 23 staff members who are on Michelle's personal staff! $14 mil to take a vacation trip to Hawaii??? Give me a break! Real funny: The State Department is writing checks for hundreds of millions of dollars fixing the sewer systems of Mosques around the world and we can't even have prayer in our schools! Face it, Obama is a Muslim and he is destroying America from within! This whole mess is sickening! Congress could care less as they are part of the problem!!
Are you daft?
This is a policy from George Bush...2001, 2002, 2006 and 107th and 108th Congress. The agriculture (wheat) lobby also had a say in this.
You GOPers are totally clueless...want to blame Obama for all the Bush era omissions and commissions.
Really, this is getting old!
Coming from a very LONG line of Republicans I have to admit that I believe our Republican leaders are only out to line their own pockets. Big business does not care about anything but the bottom line. At least Obama appears to be trying to level the playing field by holding Banks and Business’s accountable for what THEY have done to our economy – just my thoughts anyway
Removing Iran from SWIFT was ignorant and will bring about the collapse of the Dollar. Of course it feels good to most Americans who don't understand how things work. Now we are threatening India with the same actions. You had best get out of Dollars. If 1/3 of the world stops using dollars for trade, we will suddenly find all taht garbage paper we exported looking for anything it can possibly buy.
Make sure we sell it 10 dollars a loaf! We have to make back some of the money we give those people for our oil.
The American people aren't making back anything. The crooks at ADM are making out very well though.
It makes me SICK. I hate that I have to grow up in this world. If I had a choice, I'd grown up in the 60s or 70s. At least THEY had a CHOICE and a VOICE. I am 22 years old and there is NOTHING for me to look forward to, but BIG MEN in the business making money off of PEOPLE LIKE ME. We need to FIX THIS COUNTRY before we SELL OUR FOOD to the SAME damn people that make it hard for us to go to work because we don't have MONEY for GAS.
Wouldn't it make sense to just trade a bushel of wheat for a barrel of oil?
For those of you who say "we are feeding the enemy" or this is a double standard when we impose sanctions and turn around and sell wheat to Iran, just ask yourself why the computer or keyboard you're perhaps using to post your comment says made in China? And just look around your house and try to figure out why perhaps 60% of the stuff in your home say made in China? And why do we trade and do business with communist Russia and China, yet speak out against communism? And speaking about double standards, why do we consider Russia and China trading partners and even give them permanent Security Counsel seats at the UN, while these communist countries sell arms to Iran, Syria and North Korea? Why the double standard?
And why are we still imposing a 50 year embargo on little Cuba but continue to trade with Russia which was responsible for the whole Cuban Missle Crisis? Finally, why do we trust Russia and trade with it when it has thousands of inter continental ballistics nuclear missiles pointed at every American city and nuclear submarines off our Atlantic and Pacific coasts as we speak? Let's face it, just about everything America says it stands for is false!
I though we would heavily sanction them? WTF
Now, you're feed the ENEMY. B.S.
Why are we selling them wheat? Simple question for the fool in the White House. This idiot has no answer, that is the problem!
@jrcowboy
Perhaps you're referring to your mamma!
Literally! Bush had two terms and what did he do to stop the Iranians from advancing their nuclear program? Instead the anus destabilized Iraq and Afghanistan and left Iran's nuclear program un addressed! Then he called for democratic elections in Palestine, giving rise to Hamas! The incompetent republicans have destabilized the entire Middle East and recked our economy and destroyed many American lives simply because you incompetent rightwing lunatics posting here voted for them! Therefore you aditiots need to shut up and go hide your stinking faces under your trailer!
You rly do post like a self-righteous piece of garbage. Just sayin...
Although history supports exactly what you have stated Ignorance is very difficult to battle. Instead of name calling, next time try to explain it like you would to a 5 year old. I bet you get better results...
Should have starved them into relenting. Not very smart. Next we will sell them bullets.
The world has changed. OPEC has the oil and the whole world by contract has to buy it in us dollars....until the last few years when Iraq, Libya, Iran and now China India and Russia are looking at getting off the dollar. It is destabalizing the US as now our debt is real because our money may not be good. We are the police and trying to keep the peace. Bye bye America and world peacekeeper. Let the wars begin.
I hope we are charging the same price as a barrel of crude per bushel.
Yeah, let's feed them so they are stronger to fight against us.
I personally think this is double standard ! When you put up an economic sanction it should include all products including agriculture . Iran will not weaver to any pressure when they know they can buy anything under the sun for a reasonable price,.... They have already acquired the nuclear arsenal whether US or the western front likes it or not !
Pramok
They told you so?
Though a slim chance, I still believe there is a possibility that Iran could relinquish its nuclear ambitions and shut down this facility as the West is requesting! But the only way to do so is through deplomacy! I don't thing for a moment that bullying and disrespect and threats of an attck would help! It would only make things worst! Respect your enemies and one day your enemy could become your friend and ally! And if there is a 1% chance that this deal could be struck through deplomacy and we attack Iran prematurely, then we would be undermining the very purpose of diplomacy and all that the UN says it stands for! So while all you haters keep bashing the Iranian people and calling them terrorists and murderers and so on, why not try to show some restrain and display some class and civility and gibe diplomacy a chance to work? After all, it may work in our favor in the long run!
You lost us at "I think" as clearly you do not!
What is your diplomatic answer to "allow us to return to our former status as Master of a Middle Eastern Empire with those evil Joos exterminated"?
It's a good thing the export of wheat to Iran is legal, agricultural products are exempt, ya know. As a side, the unemployed US taxpayer is no longer able to buy it from the big three owners anyway, we need to protect and provide for them. I have to lmao! Too funny!
Why don't we charge them the same amount for a bushel of wheat as they charge us for a barrel of oil?
They could buy it from India or Russia at a cheaper price. It is a good will gesture from Iran.
Agree!
FINALLY – Some intelligence
Great, let them buy it from these other countries! A barrel of wheat for a barrel of oil!
Exactly!!!!!! By George I think he's got it..
So, are the US traitors the US farmers who knowingly sell to Cargilll, or Cargilll itself. Oh, I almost forgot
US multinational corporations don't have to support the US, and they will still get the tax breaks.
Are we crazy or what ??
We are feeding people that want to wipe our allies off the map?... Makes sense... So we're feeding the people that want to kill us? Makes even more sense...
what "allies" ??
We are feeding people that want to wipe our allies off the map? Perhaps if every country in the world was an ally, there would be a possibility for world peace! Sanctions or not, if we are truly Americans with principles we should show some regard and consideration for the everyday people of Iran!
Yer a moron, Blah Blah..
Are you talking about the same fabricated "Wipe off the map" story that Israel invented ?
You are not feeding them, they are buying it... Then, dont they feed your vehicles and other machinery? Also they want to wipe your allies, but you want to wipe them out, how about that? It is a two way street my friend..... Trying to be friends with everyone might be a good option.
"wipe off the map" get your head out of your Arse! the only thing being wiped off the Map is Palestine, Look at the map today there is no denying that Palestine is being wiped off the Map by Israel. Israel on the other hand uses false rhetoric to play victim to Iran, yet begging the US to attack (do victims attack? or are receivers of the attacks the victim) Rhetorical question. Iran kudos to you for putting pride aside and choosing US wheat over the equally priced alternate sources. Let's hope the US can take some notes in repairing relations.
Actuall our beef is with the government not the citizens. Starving their civilian populace will not win us any leverage with the government. Additionally, supportig a famine over there or anywhere does nothing but hurt stability.
Are you serious? Iranians don't want to kill us! Stop watching all the news and go to bed.
Expected more from someone named Phan...when was the last time you heard an iranian wanted to kill you.
Crippling Sanctions???? What a joke!
Its going to be a turkey shoot....fatten them up for the kill.
We feed them and they kill our soldiers. Sad.
Sad – it's fu-ing crazy!
It is truly very sad indeed! What a friggin joke! It's no wonder that we are hated all over the world; were friggin hipocrites! Makes no sense whatsoever! Why are we feeding them? So they can kill our brothers and sisters? The government in theis country has it's head up it's you know what!
Who are they killing? One can say US is feeding Israel the far more lethal weapons which then are killing in Gaza which is better? 800 civilians dead in the last Gaza assault many through the illegal use of chemical weapons ILLEGAL to international law, made in the USA dropped on civilians by our "allies" Israel.
Iranians killing our Soldier's ? Re-read the article fool
hey CLT...your comment is BST
Always feed your enemies. Make them dependent on you for food. We used to feed the Soviets back in the Cold War. If the war ever turned hot, they knew they were going to be hungry fast.
Let them starve. They made their choice in 1979. Let Allah take care of them.
Given the level of evil that the Shah achieved, they made the right choice. For the most part, history has shown that if the US picks the leader, he sucks – a trend we have unfortunately continued in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Soviets, French, and British were no better when they were picking so its not an "American thing."
We will lose their business, they will go to Pakistan and India for the wheat and we will have to throw ours into the sea, in this bad economy. Who would do that? Remind me. Who said these guys are a bunch of foolish fanatics. They act very rationally, in fact they handle the situation better than us.
It is unfair the way US and EU are treating Iran. Iran has never attacked any county and has not threatened to do so. Why does EU and US leaders feel paranoid about Iran? They should know that Iran has been resilient since 1979 despite all the sanctions and threats of regime changed. These sanctions do not achieve its purpose but rather strengthen the Iranian people and makes them self reliant. Military interventions in the Middle East only destabilize the region. Iraq and Afghanistan are still not safe after the military interventions by US.
Hairu: Obviously you didn't read the article. If the Iranian people are becoming self-reliant then why would they buy tonnes of wheat and rice, to hedge against pending sanctions. Sanctions aren't designed to harm the people of Iran, but hurt the pockets in their gov't and eventually push the peoples desire to fix their gov't. It is true that Iran hasn't, thus far, done anything to another world State, except provide funding for terrorism, build nuclear facilities to generate nuclear weapons, threaten Isreal with destruction and harbor terrorist training sites for use against "their enemies", but they are working on it. Iran is a sleeping bear, and given the right moment, it will come out of hibernation.
Well it isn't working, actually by imposing sanctions we have rallied the people around their leader that have shown remarkable leadership. Nobody says they are angels, but we have to see the consequences , too. If threatening Iran (not even attacking it) jacks up the oil prices and puts us into hardship, it seems pointless to me. Talk to them.
People are shocked at the inter-dependence of the world. 90% of all titanium comes from Russia, and is used to build US aircraft, including military models. We sell wheat to lots of countries. 90% of all hard drives are made in Thailand. We sell lots of corn to other countries. None of us can stand alone. None of us.
Yeah, iran is such a peaceful nation.....just ask Israel.
Iran has never attacked another country and never threatened to do so . . . . . really? They attacked Iraq most recently, Afganistan, Pakistan, and they make daily threats against Israel as wel as the Grat Satan . . . . . namely, US!
You have it backwards. Iraq attacked Iran. After their war, Iraq harboured an international terrorist group that targeted Iran (the United States continued to harbour them during occupation). Iran has never attacked another country. They have given financial support to political factions that are sometimes violent. That makes them no different from Russia, the United States, India, China, Belgium or Ethiopia, to name a few that I can think of offthe top of my head.
It was Saddam that attacked Iran in 1980 and no, Iran hasn't attacked Pakistan or Afghanistan as you claim. Actually Iran hasn't attacked any country in several hundred years. Actually these are Iranian allies that Bush placed in Iraq and Afghanistan as new leaders of these countries. Why should Iran attack its own allies ? These types of propaganda are designed to fool Americans into a new war and this time much more devastating to the US and the world economy.
One word GO BACK TO SCHOOL! Iran was defending itself from an Iraqi invasion!! Wow wake up.
Looks like in need to go back too and learn to count 4 WORDS!
I wouldn't say Iran never attacked another country. Granted, it may not have been a while since they started a war, but they did get involved by supplying arms to Taliban and in Iraq when we were fighting in 2003. Also, I don't believe that the Republic of Kurdistan attacked themselves in 1946. It was Iran, not some unknown assailants that started that particular conflict.
First we give them weapons, then Nuclear technology, now feeding their hungry bellies.
A wise leader would do what, precisely? Bomb the nuclear facilities of every country trying to develop the capability for making nuclear weapons? Dealing with North Korea is nothing like the problem of dealing with Iran, although we've been involved in wars of different kinds against both...Korea since 1950 and Iran since 1953. Not one national or international leader or coalition has come up with an effective plan for dealing with North Korea. South Korea isn't interested in reigniting the war with the North and Japan doesn't seem to think NK is an existential threat. GW Bush had NO CLUE other than to include North Korea in a fictional evil alliance with two other countries it had no real dealings with. Iran's leadership is many things but it is not crazy, unlike Kim Il Yung (and possibly his son). Only one out of the many nuclear powers in this world has ever used its nuclear weapons with horrific civilian casualties. That was the United States of America. Iran has been relentlessly threatened by 'regime change' by the US since 1979. Israel has been threatening Iran since the latter formed alliances with those who thwart Israel's lust for land in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Israel has the sixth largest nuclear arsenal in the world and yet like a rogue nation, refuses to sign the NPT or allow inspections of its nuclear facility. AND Israel has shown willingness to use lesser WMDs on civilians in South Lebanon, as well as Gaza and the West Bank. So if you want to talk about who is a real threat here, it's more likely to be Israel than Iran.
so we send bread to iran so iran can send it to assad in syria and his troops , and the rest will go to the iranian guard.
how is that food for nukes going with north korea mr obama ? i guess that ICBM test their doing under the giuse of a space launch really threw a screw into the food for nuke thing hey .
is there not any wisdom left in the worlds leadership. WE NEED A WISE LEADER !
Starving ordinary people does not buy us friends in this world. Iran's military doesn't eat 6 million ton grain that Iran imports. Iran could have bought the grain from other countries like Russia but has chosen to buy it from the US as a political good will gesture. Iran has several times approached the US with good will gestures but every time Congress and Senate that are paid and bought by AIPAC and military industries sabotage any rapprochement. That is how AIPAC measures in Senate that are devised to engineer another messy war gets 100 to 0 votes in the Seate. Already ordinary people are suffering in the US because of high gas prices that are caused by sanctions on Iran. The sanctions have been pushed by the same demagogues that later point fingers at Obama because of high gas prices.
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/movers-and-shakers/
Well JAMES 6 MILLION TONS OF WHAT , HOT AIR ?
please tell me where we are talking about 6 MILLION TONS OF WHEAT ? the mid west of the usa has been under flood and drought conditions.
HAVE YOU BOUGHT A LOAF OF BREAD LATELY ? do you see the price from last year ? Iran will send some of the wheat to assad in syria for his military.
WHO"S SHIPS ARE GOING TO RECIEVE THE WHEAT ? ARE IRANIAN SHIPS COMING INTO USA PORTS ?
do we have that much wheat in reserve to supply NORTH KOREA TOO !
WE NEED WISE LEADERSHIP AND obama is not the man and his record is the witness to this MESS !
6 million tons is what Iran plans to import from various countries in the world. That is the amount they usually buy. This year they have decided to buy some of this from the US as a good will gesture.
By the way, there are enough merchant ships in the world under various flags that go around and do the import and export. Most countries don't own merchant ships or enough of them. They just rent some.
Rocket technology all stemmed from military missiles. All of it. Connecting those two dots is easy for a child. The caveat (look it up) is that the N. Koreans invited observers, and set the telemetry to NOT cross over anyone else's air space.
The N. and S. Koreans are one people, many have had their families cut in two. the Koreans want to be just Koreans again. I agree with them. They are good allies, hard working honest people, and very smart. These are not children. They are people. The N. Koreans planned their launch last year, and it is built on Russian technology.
THE NORTH KOREANS HAVE AGAIN LIED TO OBAMA ! PERIOD
obama is weak and i am not suggesting for one minute the we should vote for a certain person so stick to the facts and if the facts make obama look bad , so be it !