Obama Unveils New Sanctions on Syria and Iran
Cites Holocaust in Sanctions Against Technology Development
In the midst of the ceasefire in Syria markedly reducing fighting and the P5+1 talks with Iran showing real progress, the Obama Administration decided now was a good time to show that it does not need a good excuse to impose sanctions.
Obama announced his new sanctions on Syria and Iran, aimed at information technology development, while visiting the Holocaust Museum and declaring “never again” in what passes for a justification for sanctions these days.
Officially, the administration is insisting that the sanctions are targeted at surveillance technology used to violate human rights in the nations. In practice, the technologies for which he was condemning Iran and Syria and the “hired guns” that sell such technology to governments are essentially the same technologies that the Obama Administration is acquiring at a fevered pace.
The Obama Administration has been looking at broad information “sharing” authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and levels of random surveillance that Syria and Iran can only dream of. Rather the sanctions seem more about proving that he’s being “tough” on Syria and Iran, particularly at a time when the diplomatic situation obviously doesn’t call for it.
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Maria
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:20 pm
A more cynical view is that he is deliberately trying to sabotage the cease-fire in Syria and the negotiations with Iran by being aggressively belligerent.
Nathan
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:46 pm
"…particularly at a time when the diplomatic situation obviously doesn’t call for it."
Either there's a typo here, or else the guy is nuts.
Roger Lafontaine
April 24th, 2012 at 1:42 am
The Holocaust has become a shield for Israeli war crimes and US complicity.
jinx77
April 24th, 2012 at 2:53 am
this guy aint getting my vote….
didnt vote for him the first time…or anyone else for that matter
anyone point me towards a REAL American candidate that my have a chance
backblow
April 24th, 2012 at 3:27 am
I hope he is going to sanction the CIA for providing all that advanced technology in the RQ-170 Sentinel to the Iranians.
Ben_C
April 24th, 2012 at 3:50 am
Does this mean the ongoing "negotiations"/"talks" with Iran are going as well as reported–as "constructive" as the US State Department described?
zouppie
April 24th, 2012 at 4:14 am
Grovel, grovel little man.
baz
April 24th, 2012 at 6:20 am
not cynical…accurate
NavyWarrior
April 24th, 2012 at 6:45 am
As per JFK – "we will never negotiate out of fear and we will never fear to negotiate".
Of course – JFK was NOT a supporter of Israel and it seems that the Mossad just may have had a hand in his assassination – sending a 'message' to all subsequent Presidents that Israel is in control of the US.
Got to have another war fought by the US to benefit Israel.
edgar
April 24th, 2012 at 6:51 am
Why do you promote this war mongering mass murderer's promotion picture?
It causes me stomach pain when I see this incarnation of liar and mass murderer smiling.
Nathan
April 24th, 2012 at 7:13 am
jinx77,
Ron Paul–maybe?
rwe2late
April 24th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Headline should read
"Obama unilaterally orders sanctions against all nations that trade with Syria or Iran."
MvGuy
April 24th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Obviously Natan is a subscriber to the school of thought that when you have your foot on someone's neck, that putting your on their foot on their balls is next…. You can see Big Brother there behind him egging him on…. Always best to crush and demean for certain people… But does this tell us that Nathan and crew don't want to have to coexist with Syria and Iran on equal terns (G-d forbid) for the long haul…or is this Nathan' and crew's idea of peaceful coexistence…
MvGuy
April 24th, 2012 at 11:29 am
edgar…. Welcome to our New and Improved Pain Society….. where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and all our candidates are bought and paid to cause the citizens pain…. The talking Trojan Horse "O" telling you, me, US and the world how it is…… 300 unaccounted nukes for them and Zero for you… Fair,, you ask, Hey Moron we don't do no stinkin fair no more… Just check John Corzine, stole a couple billion, but No Problem….. cause heez bundling for "O" you know… AND we are defending and givving big bucks 70% of the world, but here at home it's debt and decay, shrimp with no eyes and YES!!! Detroit…….. Cadilacs gonna be built in China next year…. Wasn't the bail out GREAT??? Like America, in China…!!
Jaime
April 24th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Or realistic.
andor
April 24th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
If you still believe that Obama Administration wants peaceful solution, read Susan Rice (at the UN) twitters:
Susan Rice @AmbassadorRice
We, our allies & others in #UNSC are preparing for actions that will be required of us all if Asad persist in the slaughter. #Syria
We will not wait 90 days to pursue #UN sanctions against #Syria's govt if it continues to violate its commitments or obstruct monitors.
No one should assume that U.S. will agree to renew this #Syria mission at the end of 90 days if Syrian regime has not met its commitments.
Deployment of 300 or even 3000 unarmed observers cannot, on its own, stop Asad's murderous rampage; only external pressure on regime can.