With reports that the European Union is close to establishing its trade
vehicle for facilitating trade with Iran, the Trump Administration has
issued a statement warning them not to defy the US sanctions. in any way.
The US reimposed sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the P5+1
nuclear deal. EU nations did not withdraw from the deal, and companies
are still allowed to trade with Iran. This, however, is difficult
because US sanctions are scaring most banks away.
The EU solution is a clearing house for the trades, which allow
companies to pay for Iranian goods, and Iran to pay EU companies for
services, without any money crossing borders, cutting the banks out of
it.
US officials are threatening stiff fines and penalties if the plan goes
forward. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) says the choice is between doing
business with Iran or the US. The EU, however, is betting that the US
cannot afford to simply cut off Europe entirely over Iran.
Puppets & poodles cringe & cower when the big dog barks.
what big dog? trump? lol a loud mouthed bully is always put in place by ignoring it.
Yet, it is buzzare that this loud mouthed bully was the first and only one who outlined a new vision for US strategic foreign policy, in writing. And it is equally strange that in spite of sulfur and brimstone rhetoric we are inching towards disengagement in Korea, Afghanistan and Syria. He goes along with the hottest of nasty neocons from both parties, to the point of embarrasing them, then when they quiet down, he moves the opposite. With all due resoect to liberals great hope, Sanders. he is only tactically for non-interventionism.
Trump is a gift to Europe. By being bully, he is providing no shelter to European transnational aristicracy and transnational money. In each European country, movemments are springing up demanding that their governments pay attention to their own problems, not following US global ambitions. Without Trump humiliating the docile leadership. What the loudmouth is doing is simple. He is saying loudly and openly — if you all want to have benefits of our shared empire, please pay up in real cash. If not — US can cut separate deals with whoever we please, and not protect your interests. Trump is pointing out German gas pipeline Nord Stream, as shining example of hypocrisy. Germany and other European countries are screaming about Russian threat, and asking US to spend untold billions on military, while at the same time running a cozy partnership with Russia, delivering Russian gas and increasing dependency. It is easy to write this off as just Trump as salesman, pushing fracked gas. But it is much more. Macron and Merkel just signed (resigned) a treaty between two countries. On surface, pride and indeoendence, something to tease voters with. In reality, these two leaders are the endangered species of the tattering transnational status quo Trump is assailing. All they are trying to do is keep their voters holefull and take edge from domestic unrest and stronger alternative parties. And pray and hope Trump loses election. To go back to happiness? But is it possible? Economies in the West and Japan are products of financial engineering. At present, not having the strength to sustain itself without further injections of liquidity to cover insolvency. And what money is left to continue supporting assorted global messes. All of them cost money — not just military adventures, but hundreds of bases all over the world, and artifucial countries we created — just in Europe, Ukraine, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro. And just as we pushed Montenegro NATO membership without approval of people, we are now doing the same in Macedonia. This one is dirty. A referendum was held on name change and NATO entry. Vast oposition boycoted referendum, making it invalid. An illegal government of one minority Macedonian and all Albanian minority parties wanted to curcumvent the referendum by parliament vote — but a majority Macedonian party would have stopped it. Bere comes the brilliant move. In NATO lkcket are many nudges, and theiy issued arrest orders of dozens of elected officials of the offending party — a cusing them of corruption. The favorite political tool, along with sexual offences in the arsenal of meddlers. And after days under home arrest, many delegates were offered dropped charges in exchange for vote. This was not hard. As politicians know very well that if US sants to go this far — they better cave in. How does this jive with Trump’s NATO doubts? It does not. But se bave parallel government and bureaucracies carry out their jobs. Trump cannot get into all these manipulatikns. Same thing happened in Greece viting for Macedonia name change into North Macedonia. Same is happening with insane pressure on Belgrade to recognize Kosovo.
Trump is on his way to lose election, as he is not grasping how really inarticulate he is, and unable to communicate with larger segments of polulation on issues. He made a very poor speech on border security, and in visiting border regions focused on police instead hardships of communities and impact on the poorest, employment, schools, welfare, healthcare. We may as well adjust our border with Mexico, as there is no reason for keepng those places taxpayer funded. But from Korea to Syria, from border to Europe, Trump has not made an effort to find intelligent spokesmen or have someone write his speaches. It is also possible that this would be a high risk job for a trully capable person. Like in Macedonia, it is not hard to find judges to make someone’s life difficult.
uh oh a trumpbot. lol lol
The first ?? No, not the first. Just the only one to sneak into the back door of the war party.
I agree. I am still wondering how did it happen, and am thinking of elections
ahead. Republicans are not supporting him, and would not be surprised if Democrafs and Republicans are conspiring already to stop him from running. This may be the whole purpose of Muller probe.
Create continuous noise, re-news old stories in new packages. This will ratchet up as we get closer to election. The system has been shocked by Trump, and will be now prepared.
Bianca ? Would you mind sending a link to this ” new US foreign policy in writing” that you say exists ? It doesnt seem to be on the internet I use.
To my utter disbelief – the text cannot be found. It has been delivered at National Press Club, Alril 2016, but what is listed is not that speech, titled Foreign Policy Strategy. I think I saved it. I will look more,
Here’s the current (I think) Trump “National Security Strategy.” At least I don’t think a 2019 version has been released yet:
https://partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/client_files/1513628003.pdf
I guess a person could slap a “policy-ish” title on this stump speech and call it a policy paper. It was pre written for teleprompter, so, yes, it is written. There is no policy in this foreign policy paper, just some buzzy nouns with fear based adjectives sprinkled in.
please someone send trump a memo , he is not king of the world.
Why, did anyone send such a memo to Clinton, the Bushes or Obama?
they weren’t as boastful as frump.
They never had such a loud, disrespectful and antidemocratic opposition!
anti democratic? where is democracy in our govt?
To tell you the truth, there has never been any real democracy in the US.
Wow, DC is still bawling about Iran taking their country back from the oil puppet they installed in ’53.
When your “allies” or partners in war crimes, start to buck your lead, it’s pretty much a matter of time…………..
And Cuba.
And bucking the lead, however weak and even if unsuccessful— has long term consequences. It is a matter of time, indeed. The symptoms are everywhere. Iraq has politically stabilised and is watching our every move. ISIS leftovers in Iraqi-Syria borders (who is paying them), wre periodically hit by Iraqi airforce, even getting well inside Syrian territory. US is not complaining about endangering SDF, as it does anytime Syria tries to do the same. The silence is the sign of weakness, as any complaint would result in Ieaqis asking US to leave. Qatar, arrogantly called the sponsor of terrorism by Saudi ruler Muhammed bin Nayef, just after Trumo’s visit — is no more a pariah state. It is because Saudi leading elites, in a palace coup, removed MbN and installed King’s son. From day one, the smearing of the new ruler started. He was blamed for Qatar and Yemen and terrorism support. But in his first month he put an end to Qatar standoff — in Cairo conference all conditions of surrender were changed to “principles” and the political stand off is now more of an irritant to US then a pressure on Qatar to break relations with Iran. We now have to suffer the indignity of Iranian advisors in Qatar, and Turkish base, right next to our major Middle East airforce base. While Qatar officials visit Riyadh ocassionly. In Yemen, from allies we have become adversaries with Saudi Arabia. The whole charade of our unhappiness with Saudis and genicide, etc. was just to get Saudis to acquiesce to our demands. Apparently, there was an initial plan where Saudis and UAE were to deliver Yemen, both North and South to US control by reinstalling the unelected president Hadi. Game apparently changed under new ruler, and it is clear thar Saudis are leading their war — and got allies to do it (Egypt, Sudan), and the “internationally recognized” president under its care. What is the end game goal for Saudis, one can guess. Deny US full control of Bab al Mandeb, and secure free navigation for Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan to and from Asia. To get Saudis under control, US provided UAE with special ops and support to fight against Saudi backed forces in the South, and assasinating parties and tribal leaders loyal to Hadi. But loyalties have switched again — after Kashoggi, Saudis cleaned up the bureacracy and intelligence agencies of old guard, that the new ruler could not touch due to internal, feudal consideration and where US had influence. Quietly, many are gone. Including Foreign Minister. Victorious, MbS went on a trip, first stop —UAE. The hedging UAE conducted
by doing US dirty job, is over. UAE is now paying pennance, by having to reopen embassy in Damascus. Ditto Bahrain. Qatar, Kuweit and Oman, never closed. Sudan president was dispatched to Damascus, as Saudi ally — with a message. Was it on behest of US, being Saudi ally? Let me guess — Sudan suddenly is beset by protests. Hmmm. With Saudis closing their purse to Wahhabi armed cults under whatever name — it is up to US now to bail out Jordan, its last dependency in dire need of cash and fear of majority Palestinian population.
Allies are in many cases today nust semi-allies, offen verbally with us, but not in deed. UK in spite of being closest ally is playing a spoiler game in the South of Yemen. With its own base in Oman, it is eyeing restoration of their former protectorates, Al-Mahra and Hadhramouth. As UAE at lresent controls Aden, the battle for Hideidah is on. Using UN is a favorite US game to get control, but it is not over. Earie silence from Washington on Yemen. Bizzare warm relationship between presumably sworn enemies, Houthies from Sana’a and Hadi relresentatives from Riyadh. The bottom line may not be clear yet, but at present US has no ally in this fight. Sana’a once upon a time had good relationship with Egypt, and the only way out for Houthis is to cut a deal with either US or Saudis. And Saudis can — kerping up appearances— let its allies, Egypt and Sudan break the impasse. US is still maintaining blockade off Hodeidah’s port. All one has to see is official web page of Sana’s government, Saba.net. The byline at the top says “USA killing Yemeni people”. Not Saudis, or anyone from the region. How will the Hodeidah sausage be made, we will see. But US will not alone control the ingredienrs. This is how bucking looks like down in the mud.
LMAO.
The sheer audacity that Uncle Sam still thinks it rules the world. Trump is nothing more than a ripe coward who takes his marching orders from war criminals and bankers. Go Iran and all of those defying these prime examples of human garbage.
But he always wanted a purple heart……… 🙂
For bone spurs.
A trade mechanism to circumvent American extraterritorial sanction laws is far more important than the Iran sanctions themselves.
Such a trade mechanism destroys part of the US “soft power.” It is a direct challenge to the latest US method of exerting its power in the world. It has far more long term implications.
Once this is set up and running, the US will have lost significant control of a tool it has overused and abused.
Why would it be unfair or hurt us if European markets were opened to Iranian dates, Cotton, rugs, etc. or whatever else Iranian companies may be good at making, or if Iranians could buy BMWs or champagne.
And while we are thinking about it, why not let them buy American goods too. I bet Tehran moms would love a Ford Escape. We make great stuff in USA and I bet we would compete well for the Iranian market. Let’s have peace and prosperity. I’m sick of war and debt. Sanctions regimes are job killers for us.
“Trump Warns Europeans Not to Defy US Sanctions Against Iran”
Yes, he just stomped his little feet and glared with his best sour-looking mug.
The world’s first man-child President.
The arrogance of the American regime is breathtaking. It should remember it’s on its way down and will soon need foreign aid itself. So many nations are being besieged by it as sanctions are just the modern form of siege warfare. It is only right they demand harsh terms or refuse when that time comes.
Trump warns Europe… or what??
Will he export a bit of “democracy” on us, too?…..