Efforts to Stop Iran Doing Nothing

Sanctions, lauded by most politicians, are doing nothing to stop Iran. Barry Rubin reports:

It's becoming an open secret--though not open enough--that the U.S.-led, UN-approved sanctions on Iran are having no serious strategic effect and only a limited economic effect on the country.

The reasons are clear:

1. To get the sanctions through the UN, the U.S. government basically told Russia, China, and Turkey that it would ignore their violations.

2. Iran has shifted its trade patterns eastward and southward generally, to Asia and the Middle East, including a very successful smuggling effort through the Gulf Arab states.

3. The price of oil has zoomed upward, in no small part due to mistaken U.S. foreign and energy policies, putting more money into the pocket of the Iranian regime.

And, of course, regional developments and U.S. policies--including coddling Syria, distancing itself from Israel, urging the total downfall of a relatively moderate Arab regime--also make the Iranian leaders feel that they are winning and thus should stay the course.

This is not to say that Iran's economy is doing well. Due to mismanagement and other factors, prices are steadily climbing and breeding discontent. But this has little to do with the sanctions and is hardy enough to get a determined, one might even say ideological fanatical, government to change its course.

Sanctions have become the soothing pill for the West in believing it is doing something about Iran rather than confront its growing influence contrasted with Western confusion and weakness. (continue reading at Rubin Reports)

In Iran protests continue in spite of the horrific response by the Iranian Revolutionary Iranium Guards.

Several dead in clashes as Arabs protest in Iran
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces on Friday fired on demonstrators in the city of Ahwaz, the Arab region in Iran (Khūzestān Province), killing three and injuring many others. This came in response for peaceful protests which swept the Arab region in what was called as the "day of rage in Ahwaz". It was declared to protest what the organizers called the oppression against the Arabs in that province.

The United States, under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, appear to be useless when it comes to Iran.

Clinton says Iran trying to hijack Mideast revolts
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday accused Iran of trying to hijack democratic revolutions around the Mideast and warned Arab nations not to permit intolerance against women and religious minorities.

Source: http://righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/2011/04/efforts-to-stop-iran-doing-nothing.html