Ron Paul points out that many people have the misconception that sanctions are an effective means to encourage a change of behavior in another country without war. However, imposing sanctions and blockades are not only an act of war according to international law, they are most often the first step toward a real war starting with a bombing campaign. Sanctions were the first step in our wars against Iraq and Libya, and now more sanctions planned against Syria and Iran are leading down the same destructive path.
Warmongers overwhelmingly passed in Congress a new package of sanctions against Iran. The legislation seeks to tighten the chokehold on the regime beyond anything that has been done before. The Senate passed the sanctions bill unanimously and the House passed it on a vote of 421-6. http://venitism.blogspot.com
According to International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA), there is no evidence that Iran has diverted enriched uranium from the peaceful and lawful generation of power toward building a nuclear weapon. According to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has every right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Unfortunately, US foreign policy has boxed Iran into a corner where they may view development of a nuclear weapon as the only way to maintain sovereignty.
They are surrounded by unfriendly nuclear powers and history has shown that having a nuclear weapon is the best way to avoid being bombed or invaded. The unintended consequences of our confrontational policies toward Iran may be to actually encourage them to seek nuclear weapons capabilities. We should be using diplomacy rather than threats and hostility.
Warmongers from both parties are prepared to take additional steps. Howard Berman says: There is more we can do, more that we will do if Iran doesn't end its nuclear weapons program verifiably and completely.
Michael Scheuer points out Washington, Tel Aviv, and London are
already conducting a lethal, covert-action war inside Iran which is killing
Iranian nuclear scientists and destroying nuclear-related facilities, as well as
trying to goad Tehran into reacting with violence and thereby give the West a
casus belli.
Such a war would be a financial and military disaster for the
United States, and would be watched with glee by Russian and Chinese leaders who
while their countries would lose some trade with Iran during a war would
applaud another U.S. self-inflicted wound which further erodes the already
failing economy that is the base of American power.
The sanctions followed criticism from Romney that the White House had failed to act strongly enough. China, Iran's top customer for oil, says: The U.S. has invoked domestic law to impose sanctions on a Chinese financial institution, and this is a serious violation of international rules that harms Chinese interests.
Ron Paul is clear about this: sanctions against Iran are definite steps toward a US attack. Already we see US warships approaching the region, moving dangerously close. The tougher sanctions currently under consideration would disrupt global trade and undermine the US economy, which in turn harms our national security. Foreign companies or foreign subsidiaries of US companies would be severely punished if they did not submit to the US trade embargo on Iran. We must change our foreign policy to one of economic freedom and diplomacy. That is the only way to promote peace and prosperity. This race to war against Iran and Syria is both foolhardy and dangerous. http://venitism.blogspot.com
