Interesting article on The Guardian today. Some excerpts:
"US exports to Iran have jumped dramatically during president George Bush's years in office in spite of his tough rhetoric against the Tehran government and the imposition of fresh economic sanctions.
Analysis of US government trade figures published today by the Associated Press revealed a near tenfold increase over the last seven years in sales to Iran.
The AP analysis found data suggesting military equipment had been exported, even though there are sanctions in place designed to prevent this. The Treasury is still investigating but Rankin said initial findings indicated there had been no such sales and described it as a "clerical error".
The US has had sanctions in place against Iran since the Tehran embassy hostage crisis almost 30 years ago. During Bush's presidency, relations with Iran have become increasingly strained, with Washington claiming that Iran has embarked on a programme to build a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies. It also blames Iran for a flow of explosive devices into Iraq that have been used against US and British troops.
The US vice-president, Dick Cheney, the leading hawk in the Bush administration towards Iran, warned Europeans last year that if their firms remain in Tehran, they are going to have problems doing business in the US."
Aside from the military equipment (like rockets and rifles, the report claims) that may have been exported or may have been a, ahem, clerical error, the number one export: cigarettes. Hmm. Isn't it mainly Republican coffers that US tobacco companies pour millions into?
Nice. Tell other countries they can't do business with someone... and then do it yourself. Talk tough to portray yourselves as supporting our troops... then make some cash selling to a country you claim is helping blow up those troops.
Nice.
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