U.S. campaign calls for major divestment from Iran
Pressure being carried out in parallel with continuous UN efforts to impose second round of sanctions.
By Shmuel RosnerWASHINGTON - The effort to apply economic pressure on the regime in Tehran through divestment has intensified in the United States. The pressure, which involves divestment on the part of international firms, is being carried out in parallel with continuous efforts at the United Nations Security Council to impose a second round of sanctions against Iran in response to its failure to abide by the world body's call to end uranium enrichment.
Various Israeli sources and the pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), are also contributing to the efforts, particularly through specific legislation in various American states where pension funds hold stock in firms invested in Iran.
The economic sanctions against Iran are being pursued on a number of fronts simultaneously. On the international front, this effort is focused on the United Nations Security Council.
On the American domestic scene, several bills have recently been put before Congress. These bills would restrict U.S. cooperation with states and companies doing business with Iran.
Legislative proposals have also been put forth that would order pension funds to divest from firms with commercial links with Iran.
At the same time, the U.S. administration is working, mostly through the Treasury, on convincing banks throughout the world to make the transfer of funds related to Iran more difficult.
A senior U.S. Treasury official, Stuart Levey, has recently returned to Washington from a visit to the Middle East, which included a visit to Israel. His team has revealed that in coming months banks and credit companies may decide to freeze their ties with Iran after having been presented with data on the types of activities supported by the Iranian financial transactions.
The front on which there is a flurry of activity is the various American states and their local legislatures. In Ohio, for example, a bill was put forth last week, which would require the state to withdraw its investments from any company doing business with Iran. Similar bills are being prepared or are already in the legislative process in the local governments of many other states.
The two Ohio legislators behind the divestment bill, Josh Mandel and Shannon Jones, say billions of dollars in state residents' pension funds are invested in firms trading with countries supporting terrorism, including Iran.
The Ohio civil servants fund holds investments in 102 firms with commercial ties to Iran. The pension funds of Ohio school teachers has invested in 48 firms trading with Iran. The two Ohio state representatives would like for these investments to come to an end.
At an AIPAC conference held Monday in Washington, Executive Director Howard Core announced that the pro-Israel lobby will begin working with specific states in order to explore different ways of chocking investments necessary for Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
Official Israeli figures have briefed legislators in a number of states on this issue and the head of the opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu, is visiting Washington in an effort to convince the governors of various states to rally behind the economic boycott effort.
According to estimates, some 300 large international corporations are participating in serious investments in Iran. Experts say that focusing boycott efforts on them may cause serious economic difficulties to the regime in Tehran.
Dr. Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who worked on Levey's team at the Treasury, said Sunday that, "If the effort is focused on several dozen corporations, it will be sufficient," because this is the number of firms invested in Iranian petroleum, the critical area of that country's economy.
At the AIPAC conference, Levitt said that taking into consideration the limited diplomatic pressure that can be brought to bear on Iran, as well as the dangers and complexities of a potential military operation, the economic efforts of the administration are now the most efficient tool.
New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., whose responsibilities also include the city's pension plans worth several hundred million dollars, described his efforts to pinpoint corporations with investments in Iran, so city pension funds can divest from them.
Speaking at the AIPAC conference, he said the assumption is that many of these firms will prefer to cut their ties with Iran in order to preserve the investments of American institutions.
In recent months, Netanyahu has held talks with some of the presidential candidates in the U.S., including Republican Rudi Giuliani and John McCain, in order to rally their support for the divestment efforts.
On Monday, Netanyahu met with Democratic candidate Barack Obama to discuss this issue.
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Senior U.S. Treasury official Stuart Levey. (Tomer Appelbaum / BauBau) |
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and your a lier!
"I don`t know what you call that, denial, revisionist history, amnesia, hasbara or good ole fashion ignorance. Here are the facts about AIPAC`s role in starving 1 million babies in Iraq- for starters as we now sadly come to realize." Rubbish. You clearly do not understand American politics and policy. Your attempt to paint AIPAC as some all powerful policy making Jewish organization is nothing but a smear. AIPAC just like the Republican Party and dozens of various groups and think tanks ALL took the exact same position. POSITION JOE .. does NOT mean having the ability to make US foreign policy the way you're trying to make it sound. AIPAC merely represents a viewpoint and perhaps you don't understand that we're all allowed here to have and voice our VIEWS, but that doesn't guarantee these views become policy. Despite your spin here, AIPAC and/or Jews DO NOT have that sort of influence and to even suggest it just makes you look idiotic.
Economic warfare is warfare. The actions by Israel and the United States should be brought before and condemned in the United Nations. Unfortunately, neither the United States nor Israel believe in the rule of law. And from a historical perspective, what goes around usually comes around.
Iran just like Iraq did is starting to sell oil in Euros not US dollars, making the US Dollar visible for everyone to see what the Dollar is really worth, ZILCH! The very first action of the US after occupying Iraq was to change back oil sales from Iraq away from the Euro back to the US dollar. Every country in the world has reserves of US dollars soley to buy oil, if US dollars are no longer required to buy oil then all these trillions of dollars go flooding back to the US where the US cannot afford to buy them back! THE USA IS BANKRUPT ALREADY, THEY ARE INVADING NATIONS AND STEALING OIL TO KEEP THIER HEADS ABOVE WATER, FACE REALITY FOLKS! HOW SAD FOR SUCH A GREAT NATION TO HAVE ENDED UP.
children murdered by Sadam Hussein in purges as well as all those children (including yours) being threatened today and are likely be murdered if the idiot of Iran's wet dream comes true. The solution is simple - don't threaten anyone else with extinction and expect the world to ignore you. There is no reason why his threats should not be taken seriously and every effort made by the free world to combat this threat. The Idiot's very first consideration should be the welfare of his own population. If he thinks threatening others with nuclear extinction is the way to do this, well, what can I say?
"Last update - 12:03 13/03/2007 Peres: Iranian nuclear issue must be dealt with peacefully By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Tuesday that a peaceful solution must be found to the Iranian nuclear problem, despite its president's vow to wipe Israel off the map." You people really are desperate to substitute fiction at any cost.
for food program. There was plenty of money for Sadaam to build palaces.His cronies lived just fine. Oil was openly smuggled out through Turkey etc. Some UN functionaries did nicely out of all this. Sadaam used his own people as pawns. Can't let go of your old ally can you? so bring on the Jewscapegoat.
ijakarta, I agree with you. US is now nothing more than capitalism aflot upon a sea of delusion.... BUT,... arms AREreal.
In the global economy the word is "high profits-low costs". The cost of an investment too must be contained compared to the high returns expected. This perverted thought has an effect also on the conflicts that are unleashed eagerly. Yes, because the living conditions of most of the people remain unchanged! So there is little hailing for the liberators...... Ciao, MF.
"What`s AIPAC have to do with the Iraqi sanctions? You Israel bashers just don`t understand the dynamics that existed between the Bush family and the Saddam Hussein crew. What you try and pass off as Jewish influence over US policy via (evil music) AIPAC, had more to do with the Bush family name and saving a father`s legacy then all the nefarious evil fantasies that you can ever spin in your bigoted mind." I don't know what you call that, denial, revisionist history, amnesia, hasbara or good ole fashion ignorance. Here are the facts about AIPAC's role in starving 1 million babies in Iraq- for starters as we now sadly come to realize. Here it is spelled out for you from another Jewish site so you don't say I made it up. http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/13460/edition_id/260/format/html/displaystory.html
The amazing thing is these officials keep thinking that the US still as powerful as it used to 10 years ago. A little move in China's capital market created an earthquake in Wallstreet. NOBODY listens to you, LEVEY. Keep dreaming.
statement about Iran and what people worldwide should do in relationship to it if they wish to promote peace.
"JOE- If toy dislike Jews, think they "rule" yhe U.S., Isreal is wrong ect. WHY do you continue to post on a JEWISH SITE?? I certainly feel ho need to go to Islamic sites and post. There would be something wrong with me if I did." First of all John, I don't "dislike Jews" or any group of people but I know your mind is made up and I can't help you if you see hate where none exist. I do dis-like certain individuals and certain policies of certain countres and trust me, it's not an exclusive club. To answer your question, basically "why are you here this is our club" attitude, I didn't come to a "Jewish" site, I came to an English NEWS site, the fact it's a Zionist Israeli site run by Jews is irrelevant. Are you kidding me? If I based my viewing or reading habit on whether they are run by Jews or not, I will be limited to Al-Jazeera( and I question who runs that place too:). It says more about you for not willing to visit a Muslim site(what language is that btw?) than me being here.
Even Netanyahu/Liberman have said the military option is the LAST option. BTW What do the Mullahs,Hamas,Nasrallah say? You boys use lots of aliases to make your case sound popular.
hey john, maybe joe is jewish and even if he wasnt he has every right to post on this site. question though, did Israel divest from the racist apartheid South African state? Did you call for Israeli or American divestment from South Africa? I bet not.
Hey, all you crazy antisemitic bigots. Iran can't even cough up the roubles to pay the Russians for their nuclear popguns. Israel will be around when the Islamic Republic crumbles to dust. We'll open an embassy in Ahmedinejad's house and set up a few nightclubs, get the party going. Joe and Guss, you're welcome to come along, just get some decent clothes and lose the bad attitude. Drinks are on me. Long live the Free Republic of Iran. Chadors optional.
How could you be so indifferent to the loss of human life? Your "just nuke them" policy would ensure the death of millions, including a VERY LARGE Jewish population residing in Tehran and its outskirts. May God have mercy on your base soul...By the way, for all of you who believe that Israel would easily destroy Iran, it would not be that simple. After a disappointing and costly eight year war with Iraq, Iran has been investing billions in developing advanced arms. Some of their more unsophisticated weapons were displayed in last summer's war in which hezbollah was able to use a basic, IRANIAN produced missile to severely damage an Israeli naval ship. Plus, remember that Syria and Iran have an pact stating that an attack on one is tantamount to an attack on the other. Could Israel survive? It could not even obtain its objectives against a little militia which it would certainly have to do battle with again if Iran were to be attacked...
No matter what these zionists do, Iran will stand firm as it had been for the last 28 years. The zionists think that they can destroy Iran like they did in Iraq but remember that Iran is a shia country and a few thousand shia Lebenese have destroyed the Israeli pride last year. The coward zionists and the US neocons don't have the gutts to attack Islamic Iran. If they could attack Iran they would have done it 28 years ago. Long live the Islamic Republic.
Just remember, the company who owns the Bush Junta, Halliburton, finally closed out it's illegal business operations in Iran in late 2005.
Just remember, the company who owns the Bush Junta, Halliburton, finally closed out it's illegal business operations in Iran in late 2005.
1st -- following the doctrine of Hebrewnomics, try to strangle a country economically if they do not blindly follow the Hebrew and American hyper-capitalists. 2nd -- if this doesn't work (it usually does), then start a war. 3rd -- Rinse, repeat. P.S. -- sleazy Jewconomists were responsible for both World War I and World War II.
In case you missed the news.Europe and the Sunni Arabs amongst others do not wan't a nuclear armed Iran either.All of a sudden these states now want nuclear technology. Of course you losers sure know how to pick them first Sadaam now Ahmadinejad.If all else fails blame the Jews.
"trust me, they are ready for Israel" When they come Joe, you'll be amongst the first to go! you know how many Israeli Arabs were forced martydom unto them from incoming Hizbulla/Iranian rockets?
JOE- If toy dislike Jews, think they "rule" yhe U.S., Isreal is wrong ect. WHY do you continue to post on a JEWISH SITE?? I certainly feel ho need to go to Islamic sites and post. There would be something wrong with me if I did.
Why are we wasting time by sanction - just nuke. it should be all over within 45 minutes.
What's AIPAC have to do with the Iraqi sanctions? You Israel bashers just don't understand the dynamics that existed between the Bush family and the Saddam Hussein crew. What you try and pass off as Jewish influence over US policy via (evil music) AIPAC, had more to do with the Bush family name and saving a father's legacy then all the nefarious evil fantasies that you can ever spin in your bigoted mind.
Joe, I have yet to see one of these stories that names the companies. Could it be they are Catapiller, or KBR or Haliburton or Exxon Mobil? Or maybe Dow Chemical or Citibank? Of course, the PTBs know who will make the list. They are divesting now, before the stock prices drop.
Iran, and no one should acquire any goods from that country that is eager to establish its hegemony over the entire region of the Middle East and its Arab countries, to wipe Israel off the map, and to threaten world peace with its development of nuclear weaponry.
what happened to Iran threats or was it just barking , hob , hob ,hob
I have no doubt AIPAC will pull out it's play book from the 1990's and brush off the dust. We all remember sanctions on Iraq where 500,000 thousand children were killed--not to mention the crippling effect on the rest of the civilian population. I know AIPAC is having a field day, with a character out of central casting to head this effort - Mr Levey at the treasury department, it won't be long before we get to putting sanctions on baby formula going to Iran. This is like a bad B horror movie that never ends. Israel has 400 nukes and sanctions, where children and innocents will die or worse another war, like Iraq, this time in Iran and for what? I see a bloodbath coming if Persia is attacked or sanctions imposed. People forget, Iran fought 8 year battle with Iraq UNDER AMERICAN SANCTIONS. Trust me, they are ready for Israel.