Doug Ross @ Journal

Party of Gullibility backs European Corporations and Iran

Democrats are fond of offering up various European 'allies' to assist our efforts to slow Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.


John Edwards: "...The former North Carolina senator said the U.S. and its European allies have the leverage and resources to enlist Iran's cooperation..."


Joe Biden: "...A top Democratic senator urged the Bush administration Sunday to join three European allies in negotiating with Iran to get it to abandon its nuclear programs..."


Hillary Clinton: "...we need to convince our European allies of [Iranian proxy] Hezbollah's threat..."

Unfortunately, today's Journal describes in precise terms why such an approach is fatally flawed (Europe and the Mullahs - subscription required).

...The European Union -- led by Germany, France and Italy -- has long been Iran's largest trading partner. Its share of Iran's total imports is about 35%. Even more notable: Its trade with Tehran has expanded since Iran's secret nuclear program was exposed. Between 2003 and 2005, Europe's exports rose 29% to €12.9 billion; machinery, transport equipment and chemicals make up the bulk of the sales. Imports from Iran, predominantly oil, increased 62% to €11.4 billion in that period... ...The Europeans aren't simply facilitating business between private companies. The vast majority of Iranian industry is state-controlled, while even private companies have been known to act as fronts for the country's nuclear program. EU taxpayers underwrite trade and investment that would otherwise be deterred by the risks of doing business with a rogue regime...

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to link the interests of Europe's most powerful corporations (although it's apparently beyond the intellectual acumen of the typical Democrat). According to a German newspaper, a Foreign Minister told Iran's Mullahs that Europe would act as a "protective shield" against the U.S.-led campaign to end Iran's nuclear program.


The E.U. is behaving outrageously -- but predictably -- as it continues to shield its corporate ties with Iran. That's Iran: the world's largest sponsor of terrorism and a deadly totalitarian regime that has promised to destroy the U.S., the U.K., and Israel.

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Lest we forget, Democrats also advocated a similar outsourcing approach with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which served as a veritable clearinghouse of terrorism:


Consider Harry Reid, "who calls himself a "hawk," not a dove, has nevertheless been adamant that Bush vigorously pursue the support of the United Nations and European allies, calling a go-it-alone attack a very last resort..."


As we now know, some of our European allies (e.g., France), had been utterly corrupted by bribes taken under the aegis of the United Nations' "Oil for Food" program. In fact, the U.N.'s "Independent Inquiry Committee" found that the operation had permitted, "illicit, unethical, and corrupt behavior" that decimated the effectiveness of the $64 billion operation.

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I find it incredibly ironic that the same party that routinely attacks large U.S. corporations -- from Exxon Mobil to Wal-Mart -- now backs Europe's largest corporations in its corrupt, destructive, and hydra-like ties with Tehran.


Iran has been blatant and unremorseful about its quest for nuclear weapons. And it long ago declared war on the U.S., U.K., and Israel.

It's a pity that the Party of Gullibility has become an apologist for enormous corporate interests and the inexorable crawl of a terrorist state towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, Atlas Shrugs, Captain's Quarters, Flopping Aces, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, Outside the Beltway, Rick Moran, STACLU, Wizbang