[R-G] New Sanctions a “Sword of Damocles” over Iran; Senate Adopts Measure to Counter Censorship in Iran

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

On one hand, the West wants to isolate Iran economically, which
distances the Iranians from the West politically and culturally as
well; on the other hand, the West wants to gain an ability to
broadcast its propaganda into Iran.  It's a little schizophrenic.  It
might be simpler if the West went ahead and ended economic sanctions
on Iran.  Then, a sizable number of Iranians, of their own free will,
would probably import more of the junk that the West wants to dump on
Iran, as has been shown by the popularity of many kinds of the Western
junk in such former official enemies of the West as China and Viet
Nam.
Yoshie

<http://www.niacouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1471&Itemid=2>
New Sanctions a “Sword of Damocles” over Iran
Written by Ali Delforoush
Friday, 24 July 2009
ImageWashington DC - “I view the [Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions
Act] as a sword of Damocles over the Iranians,” said House Foreign
Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman. “This is a clear hint of
what will happen if they do not engage seriously and move rapidly to
suspend their uranium enrichment program.”

Berman said there is “no doubt” the American people stand with the
Iranian people, but he said the U.S. will rally international support
for imposing “crippling sanctions” if President Obama’s diplomatic
strategy has not shown signs of success by the fall.

While most of the world has been captivated by events unfolding in
Iran, Wednesday's Foreign Affairs Committee hearing concentrated on
Iran's nuclear program and the use of sanctions against Iran. The
committee hearing included a panel of six witnesses: Patrick Clawson
of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Suzanne Maloney from
the Brookings Institution, Abbas Milani of Stanford University, Karim
Sadjadpour from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute, and Orde Kittrie
from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Kittrie, Rubin, and Clawson indicated their support for imposing new
sanctions against companies that export refined petroleum to Iran,
while Maloney and Sadjadpour indicated that it is too early to decide
on this matter and that Congress should wait until "the dust has
settled [in Iran]." Milani said he would support "crippling sanctions"
but not "half-baked" ones that would just offer the Iranian government
excuses for Iran's economic troubles.

Maloney noted that "the opposition in Iran has not expressed their
desire for bilateral and unilateral sanctions that would cripple the
government." However, Sadjadpour stated, "the people in Iran now see
the value in sanctions and support their implementation." Abbas Milani
seconded this point.

Some of the Representatives expressed their concern that sanctions
would not be enough to deter Iran. "I feel it already may be too
late," said Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY). Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) compared
Iran to Nazi Germany in advocating for harsh new sanctions. Burton
added that if sanctions do not work, "they need to know what's coming
next." Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) told the panel he believes "we can
do more than just sanctions," advocating covert support for Iranian
opposition forces "so that they will have the material well-being...to
take on that government themselves.

Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) emphasized that he will support Israel if it
bombs Iran because it "feels like it has to defend itself." Kittrie
argued it would be better for the United States to carry out any
military action because "we have the right capacity." Meanwhile, Rubin
who prior to the Iranian presidential elections expressed his hope for
an Ahmadinejad victory, stated that "the United States should not
sacrifice its allies," indicating support for military action if US
allies in the region feel threatened by Iran.

The majority of the Committee agreed that, unless Iran suspends its
nuclear program by the end of September, the Congress will likely move
to impose additional broad sanctions against the Iranian economy.

<http://www.niacouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1473&Itemid=2>
Senate Adopts Measure to Counter Censorship in Iran
Written by Ali Delforoush
Friday, 24 July 2009

Washington DC - Last night, the Senate voted unanimously to adopt
legislation that aims to aid the ability of the Iranian people to
access news and information by overcoming the electronic censorship
and monitoring efforts of the Iranian government.

The Victims of Iranian Censorship (VOICE) Act was introduced by
Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Ted Kaufman
(D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Robert Casey (D-PA) as an amendment
to the National Defense Authorization Act.

“The world has been astonished and inspired by the courage of millions
of Iranians pressing their regime for nothing more than their
inalienable rights,” said Senator John McCain.  “The Iranian
government has taken numerous steps to stop these citizens from
communicating with each other and with the outside world.  As this
cruel regime works to close off Iranian society, the VOICE Act, by
providing assistance for broadcasting and new internet and
communications technologies, will help to open it up.”

The VOICE Act provides $30 million in additional funding to the
Broadcasting Board of Governors to expand Farsi language broadcasting
into Iran and to develop technology to bypass the Iranian government’s
efforts to block radio, satellite, and Internet access.

The Act also declares that the US Congress “respects the sovereignty,
proud history, and rich culture of the Iranian people,” and
establishes the policy of the United States “to support the Iranian
people as they seek, receive, and impart information and promote ideas
in writing, in print, or through any media without interference.”

Other facets of the act include $20 million for a new “Iranian
Electronic Education, Exchange, and Media Fund,” which will support
the development of technologies that will aid the ability of the
Iranian people to gain access to and share information.

The VOICE Act also requires the President to list all non-Iranian
companies that have assisted the government of Iran’s efforts to
monitor and censor internet usage. In addition, it authorizes $5
million dollars to be spent collecting and disseminating information
about the status of human rights in Iran.