Hundreds of lawmakers urge Obama to take 'punishing measures' against Iran

[The Northerner]

Congressional proponents of swift, tougher sanctions on Iran have finished gathering signatures on letters to President Barack Obama.

The letter recently recirculated by Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) is being submitted to Obama with 363 House members' signatures.

"Mr. President, you have stated this issue is a priority for your administration. You have attempted to engage the Iranian regime for over a year. You have gone to the United Nations Security Council in an effort to impose tough new sanctions on Iran. But time is not on our side," the letter states.

"We cannot allow those who would oppose or delay sanctions to govern either the timing or content of our efforts," it says, in reference to the lack of support at the Security Council by veto-wielders China and Russia.

The letter calls on Obama to "fulfill your June 2008 pledge that you would do 'everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,'" to "rapidly" implement the sanctions legislation when it comes out of conference and use whatever presidential powers at his means to impose "punishing measures" on Tehran.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/92293-more-than-three-quarters-of-congress-urge-obama-to-take-punishing-measures-on-iran

[ZeitgeistObserver]

1. Why is it up to Obama to inflict 'punishing measures'

on ANYbody?

[Canuckistanian]

2. Oh, pulease

If ONE BOMB explodes in Iranian territory, there'll be HELL to pay. Obama knows it, Rahm knows it and the rest of the world knows it.

The President is taking the right course by IGNORING the usual cast of warhawks.

[napi21]

3. I believe I heard today that China agreed to sign onto some sanctions against Iran.

That apparently happened at this anti neuclear meeting.

What exactly do these people want Obama to do? I sure HOPE they're not wanting what dimwitt McNuts wants...to bomb Iran. If you listened to Keith tonight you already know why.

[Prometheus Bound]

7. They haven't and they won't.

India, China and Turkey are all against sanctions, so sanctions will be ineffective as usual.

China's talking. That's all. And shipping gasoline to Iran.

Exclusive: China's top oil firms sell gasoline to Iran-trade
Luke Pachymuthu and Seng Li Peng
DUBAI/SINGAPORE
Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:48am EDT

DUBAI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - State-run Chinaoil has sold two gasoline cargoes for April delivery to Iran, industry sources said on Wednesday, stepping into a void left by fuel suppliers halting shipments under threat of U.S. sanctions.

Beijing, which has close economic ties with Tehran, has resisted sanctions proposed by Western powers on Iran's energy sector that aim to press the Islamic Republic to curb its nuclear program.

U.S. politicians want to impose unilateral sanctions on fuel suppliers to Iran, and several of the world's top oil companies and trading houses have already curbed sales to pre-empt potential penalization of their U.S. operations in future.

But while others back out, Chinaoil has sold a total of about 600,000 barrels worth around $55 million to the Islamic Republic.

The cargoes were Chinaoil's first direct sales to Iran since at least January 2009, according to Reuters data. Chinese firms have previously sold through intermediaries, traders said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63D1CY20100414

[PM Martin]

4. Most experts oppose using military force.

I would expect Obama knows this and would not do anything brash like Forestal John recommended.

[Yeahyeah]

5. Jesse Jackson Jr. What does he ever do?

[Rex]

6. Wow, we just can't wait to get more of our soldiers killed. Someone

remind me, what the FUCK good are politicians again?