Dan speaks out on trade with Iran

The Boston Globe ran an article last week covering a Congressional hearing on trade with Iran.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the value of U.S. exports to Iran has grown significantly during President Bush's years in office -- from about $8 million in 2001 to nearly $150 million last year. The exports, made under agricultural, medical and humanitarian exemptions to U.S. trade sanctions, included cigarettes, bull semen, corn, soybeans and medicine, among other goods.

"It's that kind of mixed signal that has led to the kind of situation that we're in right now," Obama said Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman, remarked on the growth in U.S. trade during comments on the European Union's recent move to toughen financial sanctions on Iran.

"It's time for them to take far more significant steps along the lines of cutting off all significant commerce with Iran, as we did years ago -- or at least I thought we did. I'm not so sure, after yesterday's Associated Press report that U.S. exports to Iran have increased nearly twenty-fold during the Bush administration years, up to nearly $150 million in 2007," Berman, D-Calif., said at a committee hearing Wednesday.

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said the growth in U.S. exports didn't make sense to him at a time when the United States was trying to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear efforts. He said the United States needs to set a strong example for the rest of the world on Iran.

"I understand it's the government we're after, and not the people, but nevertheless if the people are upset, they're going to put pressure on the government, and some pressure on the people over there by cutting off trade with them in certain areas that they want would also be very, very beneficial," Burton said.

Comments

[John Maszka]

The situation is delicate and complicated. There is no one simple or easy solution. But we have to remember that there are two sides to every coin. Iran is conducting itself as a rational state actor. If we were to familiarize ourselves with Iran's perspective we would recognize this fact.
What Iran needs more than anything right now is something to lose. We've backed it into a corner and given it few options. We should leave Iran an honorable path of retreat. Engaging Iran in the global economy is the only approach that has merit.
Regardless of Iran’s size however, we should be careful what we assume about Iran; it has some ten million men of military age.
Puor bien savoir les choses, il en faut savoir le detail, et comme il est presque infini, nos connaissances sont toujours superficielles et imparfaites.
Unfortunately, what we do know is that the Bush administration cannot be trusted to do what it says. Iraq taught us that lesson. Many experts have long been predicting that Bush would invade Iran before he leaves office. But of course, the Bush administration would never admit to such a thing.
“On ne donne rien si liberalement que ses conseils.”
But it is the man who follows his own counsel, he’s the one that should lead.

[Robert A. Carr]

Hi Team Burton.

I'm sending this to you for any help you can furnish. I've never done a pr before. I wrote this in hopes of getting some grass roots publicity. Please let me know if there is anything that you don't think is appropiate for me to be putting out on the web. Thanks. I don't know how else to get this to you in time. Thank you. So if I have any effect it will be before the House recess.
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To whom it may concern.

My name is Bob Carr. I’m a citizen concerned with the price of gasoline. I am also concerned with the seeming inability of the Congress to do something about it. A recent pew pole showed an upsurge in support for a more direct approach to solving that problem, The poll question asked the person to chose between, more exploration, mining etc. vs. increasing regulation on the oil companies, and or conservation. The surprising thing was that the largest increase came from the young people, the college educated, the women, the liberals. A larger percentage of self proclaimed Democrats are in favor of increased exploration, than the percentage of self proclaimed Republicans. All of this change was done in 4 months since Newt Gingrich got the ball rolling with the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition. He has over 1 -1/3 million signatures.
-----link to pew poll-------
http://people-press.org/report/433/gas-prices
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The third box of numbers was shocking to me. This is not a political issue anymore to the people of the country, only to the legislators. I am having this protest march to put a face on the anger the people have with the leadership in Congress.

John Boehner on July 11th released the following. I blogged about it at
-----my blog-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-dream-of-campout.html
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Below is a snippet from that blog.
-----snippet------
Yesterday John Boehner sent out this alert on his web site.
-----link-----
http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=97030
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I wrote the following in my blog.
-----quote from my blog-------
“I especially liked the fire in the belly as evidenced by the following quote from Mr. Boehner. ““I’m going to say it one more time, we need to do ‘all of the above’ if we’re serious. We can drill in an environmentally sound way, and that’s what we should be doing… We’re not going to leave here for the August recess until we get a vote on having more American-made energy.””.
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I have decided that I too am going to do something about the lack of action from Congress. Below is what I came up with.

On July 23, starting at 9:00 am and hopefully lasting all day I and others will be marching and carrying signs in front of the Muskegon County Building. If this is successful we will follow up on the 24th. I will be notifying all media of this. I also am trying to stir up other similar “marches” through out the state by networking on the blogoshpere.

I have been in contact with the offices of Dan Burton and Tim Walberg and John Boehner, they all welcomed the idea. Tim and Dan have been the pioneers in the Congress on this issue, along with others including Lynn Westmoreland, and Tom Price. John Boehner has taken the leader ship position as he should in the House. The President has finally joined by lifting the ban on off shore drilling.

It is now up to Congress. I’m organizing this “March” to let the people of Muskegon show their views on this issue. Something needs to be done by Congress, before it recesses to help restore the people’s faith in that body. Letting people know that they can be a “Can Do Congress” instead of a “Do Nothing Congress”.

Thank You.
Bob Carr
24 Morrall Ave.
Muskegon Mi. 49441
231-728-3455
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
Blog sites.
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com
http://bottomuppolitics.blogspot.com

[TeamBurton]

Bob:

Good luck to you and your supporters. We are convinced that you and people like you protesting and making our case can do a lot of good for our cause.