The early verdict on the new Iran sanctions is that even the "smart" sanctions have proven to be, well, dumb. Instead of targeting Iranian government officials connected to the nuclear program or who are complicit in human rights abuses, the new sanctions are punishing young Iranians who have been the greatest allies of democracy, human rights, and accountability in Iran.
Late last week, it was revealed that young Iranians looking to attend college abroad are now facing serious impediments because of new sanctions. The Educational Testing Service -- the US-based company that provides standardized tests necessary to apply for college, like the GRE and the TOEFL-- announced that it was suspending tests for hopeful students in Iran in order to comply with recently passed UN sanctions.
Back in March, President Obama recorded a statement to Iran for Norooz -- the Iranian New Year -- in which he promised to "sustain our commitment to a more hopeful future for the Iranian people," which he said would include "increasing opportunities for educational exchanges so that Iranian students can come to our colleges and universities..."
But with the announcement that standardized testing has been suspended in Iran due to sanctions, President Obama has failed to live up to that commitment.
This President claimed that he could walk and chew gum at the same time. But in placing "pressure" at the center of his Iran policy, every other element of the President's Iran strategy is being subsumed by a singular focus on punitive actions, including the President's "outstretched hand" promises to the critical demographic of Iranian youth.
For those keeping score, the UN passed multilateral sanctions against Iran on June 9, which were then followed by more stringent, unilateral sanctions passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on July 1.
In the weeks that have passed, Iranian civilian jets have been denied access to European airports and, because Congress' sanctions specifically forbid companies from providing jet fuel to Iran, Iranian passenger planes are struggling to find ways to refuel, doubling the cost of travel for Iranians. Meanwhile, many of the same Iranians who were taking part in protests and fighting brutal government repression last year are now feeling the crunch of sanctions as the prices for most goods rise steeply.
And now, young Iranians who want to travel the world and study in universities in America and Europe are finding that US-led sanctions are denying them that opportunity.
President Obama seems to understand the importance of connecting Iran's youth to the world, given that he has placed an emphasis in his outreach efforts on student exchanges and opening up the Internet. Iran is a country of young people -- 60% of Iranians are under thirty. All of these youth were born after 1979, post-Islamic Revolution, post-hostage crisis, and many even post-Khomeini. They have only lived under the broken promises of the Revolution and yearn for greater rights, more opportunities to express themselves, and increased interaction with the outside world. They are not moved by the Iranian government's propaganda and don't find relevance in the anti-Americanism that many in Iran's government claim as its raison d'être.
Young Iranians hold the greatest hope for a democratic Iran that has positive relations with the US and its neighbors. But by punishing these young Iranians and providing reasons to resent and distrust America, we play into the hands of those in Iran's government who are more comfortable with isolated, dejected young population than with a vibrant youth that is connected to the outside world and adamant about their rights and aspirations.
President Obama isn't the only one who understands the importance and power of Iran's youth. Ahmadinejad's government is increasingly exerting pressure on young Iranians, a continuation of the crackdowns at university campuses that has been central to Iran's efforts to suppress dissent over the years. There are instances of increasing cultural repression -- such the policing of haircuts and nail polish, and new restrictions on movies and music. There are also expanding attempts to infiltrate and influence young Iranians through schools and universities, including a recent announcement that the government would be dispatching clerics to schools this fall to counter Western influence in classrooms.
Clearly Iran's government understands that Iran's young people are the locus for change in Iran. But the US will only alienate these young people by telling them they can't study in America or even take the GRE.
Obama Administration officials said for months that they only sought sanctions that would punish Iran's government, not its people. But it's unclear if any actions were actually taken in this regard. Sanctions are rife with unintended consequences -- just look at how US sanctions last June blocked American communication software from being legally available in Iran, even as Iranians depended on Internet communication tools to broadcast their protests to the outside world. Those sanctions have thankfully been repealed, but not until the damage had already been done.
President Obama may not have intended to ban Iranian students from studying abroad. But until he reconciles his stated intentions towards the Iranian people with his Administration's prioritization of pressure, a pattern of contradictions will continue to emerge between what the President promises on Iran and what policies are actually being pursued.
Urge President Obama to keep his promise to Iranian students
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The President's promise to pursue diplomacy with Iran has turned out to be similar to many other promises that he made during his campaign: bogus. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made it repeatedly clear that the "diplomacy" with Iran is about convincing the Europeans that diplomacy will not work with Iran, not about reaching a diplomatic solution.
So, it is now crystal clear that the administration's plan all along has been to go through the diplomatic motions, as Israel's man in the White House, Dennis Ross, wanted, in order to set the stage for crippling sanctions and war against Iran.
And don't foget the very generous AIPAC donations received by Hillary during her primary campaign.
Sanctions, probably. Crippling, probably not due to Russian and Chinese opposition. War, very unlikely due to Pentagon war games assessing the virtual impossibility of success.
As for Obama, he did infact spend millions of our tax dollars on supporting opposition groups in Iran. I'm not sure what exactly you wanted him to do differently I suppose a total invasion
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gJJR9xFCrHYn1gT_i8uZ3TPHodtg
Alas, there are no such things as smart sanctions. On the one hand, the Iranian people can see Ahmadi's careless Bush-like "cowboy" brinkmanship and rhetoric which feeds right into the hands of status quo policy makers and propagandists in Israel and the US. But, they can also blame Washington in greater or lesser measure. It's not necessarily an either/or zero sum dynamic. The Prophet Mani may have been Iranian, but Iranians don't all subscribe to the Manichæan paranoia of the regime. They are much more sophisticated than their government.
For more, from March, but still relevant: http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/fathollah-nejad-why-smart-sanctions-on.html
I was wondering if the first sentence was a nod to that.
But, I was also wondering when the regime will start giving images of Imam Hossein a haircut!
Ahmadinejad main support comes from rural conservatives, he's extremely unpopular in big cities and especially among young and educated.
Your claims are not based on anything but the propaganda, and what is interesting is that when offered the data that shows otherwise, you dismiss it as propaganda because it conflicts with your claims.
(As do the polling numbers, the size of the pro-government demonstrations, the lack of support for the 'protests' outside of the most anti-Ahmadinejad city, and the interesting way the claims of the size of those 'protests' have been inflated)
Are you among the much vaunted 5%?
They say the issue is with the regime, and they run ads on TV saying that US dependency on oil makes Iran $100 Million per year (AND WE DON"T EVEN BUY OIL FROM IRAN!!!).
They say the issue is with the Mullahs, but then they write and produce movies instilled with propaganda to make us look like inhuman mutants (300) or baby kidnappers ("Not Without My Daughter") without any bases in reality.
They say they have no qualms with the Iranian people, but the US Navy shoots down a civilian airliner Air Flight 655 killing 300+ Iranians, and a cover-up is had before the media uncovers it and a subsequent coverup ensues.
They say that the Iranian people deserve more, but lend us not even a nod to show it. They are silent when it is time to speak so our enemies crush us.
When will they keep their promise? When will Obama FINALLY be on the right side of history??
So, when you say the sanctions are working and that the US can pressure the Mullahs regarding human rights along with sanctions, you are completely ignoring the realities. The powers that control US foreign policy in the Middle East are not interested in a reconciled or developing Iran whatsoever.
I am not suggesting that the US or any other country for that matter, to come and support the UPRISINGS and FREEDOM in IRAN. NO, they won't do it and they shouldn't do the JOB for the people of Iran. The best HELP is the SANCTIONS. Believe me, if China & Russia would join them, the Mullahs would not last too long! The REST must be DONE BY THE FREED IRANIANS THEMSELVES because NO POWER WOULD HELP YOU WITHOUT A PRICE!!!
Au contraire pal.
it is you trying to redirect the reality of the oppression and mismanagement that progressive Iranian people suffer at the hands of the religious, military police, military tribunals, Sharia based Penal codes, belligerent relationships with the West, Arab states, . arrests and torture of the non-conformists, oppression of women and minorities and failed economic policies of the regime.
All that to get off a few irrational, Ahmadinejad-like shots at neocons who are preventing Iranian from developing into a thriving democracy....Come on, you know better than taht. Or do you?
Therefore, the lifting of the sanctions is much more beneficial to the Iranian people than the Iranian government. In addition, it will expedite the desired change in Iran.