Senate gets tough on Iran

In the era of hyper partisanship the United States Senate voted 100-0 (that’s not a typo) to toughen sanctions on Iran that go far beyond what the Obama administration was willing to do as it continues on the path of engagement and appeasement in hopes of talking the Iranians out of their nuclear weapons program.

Sen. Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican, and Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, pushed the “100-0” measure, which would prohibit any U.S. financial entity from engaging in transactions with any foreign government, central bank or other financial firm that does business with the Central Bank of Iran.

Obama administration officials strongly oppose the new sanctions, saying they could drive up global oil prices and dissuade allies from joining efforts to further isolate Tehran.

The catch phrase in the administration’s stance is, “could drive up global oil prices.” This from the administration that has nixed the Keystone XL pipeline that would deliver shale oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast refineries. An administration that has blocked every meaningful attempt to develop the U.S.’s own shale, natural gas and offshore oil resources while pursuing “green energy” Solyndra boondoggles.

When will Obama wake up to the fact that energy independence frees the United States from the shackles of worrying about global oil prices and having to tiptoe around the tinderbox known as the Middle East. The president has had a three year “engagement” with Iran, which has literally thrown the “engagement ring” back in his face on more than one occasion.

Slow learner?

Steve Sarich

Grayslake