Germany sells airliner to sanctioned Iranian carrier

[Mediocrates]

http://www.jpost.com/International/A...aspx?id=246484

BERLIN – Germany’s federal government sold a jet used by Chancellor Angela Merkel and her predecessors to Iran’s sanctioned airline Mahan, igniting criticism from Israeli security experts and a Western diplomat.

Spiegel Online first reported about the sale of the “Theodor Heuss” jet to Iran on its website Sunday, writing “embarrassment for Berlin” in its report about the delivery of the plane to Iran’s regime.

The Obama administration imposed sanctions on Mahan airline in October because of the commercial airline’s work with the sanctioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to Treasury official David Cohen, “Mahan Air’s close coordination with the IRGC-QF [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp-Quds Force], secretly ferrying operatives, weapons and funds on its flights, reveals yet another facet of the IRGC’s extensive infiltration of Iran’s commercial sector to facilitate its support for terrorism.”

[Ziggy]

Germany has an inherent sense of arrogance, it always has and always shall. Ironically, they still aspire to run the world, unfortunately, if anything, they are running it downward.

Kudos to the Obama administration on this one... it's hard for me to admit it, admittedly. Perhaps Obama should go a step further and propose sanctions of a sort. If nothing else it would be a much needed slap down for their self-righteous, Fuhrer, Angela Merkel.

What is good for Germany's is not, one suspects, for its supposed partners... it all has a familiar ring to it.

[Kachah]

Who cares, airliner-shmairliner, sanctions do not work with iraqs irans or north koreas of these world. By not selling a plane to a company which "worked with Iranian Guards" we are trying to achieve - what exactly? Not to say that Germany has done something commendable though...
The sanctions will impoverish the people, won't stop or harm the rulers. The bunker busters will. How long did the anti-Saddam sanctions last before - of course, the tanks had to go in?

[Ziggy]

Who cares, airliner-shmairliner, sanctions do not work with iraqs irans or north koreas of these world. By not selling a plane to a company which "worked with Iranian Guards" we are trying to achieve - what exactly? Not to say that Germany has done something commendable though...
The sanctions will impoverish the people, won't stop or harm the rulers. The bunker busters will. How long did the anti-Saddam sanctions last before - of course, the tanks had to go in?

Lol! Of course, sanctions never work, the proof is in the pudding. I was being facetious regarding the Fuhrer Frau and sanctioning our "ally"... Germany does not give a toss one way or the other. Actually, speaking of Iraq - we, should have hit Iran, it was obvious then, as now, it was the most dangerous state in the ME. In fact we could eliminate the entire issue, if the west had the onions to do so... but the ramifications would be disastrous.

Every time sanctions are mentioned, I want to scream... but for what?

[Kachah]

] In fact we could eliminate the entire issue, if the west had the onions to do so... but the ramifications would be disastrous.

Sure. Let's wait some more.. even better idea - let's invite Mr Ahmadinejad to Munich and sell him (Czeckoslovakia) Israel. Unclench our fist as our beloved leader Obama the Pacifier would put it.
Ramifications will be serious but they will be disastrous if we DON't HAVE the onions and will do nothing.

[Ziggy]

Sure. Let's wait some more.. even better idea - let's invite Mr Ahmadinejad to Munich and sell him (Czeckoslovakia)
Ramifications will be serious but they will be disastrous if we DON't HAVE the onions and will do nothing.

Ain't that the truth... nevertheless, we know our stalwart leadership has a history of sitting on their hands or worse until it is too late. This isn't the first time the west has attempted to placate, then play supposed hardball with a Nerf ball to put a tyrannical regime or three in tow, with no affect. The only thing they do get is absolute hardball, war. Reagan understood this - as did the Iron Lady, Thatcher; not to forget Churchill. If leadership has no resolve or the onions to act, they should resign... Chamberlain comes to mind.

Oh well, mate... Britain is mothballing its fleet, morphing its forces into a politically-correct fighting machine. Apparently, they will share certain forces with France... and we thought it couldn't get more insane.

[Kachah]

It's going to get really bad before (and if) it's gonna get any better....
I actually was entertaining some hopes that the only rational reason behind Lybia intervention (and now on Syrian doorstep) is to scare Iran by showing the mad ayatollahs the "demo". But this does not look credible at all unfortunately.
Something might still happen if Obama nosedives in the poles before election and will need some small victorious war to back him up (and I don't doubt for second he won't care Iran or Ivory Coast for the matter). It won't take long as I am sure the plans are ready. Another big issue currently on the backburner is whether he wants to show the Russians who's the sheriff in town - again this will bring him many votes from the right.
What's beyond any speculation is that kgbist Russia is the main beneficiary of the current situation.

[Ziggy]

It's going to get really bad before (and if) it's gonna get any better....
I actually was entertaining some hopes that the only rational reason behind Lybia intervention (and now on Syrian doorstep) is to scare Iran by showing the mad ayatollahs the "demo". But this does not look credible at all unfortunately.
Something might still happen if Obama nosedives in the poles before election and will need some small victorious war to back him up (and I don't doubt for second he won't care Iran or Ivory Coast for the matter). It won't take long as I am sure the plans are ready. Another big issue currently on the backburner is whether he wants to show the Russians who's the sheriff in town - again this will bring him many votes from the right.
What's beyond any speculation is that kgbist Russia is the main beneficiary of the current situation.

I don't expect Obama will use war in feeble attempt to boost his sagging popularity. It would rattle his true-believers, the far left, who normally would anoint his feet in oil or something else... these are the people of his own political bent. I don't think he has the chutzpah or the political onions to take on the Russians, like Gary Cooper in High Noon took on the proverbial thugs.

Absolutely, Russia is the beneficiary most certainly. Israel will act before Obama or any of his western posse ever act against Iran.
I read today, Iran is attempting to back down, then again, I don't believe everything I read... especially in the mass-media. Like all despots they get their jollies tweaking the noses of the powerful.

The only thing Obama has going for him is the Republicans are as flaccid and unpopular at the moment. The media, as well, is doing the utmost to portray the Republicans as being utterly dysfunctional, while the president and his band of woolen-heads drive the nation nearer to the edge of the abyss.

[Kachah]

I agree entirely. I didn't mean Obama is a visionary or has the cojones for action but that his "humanitarian" side would not stop him should he (his woolen-heads) see that as the last resort.
Will Israel act alone? Good question. They might still wait until it's clearer who's the next president don't you think? Too much at stake. But then again, what's too much weighed against existential threat?
The Republicans look pretty bad...

[Ziggy]

We should find out sooner than later. I think Israel will wait as long as it can, considering the it is they who will take the brunt. They, after all, are the most vilified by Iran and let's be honest, the entirety of the Arab nations. I agree they may sit it out until the election... I suspect it is, also, dependent upon Iran's nuclear capacity and ultimate ability to strike Israel. Meanwhile, the west will kick the diplomacy can up and down the road, arriving at no decision, until it is too late. So Israel must act in its own interest and survival. Whatever Israel decides, it will be censured, condemned for whatever it does or doesn't do.

No other nation has to justify the reason for protecting its citizens and sovereignty; only Israel.

Do you think some of Israel's allies, not only enemies, would prefer to view Israel in the past-tense? It sure seems that way to me.

[Kachah]

We should find out sooner than later. I think Israel will wait as long as it can, considering the it is they who will take the brunt. They, after all, are the most vilified by Iran and let's be honest, the entirety of the Arab nations. I agree they may sit it out until the election... I suspect it is, also, dependent upon Iran's nuclear capacity and ultimate ability to strike Israel. Meanwhile, the west will kick the diplomacy can up and down the road, arriving at no decision, until it is too late. So Israel must act in its own interest and survival. Whatever Israel decides, it will be censured, condemned for whatever it does or doesn't do.

No other nation has to justify the reason for protecting its citizens and sovereignty; only Israel.

Do you think some of Israel's allies, not only enemies, would prefer to view Israel in the past-tense? It sure seems that way to me.

Yeah, that's the thing - who really is an ally of Israel? The US, sure, who else? Canada-Australia-UK? Less so but still. Remember, Turkey was frequently called "an ally" until very very recently, half-year?
I am sure there is no consensus in the West and the majority would probably object to - as the Russians put it - "closure of Project Israel". Bu this objection will be primarily based on the same left doctrine of multiculturalism or political correctness, not on moral right- or wrongfullness.

[Ziggy]

Yeah, that's the thing - who really is an ally of Israel? The US, sure, who else? Canada-Australia-UK? Less so but still. Remember, Turkey was frequently called "an ally" until very very recently, half-year?
I am sure there is no consensus in the West and the majority would probably object to - as the Russians put it - "closure of Project Israel". Bu this objection will be primarily based on the same left doctrine of multiculturalism or political correctness, not on moral right- or wrongfullness.

Indeed, well said - our present government is a staunch ally of Israel, to the chagrin of the leftists, who have held power more often than not. Socialism still has a grip on the Canadian psyche - so, there is no guarantee this will last. It will as long as the Conservatives are in power but voters are fickle... especially those of the gimme, gimme, socialist mindset.

[Kachah]

Large country - resources abundant - small population - inevitable socialist trend. The US was different until they swayed to the left with all this political correct-multi-kulti crap. But their population is large and wow! look at their debt record. Canada and Australia have more to lose per capita that's why we are still relatively safe. Europe has turned into classic socialist ideology driven state but without the Gulag its economy naturally collapses.
Not to say that Israel is free from socialist miasma.
Anyway, it scares me when our allignment in global matters depends on which party is at power...

[Ziggy]

I couldn't agree more. Europe is in a real socialist quagmire, self-inflicted once again. It's true re: alignment on global matters depends on which party is in power... as the U.S. goes Canada goes, not politically but economically. Obama's blame-game and double shuffling to turn the U.S. into a SOCIALIST-democracy is very unsettling and maddening.

[Kachah]

See, in Sweden they've been practicing socialism for 100 years. And it kinda worked (not completely but at least not declining steadily) as the framework of property laws existed and was enforced and respected and, importantly, the society was homogenious. Now with the society dissolved by alien cultures and polarized by striking differences the degradation is imminent. To a large extent Swedish anti-Zionism/anti-semitism of today is a crooked result of their socialist democracy where first they'd allowed in a large proportion of people with the intolerable views and now by their own rules they have to tolerate them (why they allowed them in is another question).
And Sweden is one of the best scenarios in Europe.