Gates in the Gulf...Leaving Patriot's in lieu of failed sanctions

While V.P Biden's ME traveling circus in Israel and the West Bank have been stealing the headlines, Defense Secretary Gates has been on a public follow up tour of Sunni Gulf States to attempt to placate our allies after they quietly accepted US anti ballistic Patriot Missile batteries (and their accompanying US troops).

While the tour is ostensibly in concert with US efforts to secure a harsher round of sanctions on Iran, there are increasing signs that our Arab allies, who have a close view of Iran from across the gulf, are doubting the efficacy of diplomacy and preparing for military eventualities. This week's report that large muti-nationals including Shell will stop exporting refined gasoline to Iran (despite being a net exporter of oil, Iran's refining capabilities are so antiquated that they are forced to import and heavily subsidize gasoline) was lauded as a promising step for sanctions, however, the realities are far different.



While Shell and other multi national companies should be applauded for falling into line, if one reads the news reports closely, it becomes clear that the real story is far from clear cut. While limiting some refined gas exports, they are still working on oil and natural gas development contracts that directly benefit the Iranian National Guard that is supposed to be the main target of sanctions. Furthermore, our Chinese "friends" have rebuffed calls for any further sanctions, and will be happy to pick up any slack in gas exports to Iran themselves.

Finally, and most depressingly, the New York Times broke a story that indicts our own government and military for complicit support of companies that defy our own sanctions to the tune of "$107 billion in contract payments, grants and other benefiets over the past decade..." How can we continue the farce of sanctions when the only ones buying our double standards are fat cat politicians? No wonder Iran's leaders don't take us seriously.