No jail time? Just takes money.

[Botnst]

Iran uses front companies to flout US export ban

Sun Jan 11, 1:06 am ET
WASHINGTON, (AFP) – Iran is successfully using front companies based in the Gulf region and Asia to import American technology that can be can have military use, The Washington Post reported on its website.
Citing US researchers and Justice Department documents, the newspaper said Iran in the past two years had acquired numerous banned items including circuit boards, software and Global Positioning System devices that are used to make sophisticated versions of the improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, that kill US troops in Iraq.
The trade was briefly disrupted after the United States imposed sanctions against several Dubai-based, Iranian front companies in 2006, but the technology pipeline to Tehran is now flowing at an even faster pace, the report said.
In some cases, Iran simply opened new front companies and shifted its operations from Dubai to Asia, said the paper, citing unnamed officials.
"Without doubt, it is still going on," the report quoted one former US intelligence official as saying.
Bomb circuitry is only a part of the global clandestine trade that continues to flourish, The Post said.
A federal investigation in New York into whether banks helped customers skirt US rules forbidding business with Iran turned up evidence of Iranian interests trying to buy tungsten and other materials used in the guidance systems of long-range missiles, the paper said.
British-based Lloyds TSB Bank agreed Friday to pay a 350 million dollar penalty to settle a probe that it illegally handled financial transfers for Iran and Sudan in violation of US sanctions.
A Justice Department statement said Lloyd's "has accepted and acknowledged responsibility for its criminal conduct" in a criminal complain filed in US District Court in New York.
"Lloyds agreed to forfeit the funds as part of deferred prosecution agreements with the Department of Justice and the New York County District Attorney's Office," the statement said.

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Those bastards are responsible for production of explosives devices that kill our soldiers. They pay a fine and everybody is okay with it. Am I the only person who finds something morally corrupt in that?

B

[Medmech]

Originally Posted by Botnst

Those bastards are responsible for production of explosives devices that kill our soldiers. They pay a fine and everybody is okay with it. Am I the only person who finds something morally corrupt in that?

B

How about the Americans involved that are trying to make a quick buck, what do you thing should happen to them if they were caught?

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by Howitzer

How about the Americans involved that are trying to make a quick buck, what do you thing should happen to them if they were caught?

I've got nothing against profit -- the armorer has to make money or he'll got out of business.

But if he's selling goods and tech to the enemy? Let the soldiers sit on the jury.

[Botnst]

BTW, I just talked to a Mom I know. She told me her youngest son is at Benning in ranger training. The Dad was a Navy hardhat diver and dove offshore until injured in a mixed gas accident. Now he's a supervisor. Bet he makes sure the gas is right. Their other 2 sons were in the USMC. One was straight infantry and the other was some sort of commo geek. They both did a couple tours in Iraq. Fine men, all.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by Howitzer

How about the Americans involved that are trying to make a quick buck, what do you thing should happen to them if they were caught?

We don't have to think, the Constitution clearly spells it out:

Article III: Section 3

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against
them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person
shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

I beleive the penalty for treason is death.

Shoot the bastards, the next guys will be less willing to sell out their country for a fast buck.

[tankdriver]

Lloyd's is British right? Maybe they don't see the Iranians as enemies.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by tankdriver

Lloyd's is British right? Maybe they don't see the Iranians as enemies.

Apparently the do see Iranians as the enemy. They admitted their criminal liability and paid a big fine.

[Pooka]

This goes on alot and is tough to pin down. About the only time anyone can stop this is if they notice a shipment of someting that is far too high in quality for the purpose, like buying a valve made of alloy with Viton seals when cast iron and Buna-N would do just as well.

The rational of the seller is, "Well, someone is going to sell it to them, Why not me?"

Very shortsighted, and illigal, if you ask me.

On the other hand, they could buy this stuff from any country but they perfer US equipment. In a sick kind of way that speaks well for the quality of US products.

Pooka

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by Howitzer

How about the Americans involved that are trying to make a quick buck, what do you thing should happen to them if they were caught?

Guantanamo Bay seems like an appropriate place to rehabilitate them.

[Dee8go]

I think they like the irony of buying bomb parts from the US to manufacture bombs with which to kill US soldiers. I read an article yesterday in the Post about the front companies the Iranians (and others, too, no doubt) use for procuring stuff like this.