Obama Citizenship

Obama Administration Lifting Sanctions Against Syria, Iran, Travel to Cuba

By Phil

As originally being reported by TheObamaFile.com, the new Administration is in the process of lifting sanctions against the terrorist-sponsoring countries of Syria and Iran, and Democrats have introduced a bill in Congress to allow practically unrestricted travel to Cuba.

From JihadWatch.org:

Syria has been listed by the State Department as among the State Sponsors of Terrorism since December 29, 1979. Is Obama going to remove that designation? On what grounds?

“Obama preparing to lift sanctions against Syria,” from the World Tribune, February 9 (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):

NICOSIA ? President Barack Obama has decided on a new U.S. ambassador to Syria and is expected to lift sanctions against a nation charged with aiding Al Qaida in Iraq and secretly building a nuclear reactor with North Korean assistance.Diplomatic sources said Obama, in consultation with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has asked Frederic Hof to become the first U.S. ambassador to Damascus since 2005. The sources said Hof, a member of the National Advisory Committee of the Middle East Policy Council, agreed to take the post.

“There will be an announcement very soon,” a diplomat said.

The sources said the Obama administration was expected to suspend U.S. sanctions on Syria’s military and energy programs.

Why? [emphasis in original]

Great question. Forbes.com reports that the Commerce Department has already waived sanctions on Syria. Even worse, from the GatewayPundit…

This latest news comes from the February 18, 2009 edition of Geostrategy Direct(subscribers only):

DOSSIER: Ehud Barak
‘Change’ the mullahs can believe in: Obama to drop sanctions on Iran 

TEL AVIV ? Israelis may have gone to the polls hoping for “Change” but the status quo is all any of the candidates could look forward to whatever the outcome. Defense Minister Ehud Barack, has already glimpsed the future and has warned about what it holds. …

Barak has already signaled what the new government can expect, officials here said. 

The United States has abandoned its policy of sanctioning companies that aid Iran’s nuclear and missile program, they said. 

The officials said the new Obama administration of has decided to end sanctions against Iranian government agencies or companies that aid Teheran’s missile and nuclear program. The officials said Israel has been informed of the new U.S. policy. 

“We were told that sanctions do not help the new U.S. policy of dialogue with Iran,” an official said. 

Barak confirmed the new U.S. policy. In an address to the Herzliya Conference on Feb. 3, Barak said Washington did not say whether it would resume sanctions against Iran. 

“We must arrive at a strategic understanding with the United States over Iran’s military nuclear program and ensure that even if at this time they opt for the diplomatic option, it will only last a short time before harsh and necessary sanctions are imposed,” Barak said. 

Obama decided to end sanctions against Iran after determining that the U.S. measures had failed to block Teheran’s missile or nuclear weapons program, officials said. Under the administration of former President George Bush, the United States accelerated sanctions on Iran in 2008. …

A U.S. defense source said the White House would no longer enforce sanctions imposed by the Bush administration. The source said the decision has already been relayed to Iran. 

“The administration has abandoned sanctions entirely,” the U.S. source said. “It is a completely new ballgame.” …

The sources said the Obama administration was expected to suspend U.S. sanctions on Syria’s military and energy programs. [emphasis in original]

And that travel pass to Cuba?:

For the first time in 46 years, democrats hope to pass legislation to permit unrestricted travel to Cuba.
AFP reported:

Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have introduced a bill to permit US citizens unrestricted travel to Cuba, according to the Library of Congress website.

The “Freedom To Travel to Cuba Act,” [HR 874] which would overturn the 46-year-old US policy strictly limiting travel to the Caribbean island, will be subject to debate after being referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The bill, introduced by Massachusetts Democrat Bill Delahunt and backed by eight other lawmakers, states that “the President may not regulate or prohibit, directly or indirectly, travel to or from Cuba by United States citizens or legal residents.”

Currently US nationals are supposed to request Treasury Department permission to visit Cuba.

No wonder Fidel Castro is writing strange letters to fellow revolutionary Rahm Emanuel. [emphasis in original]

The last  link RE: Fidel is pretty interesting as well, even though it’s more of an overview of how the Cuban leadership apparently views the Administration (read: they likely welcome the same kind of treatment that Syria and Iran are getting).

I have to concur with GatewayPundit on this:

It’s like watching Carter on Speed.

For our nation’s sake, I hope it only gets as bad as things were with former President Carter’s Administration.

-Phil

Full post as published by The Right Side of Life on February 15, 2009 (boomark / email).