Op-ed:
Sanctions...For Better or Worse
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on American Political Radio
“By limiting the Executive’s flexibility, this bill makes it
harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American
people, and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer
together.” - President Donald Trump
He signed H.R. 3364, the 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act'...an act that he called "seriously flawed” as he felt it put American companies at a disadvantage and hurt the interests of our European allies...but he did so for the sake of “national unity.” He signed it even though he believed it to be “unconstitutional” as it infringed upon his right as president to set policy in regards to foreign affairs. Was it the right thing to do...no. Was it the only thing he could do as all things 'Russia' continue to hoover over everything he does, everything he says, and everything he dare think...yes...for unfortunately the votes were there to override his veto if need be...and he knew it.
And he is President Donald J. Trump...the man who won the presidency against a woman who truly belongs not just in jail but in federal prison for life...or worse.
And
so just two days ago President Trump signed the very act that imposes
new sanctions on North Korea, Iran, and Russia, laying to rest his hoped
for true 'reset' with Vladimir Putin's Russia. Sold out by both the
Republican held House and Senate...this act passed in the House 419-3
and in the Senate 98-2...and did so in a misplaced and misguided kumbaya
show of bi-partisanship with RINO sellouts and Republican
obstructionists joining with Democrats to overrule Trump's rightful
opposition to the act's provisions that place limits on his executive
power...limits that include the imposing of a 30-day review period to
give Congress a chance to vote down any of his proposed changes to
Russian sanctions before they can be implemented.
Basically this act severely limits President Trump's ability to negotiate sanctions without congressional approval no matter that the Constitution calls for the president and the president alone to be the setter of foreign policy...specifically this act undermines President Trump's ability to unilaterally lift sanctions against Russia when and if he deems it the time to do so.
And with a number of 'supposed' constitutional law 'experts' claiming that Congress has a right to “assert its own constitutional powers”...as in to serve as a "check"
on the executive branch...what this in reality is, is sadly but yet
another case of the Constitution be damned...and this time those
'supposedly' on our side joined in to damn the very document that is the
law of our land.
In response to this act President Trump issued a signed statement to let it be known that he could selectively enforce or ignore parts of bills or acts passed by Congress...which is his legal right to do and has been done in the past by both Presidents George W. Bush and Obama. Saying that, “My Administration will give careful and respectful consideration to the preferences expressed by the Congress in these various provisions and will implement them in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations,” Trump showed all who really is boss.
And while to some degree sanctions are both needed and justified against North Korea and Iran...the sanctions placed upon Russia were nothing but payback by the Democrats and the Republican sellouts for self-perceived election tampering that never happened... and to think otherwise is more than a bit naive.
But why naive...because these new sanctions expand on already in place so-called “measures” taken by none other than Barack HUSSEIN Obama in the waning days of his presidency...“measures” to “punish” his chosen scapegoat...the Russians...for he blamed them for not getting his third term in office.
And sellouts do abound...and who should be especially ashamed of
himself for selling our president out as he cheered the act being
signed...none other than Speaker of the House Paul Ryan who said of the
new sanctions placed on North Korea, Iran, and Russia, “Today, the United States sent a powerful message to our adversaries that they will be held accountable for their actions,”
completely ignoring the fact that for the most part sanctions simply do
not work... at least not always work in our favor that is...for most
times those punished are the innocent people of said countries
sanctioned and not their governments as intended.
And when all is said and done, the only message this sanctions act sends is that the enemy...both foreign and domestic...'trumped' Trump and they did not have to lift a finger to do it...our Congress did it for them.
Now let's briefly break this act down by each country sanctioned especially as to why it is being sanctioned. Starting with North Korea, who we have had sanctions on since the Korean War, previous sanctions have proven only to hurt the North Korean people themselves as the delusional man-child Kim Jong-un thumbs his nose at them as he continues launching his missiles, testing his bombs, and defying all who demand he stop.
For North Korea these new sanctions add just another layer to the
already in place financial sanctions, and impose a few new sanctions
that target “entities” that give North Korea access to much
needed military materials... materials like certain metals and rocket
and jet fuels...all in an attempt to reign in the man-child's quest for
nuclear weapons and to do so by cutting off his access to cash needed to
bring his plans to fruition. And this is critical as just last week
U.S. intelligence revised previous estimates to say that Pyongyang could
develop the capability to deliver a nuclear weapon to the continental
U.S. within a year, and that some believe that their newest ICBM test
could already put a number of major U.S. cities at serious risk of an
attack.
Also in this act is language regarding the prohibiting of ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with U.N. resolutions against them from operating in American waters or docking at U.S. ports; and there is language stating that goods produced in North Korea through forced labor would be prohibited from entering the U.S.
In regards to “Death to America” Iran, the new sanctions act
requires our government to create yet another strategy for countering
Iranian threats in the region in addition to imposing sanctions on any “entity”
that helps Iran develop its ballistic missile program along with anyone
who does business with them. And the act also blocks access to Iranian
property in the U.S., calls for another arms embargo, and imposes
specific sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds
Force...their tentacle of the Revolutionary Guard that carries out
efforts to support terrorist acts.
And it is interesting to note that while previous sanctions placed upon Iran...sanctions like cutting off their access to global markets and investments as well as freezing $56 billion in assets...did have somewhat of an impact and has shown some results because Iran, who still remains a small enough country to isolate to some degree, actually wants both economic and political ties with the rest of the world...especially oil ties no matter that oil prices are plummeting even in light of increased demand.
But the bottom line in regards to these new sanctions placed upon both North Korea and Iran is that there really is nothing terribly new in them except for a bit of 'belt tightening' so to speak on what is already in place.
Now as for the what President Trump called the “shoring up of existing sanctions on Russia”...sanctions
we have had in place against Russia since their 2014 invasion of
Ukraine and annexation of Crimea...sanctions which Putin has already
responded to with his ordering the U.S. Embassy to reduce its staff by
755 people by September 1st (which is almost half of our diplomatic and
technical personnel and would bring our presence in Russia to 455
persons...the same number they now have in the U.S.); with his ordering
the closing down of the embassy's recreational retreat on the outskirts
of Moscow as well as the closing of warehouse facilities; and with his
allowing for the seizing of U.S. diplomatic properties.
Simply, this new sanctions act in regards to Russia...besides playing tit-for-tat...does nothing but codify sanctions already in place under existing Executive Orders that relate to blocking property owned by people who contributed to Russia's move on Ukraine; that punish Russia for their actual military aggression in Ukraine and Syria; and slap them on the wrist for what's being called "malicious cyber-enabled activities," human rights abuses, and “corruption” in Russia... “corruption” in Moscow.
Corruption in Russia...I wonder if Russia will sanction the U.S. for 'corruption' within our own country...especially within Washington D.C...just saying.
But specifically in regards to blocking Russian property, some
European leaders are already worried that parts of the sanctions that do
target Russia's energy sector would harm the businesses already
involved in piping Russian natural gas into Europe. In fact, Germany's
foreign minister said his country would not accept U.S. sanctions
against Russia being applied to European companies... and know it is his
right to do so.
And if some European leaders are worried about this one provision other European leaders...and leaders of non-European countries...could well be worried about other provisions or about this entire new sanctions act itself.
And a fact that must be accepted as truth no matter naysayers to the
contrary is that sanctions take years to have full effect...if they even
work at all...meaning when first enacted sanctions are just a warning
to those countries sanctioned to either stop what they are doing or else
face the consequences. And in the case of North Korea those
consequences have further ramifications than just having to deal with
U.S. sanctions.
How so...in a word, China. Remember, more than 90% of North Korea’s trade is with China, including its importing of food and energy. And with North Korea using Chinese banks to fund whatever transactions it has with the rest of the world, and with recent rounds of U.S. sanctions targeting those very Chinese banks and companies, that translates into whatever is minimally hurting China maximally hurts North Korea...more hardships they can ill-afford.
And in the case of Russia...who yesterday saw Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev saying that the U.S. establishment had “outwitted” President Trump and the U.S. and has "declared a fully-fledged economic war”
with Russia....has us placing even more sanctions on Russia for
something they did not do. But know that no economic sanctions we place
on Russia can make worse their own well-known economic shortcomings...as
in their unsuccessful quest for economic power that monetary stability
(which they do not have) would afford one...and they continue that quest
no matter what it costs them on the world's political stage...a stage
where they continue to try to become super power #1 while trying to
shove us down to #2.
So, with North Korea being sanctioned by us since the Korea War and
yet still existing to be a real and tangible threat to the world's
safety; with Iran still remaining the world's leading sponsor of
terrorism; and with Vladimir Putin laser focused on rebuilding the once
great Russian Empire...and succeeding to some degree; it can be seen
that while sanctions in time might slow down for a while a country's
nefarious goals, they simply do not work in the all-important long haul
for what are sanctions but unilateral deals made with oneself.
And here I think President Trump's words say it all. “As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress”...and you know what...I think he can if Congress would only get out of his way to do what he does best...make deals. I cannot say it any plainer than that...can you.
Copyright © 2017 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor
https://thepatriotfactor.blogspot.com/2017/08/op-ed-sanctions.html
****************************************************************
RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!
Today, Friday, August 4th from 7 to 9pm on American Political Radio, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss the new sanctions placed on North Korea, Iran, and Russia; Craig's take on government waste; and important news of the day.
Hope you can tune in at: http://listen.samcloud.com/w/73891/American-Political-Radio…
Sanctions...For Better or Worse
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on American Political Radio
He signed H.R. 3364, the 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act'...an act that he called "seriously flawed” as he felt it put American companies at a disadvantage and hurt the interests of our European allies...but he did so for the sake of “national unity.” He signed it even though he believed it to be “unconstitutional” as it infringed upon his right as president to set policy in regards to foreign affairs. Was it the right thing to do...no. Was it the only thing he could do as all things 'Russia' continue to hoover over everything he does, everything he says, and everything he dare think...yes...for unfortunately the votes were there to override his veto if need be...and he knew it.
And he is President Donald J. Trump...the man who won the presidency against a woman who truly belongs not just in jail but in federal prison for life...or worse.
And
so just two days ago President Trump signed the very act that imposes
new sanctions on North Korea, Iran, and Russia, laying to rest his hoped
for true 'reset' with Vladimir Putin's Russia. Sold out by both the
Republican held House and Senate...this act passed in the House 419-3
and in the Senate 98-2...and did so in a misplaced and misguided kumbaya
show of bi-partisanship with RINO sellouts and Republican
obstructionists joining with Democrats to overrule Trump's rightful
opposition to the act's provisions that place limits on his executive
power...limits that include the imposing of a 30-day review period to
give Congress a chance to vote down any of his proposed changes to
Russian sanctions before they can be implemented.Basically this act severely limits President Trump's ability to negotiate sanctions without congressional approval no matter that the Constitution calls for the president and the president alone to be the setter of foreign policy...specifically this act undermines President Trump's ability to unilaterally lift sanctions against Russia when and if he deems it the time to do so.
And with a number of 'supposed' constitutional law 'experts' claiming that Congress has a right to “assert its own constitutional powers”...as in to serve as a "check"
on the executive branch...what this in reality is, is sadly but yet
another case of the Constitution be damned...and this time those
'supposedly' on our side joined in to damn the very document that is the
law of our land.In response to this act President Trump issued a signed statement to let it be known that he could selectively enforce or ignore parts of bills or acts passed by Congress...which is his legal right to do and has been done in the past by both Presidents George W. Bush and Obama. Saying that, “My Administration will give careful and respectful consideration to the preferences expressed by the Congress in these various provisions and will implement them in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations,” Trump showed all who really is boss.
And while to some degree sanctions are both needed and justified against North Korea and Iran...the sanctions placed upon Russia were nothing but payback by the Democrats and the Republican sellouts for self-perceived election tampering that never happened... and to think otherwise is more than a bit naive.
But why naive...because these new sanctions expand on already in place so-called “measures” taken by none other than Barack HUSSEIN Obama in the waning days of his presidency...“measures” to “punish” his chosen scapegoat...the Russians...for he blamed them for not getting his third term in office.
And when all is said and done, the only message this sanctions act sends is that the enemy...both foreign and domestic...'trumped' Trump and they did not have to lift a finger to do it...our Congress did it for them.
Now let's briefly break this act down by each country sanctioned especially as to why it is being sanctioned. Starting with North Korea, who we have had sanctions on since the Korean War, previous sanctions have proven only to hurt the North Korean people themselves as the delusional man-child Kim Jong-un thumbs his nose at them as he continues launching his missiles, testing his bombs, and defying all who demand he stop.
Also in this act is language regarding the prohibiting of ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with U.N. resolutions against them from operating in American waters or docking at U.S. ports; and there is language stating that goods produced in North Korea through forced labor would be prohibited from entering the U.S.
And it is interesting to note that while previous sanctions placed upon Iran...sanctions like cutting off their access to global markets and investments as well as freezing $56 billion in assets...did have somewhat of an impact and has shown some results because Iran, who still remains a small enough country to isolate to some degree, actually wants both economic and political ties with the rest of the world...especially oil ties no matter that oil prices are plummeting even in light of increased demand.
But the bottom line in regards to these new sanctions placed upon both North Korea and Iran is that there really is nothing terribly new in them except for a bit of 'belt tightening' so to speak on what is already in place.
Simply, this new sanctions act in regards to Russia...besides playing tit-for-tat...does nothing but codify sanctions already in place under existing Executive Orders that relate to blocking property owned by people who contributed to Russia's move on Ukraine; that punish Russia for their actual military aggression in Ukraine and Syria; and slap them on the wrist for what's being called "malicious cyber-enabled activities," human rights abuses, and “corruption” in Russia... “corruption” in Moscow.
Corruption in Russia...I wonder if Russia will sanction the U.S. for 'corruption' within our own country...especially within Washington D.C...just saying.
And if some European leaders are worried about this one provision other European leaders...and leaders of non-European countries...could well be worried about other provisions or about this entire new sanctions act itself.
How so...in a word, China. Remember, more than 90% of North Korea’s trade is with China, including its importing of food and energy. And with North Korea using Chinese banks to fund whatever transactions it has with the rest of the world, and with recent rounds of U.S. sanctions targeting those very Chinese banks and companies, that translates into whatever is minimally hurting China maximally hurts North Korea...more hardships they can ill-afford.
And here I think President Trump's words say it all. “As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress”...and you know what...I think he can if Congress would only get out of his way to do what he does best...make deals. I cannot say it any plainer than that...can you.
Copyright © 2017 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor
https://thepatriotfactor.blogspot.com/2017/08/op-ed-sanctions.html
****************************************************************
Today, Friday, August 4th from 7 to 9pm on American Political Radio, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss the new sanctions placed on North Korea, Iran, and Russia; Craig's take on government waste; and important news of the day.
Hope you can tune in at: http://listen.samcloud.com/w/73891/American-Political-Radio…
If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here. Please follow us on Twitter here.
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