Dumb Gasoline Embargo on Iran (Commentary, Text and Context) (Reprint‪)‬

In serious contention for Dumbest Washington Consensus for September is the idea of cutting off Iran's gasoline imports to pressure Iran to stop enriching uranium. A majority of Representatives and Senators have signed on to legislation that seeks to block Iran's gas imports, a top legislative priority for the so-called "Israel Lobby." But it's a stupid idea. Let us count the ways. One: there is no indication that Russia and China will go along with it. Even Europe is split, Reuters reports. Turkey is also likely to be unenthusiastic --a country that has good relations with Iran, has a long border with Iran, and is currently on the UN Security Council. A U.S.-sponsored gas embargo on Iran isn't likely to have much impact if Russia, China, Turkey and half of Europe aren't cooperating--after all, it's not the U.S. that's exporting gas to Iran--unless it is imposed by force.