Iran and Connectivity

More reasons to be depressed about the Middle East.

Reason Magazine

"Sens. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, are teaming up to sponsor legislation that seeks to encourage divestment from companies that support Iran.

"The time has come for the federal government to assist citizens, institutional investors, and state and local governments in divesting from companies that support the Iranian regime," Brownback said in a statement. "The Iranian regime is the world's biggest state sponsor of terror, proudly flaunts an illegal nuclear program, and continues to violate the basic human rights of the Iranian people."

This is wrong on every level. There's unavoidable realpolitik at play here: we need Iran to help us stabilize Iraq given their immense influence over the Shiite militias, and their arguable control of the dominant factions within the Iraqi government. An urgent de-escalation of tensions is also needed--something that won't happen with more saber-rattling.

Also, economic connectivity is part of what will tame Iran in the end. Countless news stories show that the Iranian people have, despite the sermons of the anti-American theocrats that rule them, a love for American culture and products. Withdrawing from the arena of commerce is one step on the road to surrendering our battle for the hearts and minds of the Iranian people. It is also a blow struck for the mullahs.