McCain-Lieberman Push Iran Human Rights Bill

This would authorize the president to deny visas and freeze economic assets for people in Iran who are responsible for the kind of brutality that we’re seeing on these videos,” Lieberman said during an appearance on MSNBC. – The Hill

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On the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution, the awesome twosome ride again.

The co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Evan Bayh, Jon Kyl, Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham, Robert Casey, Susan Collins, Kirsten Gillibrand, Sam Brownback, and Ted Kaufman.

From Laura Rozen over at Politico:

“The overall sanctions scheme lifts when the President can certify that the Iranian government has taken certain tangible steps to improve the human rights situation inside the country, such as releasing all political prisoners,” he said.

“As Iran sanctions go, this one should not be controversial,” the aide continued. The basic structure of the legislation closely parallels that of the JADE Act – the legislation put forward in late 2007 by then-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden and then-House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos against the Burmese junta, after its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

“The real prize will be convincing the Europeans to consider similar targeted sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran,” he continued.

“The key to this legislation is to target the senior [Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps] commanders who are both human rights abusers and deeply involved in running those IRGC front companies generating enormous profits for the Guard and the Basij,” said the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Mark Dubowitz. That is how the Senate “bill can, and probably will, be integrated into the broader sanctions bill” currently in conference that will make its way to the president’s desk.

Some reports call the protests today a “fizzle,” but one must understand that if the crackdown wasn’t in place millions of Iranians would march. The brutality of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard continues, while the clerics squabble.

As for Ahmadinejad’s nuclear ambition’s announcement, consider it PR mixed with bravura, because the Iranians see nuclear enrichment as their right, with proud nationalism part of the mix. From the Washington Post today:

Iran has over 8,000 centrifuges at Natanz, although not all are working. It has amassed about 1.8 tons of low-enriched uranium – more than enough for one warhead should it opt for that choice.

Iranian officials have said that they expect to produce 3 to 5 kilograms (up to 12 pounds) of 20-percent uranium a month. David Albright of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, said that at that rate, it would take Tehran about three years to produce enough for further enrichment into the 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of weapons-grade uranium needed for one warhead.

The IAEA document said the agency had asked for details on “the timetable for the production process (including the starting date and the expected duration of the campaign), along with other technical details.” Albright said that indicated that the Iranians were keeping silent on how long they would enrich to the higher grade and thus how much material they intended to produce.

I remember the revolution that helped topple Pres. Jimmy Carter, and usher in the era of Reagan. It’s hard to believe it was so long ago.