Blogging Against Senator Sam Brownback Since March 2005
As part of his quest to become the nation’s leading hawk on Iran, Senator Sam Brownback has proposed that the World Bank revoke it’s funding of Iran. Brownback had this to say at an American Enterprise Institute panel on Iran:
Then, we must push aggressively in international organizations. We have worked well within the International Atomic Energy Agency. Now let’s ensure that we do the same in the United Nations and at the World Bank. I am betting that few Americans realize that the Iranian regime is among the top ten borrowers of the World Bank. Over the last three years, Iran has received more than $1.1 billion from the Bank, more than half in the last year.
And the #1 bankroller of the World Bank?? Yes, it is the United States. The World Bank must stop lending to the Tehran regime until they renounce terrorism and stop pursuing nuclear weapons.
What sorts of nefarious projects does the World Bank fund? Earthquake cleanup and emergency healthcare, clean water efforts for rural Iranians, slum improvement projects, and small business loans to promote capitalism.
So Brownback’s plan is ridiculous. That much is obvious. As several studies have noted, if you want to reduce Islamic extremism you need to improve the economic conditions in the country. Endemic, generational poverty breeds hopelessness and that is exactly the environment in which the madrassas thrive. Taking away money that is used to clean up slums and fund small businesses is counterproductive to the goal of reducing Islamic extremism.
It is alarming that Senator Brownback is so vindictive towards the Iranian people. The world Bank funds projects that are focused on improving the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens. Would revoking World Bank funding effect the mullahs day to day activities? Not likely. However, for a young boy growing up in a slum it may change his future from being a shop owner to a shop bomber.
At the very least this proposal is irresponsible and naive.
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Blogging Against Senator Sam Brownback Since March 2005
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February 7th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Iran’s lack of cooperation regarding nuclear capabilities is not doing much for their people either. Brownback’s proposition is one of the more tame methods to try and get the Iranian government to change its ways. Other alternative methods include air strikes and troop occupation. Money matters, and cutting off a country’s source of funds has the potential to go a long ways toward getting the desired response.
Do you really think that Brownback is anti-people? Have you considered his work regarding the suffering in Sudan? (Which, during his Landon Lecture at KSU, Bush recognized Brownback as the person he has talked about the Sudan conflict with the most. Hardly a snub, as you pondered earlier.)
February 7th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Don’t try and change the subject. Revoking World Bank Funding in Iran would hurt the Iranian poor the most. If Senator Brownback chooses to go down that path, then he does not care about the poorest of the poor in Iran.
February 7th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
I think Brownback’s ultimate concerns lie with the American people, not the poorest of the poor in Iran. If Iran continues to ignore UN orders regarding nuclear proliferation, what route do you suggest?
Your claim of Brownback’s naivety may be trumped only by your own. I would strongly consider the likelihood that much of the $1.1B in support to Iran has not been spent on the appropriate recipients.
http://www.againstcorruption.org/BriefingsItem.asp?id=8533
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N06162404.htm
February 7th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Neither of those links mentioned Iran. If you have specific evidence of corruption, I would be glad to hear it.
February 7th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
“Neither of those links mentioned Iran.”—No argument here. I was merely bringing up the discussion that it is highly likely that Iran has not used World Bank funds responsibly.
However, you failed to tell the whole story regarding Brownback’s prosals to handle Iran:
‘”I’m calling for the appropriation of $100 million this year to support democracy and human rights in Iran,” up from a current “pittance” of $14 million, [Brownback] said.’
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=
2006-02-02T221801Z_01_N02118809_RTRUKOT_0_TEXT0.xml&related=true
Hardly turning his back on the Iranians, it would seem to me.
Iran has enough oil and natural gas that they should be sitting pretty without much help. Perhaps the poverty issue is internal and should be addressed accordingly.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
i agree with joe.
February 7th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
I did not “fail to tell the whole story”. Look at the post a few days before this one, I highlighted the new increase in democracy funding.
February 8th, 2006 at 6:52 am
Then you have completely supported my idea that World Bank money may likely fall into the wrong hands:
“Sounds eerily familiar… Again, I applaud the thought of supporting democracy. Senator Sam Brownback’s past in this area however, makes me uneasy. Who exactly will we be giving money to?”
Indeed, who exactly will we be giving money to?
Yours, Nate, is a position of envy: constant criticism, ridicule, and second guessing of the Senator, yet offering no productive solution.
February 8th, 2006 at 11:06 am
I’m not a Senator. It is not my job to come up with solutions. As a citizen of the United States, it is my right and duty to provide a check on our elected officials. You are entitled to your opinions just as I am entitled to mine.
In this case, however, you have offered no clear evidence that world bank funds are misappropriated in Iran.
February 8th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
You’re a little caught up in the periphery of my comments. I never claimed any hard evidence that Iran is misusing funds, but rather the likelihood of misuse MAY exist.
Iran’s government is providing little confidence to the world (including many Democrat senators). Our elected officials have a responsibility to respond to the hostile statements and actions made by the Iranian government; as I mentioned before, money talks and can have heavy persuasive ability.