The nanny state of Britain, formerly the world's foremost advocate of freedom, continues to move forward unabated, with idiots (see below) actually endorsing it! (YEAH! OUR RIGHTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY! ROCK ON!) The latest move for the advocates of Cradle-to-Grave government intervention is for the police to:
 
confiscate vehicles if their driver is using a mobile or not wearing a seatbelt are to be used across London.

   Yep, use your cell phone, lose your car, forever. I guess getting to work, the hospital, grocery shopping is forfeited for a minute of stupidity. Appropriately enough, the Brit cops call this Operation Reclaim and have been doing it for EIGHT MONTHS! Like they are reclaiming THEIR PROPERTY! The citizens under the yoke have nicknamed it Operation Stop and SEIZE!

A total of 1,800 cars, vans and motorcycles were impounded during the trial in Hounslow, using powers introduced last year under the Road Traffic Act that allow police to pull over vehicles that have aroused their suspicion. Most drivers lost their vehicles after they were stopped for relatively minor traffic offences.

Comments from some Brits...

This is the new British justice, you can mug someone assault them or rob them and get a non custodial sentance, but God help you if you commit a motoring offence they will throw the book at you.
- Brian, Swindon

Use your phone, get caught, 1,000 fine and a year's ban, that'll make people think!

- Marc, London, UK

A worthwhile measure, and long overdue. Full marks to the police on this one! Perhaps these simpletons who continuously flout the law will hear the penny drop now that their mobile, buttons and bells fashion accessories have been been prised from their ears whilst they drive.

- Ted, Shetland Isles

Unbelieveable! So you can lose your vehicle for not wearing a seatbelt? Bonkers - Police State here we come.

- James, London

THANK GOD FOR OUR FOUNDING FATHER'S FORESIGHT! THANK YOU!


BYE BYE FREEDOM! HELLO POLICE STATE.
ORWELL WAS SOOOOO RIGHT!

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23383881-details/Use%20a%20mobile...%20and%20lose%20your%20vehicle/article.do?expand=true#StartComments

   As my buddy would say, "GEEZ O' PETE, HOW STUPID CAN SOME PEOPLE BE?" And of course, when it comes to the stooges railing about overpaid CEO's, I gotta agree. Even Bush did a little pandering to the left on this issue the other day. Okay, let's examine this issue.

   On the train this AM, I listened to some nitwit whining that the CEO of Home Depot left with a 200 million dollar severance package. Under Bob Nardelli's tutelage Home Depot:

• The company made significant and necessary investments that greatly improved the company's infrastructure and operations. The have 2,084 stores on a GLOBAL MARKET and about 50,000 employees.
• Expanded our markets to include wholesale distribution and new geographies in previously UNTAPPED MARKETS.
• Undertook key strategic initiatives to strengthen the company's foundation for the future.
• Home Depot shares rose $1.49, or 3.7 percent, to $41.65 in pre-market trading. It was 22.00 a share in Jan 03. Their stock has DOUBLED in price in FOUR YEARS! It has split NINE TIMES since 1990. IT ALSO PAYS 90 CENTS PER SHARE IN DIVIDENDS.
• 1.33 billion customer transactions, an increase of 2.7% from 2004.
• The Home Depot committed $9.3 million to support hurricane relief.
• Hired 17,000 military job seekers through Operation Career Front.
• Broadened The Home Depot’s assortment by offering more than 30,000 products on-line.

   Now, I have no idea how long Nardelli has been working for Home Depot but I expect that it has been a long time as CEO's don't just walk in off of the street. I myself have a stock option which I used every month to but into my company, that's called OWNERSHIP! So, if Bob has been working for Home Depot, acquiring stock that MUST BE HELD for a certain amount of time, then THAT becomes part of his overall compensation package below.

   The package includes a cash severance payment of $20 million, the acceleration of unvested deferred stock awards currently valued at approximately $77 million and unvested options with an intrinsic value of approximately $7 million. It also includes payments of earned bonuses and long-term incentive awards of approximately $9 million, account balances under the Company's 401(k) plan and other benefit programs currently valued at approximately $2 million, previously earned and vested deferred shares with an approximate value of $44 million, the present value of retirement benefits currently valued at approximately $32 million and $18 million for other entitlements under his contract which will be paid over a four-year period and will be forfeited if he does not honor his contractual obligations. BTW, this package was AGREED TO BACK IN 2000!

  THE INVESTORS AND THE BOARD APPROVED IT THEN! GET IT?

  Lastly, in FY 2003, Home Depot's sales were: 64.8 BILLION. As of FY 05, they were 81 BILLION with a NET PROFIT of 5 BILLION! FY 06 is expected to TOP THAT! Thanks to, yep, Bob Nardelli's leadership.

  Okay, let's just consider Alex Rodriquez's TEN YEAR SWEET DEAL for 252 MILLION DOLLARS! All he has to do is take care of HIMSELF and PLAY A GAME that has NO IMPACT on anything. Period. If HE strikes out, so frigging what. He sits his butt back on the bench. If a CEO makes a bad call, PEOPLE PAY WITH THEIR JOBS! So, idiots, when you're whining about some highly educated CEO making bank, consider the sports figure with a BS degree (Maybe!) in physical education, making 50 million a YEAR PLUS endorsements. All for being able to swing a bat well. 


"It's NOT FAIIIIIRRRRRRRR!
HE'S MAKING MORE THAN I AM!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

   I am firmly convinced that Liberals and Socialists (one and the same really) are "STUCK ON STUPID!" Or more likely, SUPER-GLUED on STUPID! This is the latest bilge-water coming out of Froganistan and the pablum-puking, overeducated eggheads with the attention span of a lightning bolt. 

   PARIS - Global warming has made stronger hurricanes, including those in the Atlantic such as Katrina, an authoritative panel on climate change has concluded for the first time, participants in the deliberations said Thursday.

  Well, it is starkly apparent that Britain is now falling to the Islamofascists. They might as well surrender now and accept Dhimmitude. As of 21 Dec 2006, Mohammed is the MOST POPULAR NAME in the UK!

  Mohammed and its alternate spelling Muhammad have overtaken such English names as George and Joseph on the list of the most popular name for boys born in England and Wales. In fact, there have been 2,833 babies named Mohammed born so far this year, and 1,422 named Muhammad, for a total of 4,255 – compared to 3,386 Georges and 3,755 Josephs. (UK Telegraph)
 
  The popularity of the Prophet’s name reflects “the diverse ethnic mix of the population,” according to the Telegraph. The name Mohammed alone is more popular than Henry, Edward, Michael, Adam and Charles. Jack has been the top boy’s name for 12 years. Olivia is the top girl’s name this year.


CONVERT, ACCEPT DHIMMITUDE, or DIE!

LATE POST:

Not UNSURPRISING is the INCREASE of violent attacks on Jews in Britain. In fact, they reached an ALL-TIME HIGH in 2006.

   One from the archives that I missed. If you had ANY questions on the absolutely stupidity of the LEFT and the dangerous lengths of Political Correctness that they go to in order to kiss the azzes of Muslims, the French, the UN, or just about any other threat to America, read on.

   In Newsday, on 4 Jan 07, Sen. Barbara Boxer asked for a do-over and yanked a certificate honoring a member of a Muslim advocacy group after his national organization was accused on RIGHT-WING Web sites of supporting terrorism. (God! WE HATE BEING RIGHT, ALL OF THE TIME!)

   Boxer did a Hanoi John Flip-Flop and mewled, “We made a bad mistake not researching the organization. My organization created this problem. I caused people grief, and I feel terrible. Yet I need to set the record straight, and I’m setting the record straight.”
 
   How about just admitting that you're an idiot, Dhimmicrats are children when it comes to foreign policy and National Security, and leave the governing to the adults?

   Lead terrorist for CAIR tried to run a screen for the Moon-god religion, “Anyone who doubts where we stand on the issue of terrorism does not understand Islam, the Muslim community or CAIR,” said Nihad Awad, the group’s national executive director. (You mean suidice bombers, destruction of other people's cultures, beheadings, clitoralectomies with broken glass on 12 year old girls, what?)

Basim Elkarra, executive director of CAIR's Sacramento chapter, received a certificate from Boxer’s office in November 2006, “in recognition of his outstanding service.” 

Boxer’s office totally failed to note that former members of the council had been sentenced to prison and that CAIR had refused to label Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations. (OOPS!) 

Some of the terrorists Boxer likes. 

Ghassan Elashi, along with two brothers, was convicted channeling funds to a high-ranking official of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzook. Elashi was a board member of the Texas chapter of the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American Islamic Relations—the third CAIR figure to be convicted on federal terrorism charges since 9-11.

Randall Todd “Ismail” Royer, a former communications specialist and civil rights coordinator for CAIR was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges Royer trained in Virginia for holy war against the United States and sent several members to Pakistan to join Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Kashmiri terrorist group with reported ties to al-Qaida.

Bassem Khafagi, former director of community relations was arrested in January 2003 while serving with CAIR and convicted on fraud and terrorism charges.

CAIR’s chairman of the board, Omar Ahmad, was cited by a California newspaper in 1998 declaring the Quran should be America’s highest authority.

CAIR leaders also have made statements in support of Hamas and the domination of the U.S. by Islam.

"Oh what putrid emanations erupt from thine oral sewer
O stupid Dhimmicrat from the Left Coast."

"Im REALLY not as STUPID as I LOOK!
I'm just a DHIMMICRAT at heart!" 

   There is nothing more fun to watch than the libdolts going into a feeding frenzy on one another when they're in power. It must have something to do with their unnatural craving for power at any cost as well as their inherent ability to lie like a rug AND have the MSM screen for them. Pop the popcorn folks, the fun is just starting.
  
   Rep. Loretta Sanchez has quit the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, accusing the chairman, Rep. Joe Baca, of telling people she's  a "wh*re." She retorted by calling him a "maricone!" 

   Of course, Baca denied the charge. After all, Velcro-Fly Clinton continues to deny raping women eventhough several of them came forward. 

   Both of these idiots are Dhimmicrats as are ALL of the members of the Black Caucus and the Progressive Caucus (Socialist Vermin). Sanchez (de P*ta), also cited concerns about whether Baca was properly elected Hispanic Caucus chairman in November. Also, she thinks that his general attitude toward female lawmakers plainly sucks.

   "I'm not going to be a part of the CHC as long as Mr. Baca illegally holds the chair. I told them no. There's a big rift here," Sanchez said. "You treat the women like caca. I have no use for him."

   COUNT THE CHADS LORETTA! A Dhimmicrat whining about a frauduent election...that's rich.

   Well, THAT surely did not take very long. Red Nancy "DRAIN THAT SWAMP" Pelosiovich is now demanding that the US military make an aircraft available for her domestic travel needs, that is, back and forth between DC and the Left Coast, to meet with her anti-American consitutents in the Land of the Fruits and Nuts.

   In the Washington Times today, on page one, Red Nancy cited Hasert as the precedent and since GOP corruption was "evil and prevasive" to Red Nancy, one would expect that she would rather fly business or coach like the rest of us do (yeah, right!). Nope, not Princess Pelosiovich. I guess checking on those illegal aliens working on her winery require her supervision from time to time.

   Guess what Red Nancy...A former Hastert aide said the congressman did not use military planes for political trips or regularly transport his family. Indeed, Red Nancy is DEMANDING not only travel for HER and HER STAFF but also for the relatives and for other members of the California delegation. MUST BE NICE!

   An insider called Red Nancy's demand, a "carte blanche for an aircraft any time."

   Congressional access to military passenger jets is generally restricted to official trips abroad, or for domestic flights to military bases or events to which the Pentagon invited the lawmaker.

   U.S. Air Force travel for VIPs such as members of Congress is first-rate. The planes are staffed with stewards who serve meals and tend an open bar. Communications suites allow members to conduct business while traveling. Such flights are one of Congress' cherished perquisites, providing lawmakers a chance to visit foreign lands at government expense. Official duties are often mixed with sightseeing and fine dining.


   DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO!

   BE ADVISED. GRAPHIC PHOTO OF AL FRANKEN HERE. HAVE A 
BARF BAG HANDY! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

   Well, it's official now, Minnesota is going Islamic with the dispatch of former Black Panther and now Islamic schmuck Keith Ellison to the US Congress. Now, liberal dingbat and Islamofascist-approved Dhimmi Al Franken is now running for Senator of Minnesota!

   The Anti-Liberal Zone was ready for this move now that scAIR AMERICA is now swirling round the toilet bowl and expected Franken to look for a job. We dispatched noted scientist Marillion Gandalf to test the waters in Minnesota. He sent back this chilling report. "Gunny, the water up here is testing heavy for the chemical koranical and that is the chemical responsible for extreme stupidity as well as an unnatural devotion to the moon-god Allah and Islam. It is corroding the brains of Minnesotans. Call Herr Rove and start the process to wall off these future Islamofascists."

   Our archivist, Bill "Dusty" Rhodes then uncovered these nuggets of wisdom that Al Franken has dispensed to us.

1. "We are flaming swords of justice," Franken told a cheering crowd at a party to launch the network Tuesday night. "Bush is going down, he is going down, he is going down. And we're going to help him." Mar 31, 2004.

2.  "What must it be like to live in Rush Limbaugh’s world? A world where when anyone other than conservative, white men attempts to do anything or enter any profession, be it business, politics, art or sports, the only reason they’re allowed entry or, incredibly, attain excellence is because the standard was lowered. Be they liberals, people of color, women, the poor or anyone with an accent.... Edgy, controversial, brilliant. What a way to shake up intelligent sports commentary. Hitler would have killed in talk radio. He was edgy, too.” Oct 5, 2004.

3.  "And so there's no comparison between NPR and the propaganda that you hear from Rush or from Sean Hannity, the news movement conservatives that are just laying out, slathering out the disinformation and the lies, as I discuss in my book. You know. I'm not that left-wing. I mean, but I'm a liberal and I'm not going to stand for this baloney that's coming from the right. I just won't stand for it anymore. Oct 2003.

6.  "It just drives me nuts that these guys have stolen values, when they’re corrupt, dishonest, greedy. They hire people by cronyism. They hijack religion and Jesus, when Jesus talked about helping the poor. As I always say, if you cut out every passage in the New Testament where Jesus talks about helping the poor, or helping the least among us – if you cut out each one of those passages, you’d have the perfect box to smuggle Rush Limbaugh’s drugs." (This from the guy who took 800,000 from an orphanage to start scAir America!)

7.  "I think the president -- I think people have to remember back to September 12, 2001. We were the most united we had ever been in our history that I can remember." (Yeah, the Clintons NEVER USED Class Warfare to retain control)


"Me run for Senatowe of Minneswota.
Baa-baa GOO GOO! Me want baadow milk."

 German court issues arrest warrants for 13 CIA agents

BERLINISTAN: Prosecutors in Munichibad today obtained warrants for 13 evil CIA agents allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a German citizen, Khaled el-Masri.

Christian Islamian Schmidt-Sommerfeld, the Munichibad prosecutor, said the warrants had been issued by a local Sharia court this week, but it is unclear if the Germanikhan authorities will be able to have the U.S. agents extradited to Germanyikhan to face Sharia Law, now the law of the land in this portion of Eurabia.

The warrants could prove embarrassing and even politically damaging for Germanikhan's Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier whose coalition government of Islamics Socialist Dhimmicrats and their slaves, the Dhimmicats for Enviromental Justice had been in power at that time and had taken a tough stance against the U.S. war on terror. Steinmeier and his cabal of Dhimmi's did everything in their power to impede ANY US progress in the Global War on Terror.

According to sources close to the Dhimmi's (undercover spies), the United States had offered set loose terrorist Kurnat the Weasel if the Germanikhan authorities could somehow provide strict security measures, which might even include such drastic measures like, round-the-clock surveillance and possible phone taps (if they asked him nicely). The Germanikhan government refused to accept those terms. Chancellor-in-Dhimmitude Angela Merkel whined so much that the USA finally returned the terrorist to her in order to shut her up. "I'll make sure that he is a good boy," Merkel said.


"I know NOTHING!
I see NOTHING..."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/31/news/germany.php

   In a shocking move today, millions of Democrats are filing for citizenship to France and baording everything from a garbage scow to specially chartered Euro airbuses (rich and famous only please). After the report broke early this morning that the French are going to allow their workers to sleep on the job, many union workers in America dropped their donut and headed to the nearest computer to book their travel.

   One union worker, Clay Feite stated, "I've had to work, like 30 hours a week for the last seven years as a Union electrician, and sometimes we even actually have to DO something! That is stupid, everyone KNOWS that we union workers are inherently lazy and often incompetent. That's why we'll fit in over in France."

   The report was issued by the French Minister of Health who vowed to waste about 9 Million Euros to raise awareness that workers on the job need more sleep. Health Minister Xavier Bertrand stated, "we French already enjoy a 35-hour work week and generous vacation but what we REALLY need is a few hours a day, to sleep at our desks, in order to improve our performance!"

   Bertrand said sleepiness at work causes thousands of paper cuts, missed deadlines, spilled expresso, dropped croissants, and millions of typos each year and that sleeping on the job will cure this. When asked about whether or not the French economy will take a hit, Bertrand replied, "we have an economy?"


One liberal has already emigrated to
France and begun to "work".

   In a stunning archeological find, scientists discovered what appears to be Professor Van Helsing's Vampire Killing Kit comprised of valuable 19th Century artifacts. As we all know, things like Garlic, Holy Water, Crosses, and blessed Communial wafers will keep these blood suckers away.

 
 

   Well, NOT to be outdone by Professor Van Helsing, the Anti-Liberal Zone's very OWN Professor, Professor Paul "Paulie The Fist" Robinelli, has created our very own Liberal Repelling Kit. This BRAND NEW kit is GUARANTEED to keep the money-grubbing, taxing and spending bloodsucking parasites of the Left heading for the DNC! The facts within this kit are SURE to send rabid moonbats howling off into the night!

This kit includes such texts as:

1. The US Constitution.
2. The Bill of Rights.
3. Common Sense by Thomas Paine.
4. The Federalist Papers.
5. How to Teach a Liberal Critical Thinking Skills.

Also included if you act NOW is:

  
G. Jackson      A. Coulter     Thomas Woods

   For the first fifty requestors, we'll toss in Ann Coulter's awesome book on the traitors of the Left and how they have constantly worked to bring us down. Only through God and Good Luck did we avoid Socialism under FDR and Communist subjugation under FDR, Truman, and Carter!
 Inside, the Venona Papers, or, "How full of Soviet Spies was the FDR and Truman Administrations."

Act NOW!

  Yesterday was Ashura, the day when Shiites pay homage to their moon god by doing what Muslims do best, shed blood. While other religions seek peace and love, and worship by prayer, Islamic kooks slice and dice one another. The idea is to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, grandson of Mohammad, whose death marked the split between the Sunni and Shia sects. (How about just roasting a few pigs, oops, a few goats and eating some couscous?)

  This barbaric practice, of which I am SURE that we'll be seeing more and more of as Eurabia goes under and then the advance party of Islamofascists, led by CAIR, Turbin Durbin, Jimmy "The Dhimmi" Carter, and a host of appeasers on the Left, bring it home to us. These kooks celebrate Ashura by publicly beating, cutting, and/or flagellating yourself.



(Reminds me of the Hitler Youth  My Daddy cut my grape
yelling: "Blut und Eisen!")          for me!
(Blood and Iron)

  Oh yes, children are expected to participate. As the liberal's idea of tolerance, multi-culturalism, and diversity overcome the traditional Judeo-Christian values and beliefs in America, prepare to slice and dice yourself. Or risk having a "peaceful" Islamofascist remove your head for you in celebration of Ashura.

   Well, it's that time of the year when our liberal girlie men get all a twitter about the newest spring fashions designed to enhance their femininity. This is a follow-up article from a previous ALZ one titled: "Today's History Lesson," found at: http://noliberalspin.townhall.com/g/04b80b88-b65b-4707-a9a0-5465d7c80ad0

   Yes, these girlie boys, who have loved doing things like, Dress-up, Playing House with their Barbies, and following Mommy around all day long have long looked to their counterparts in Paris to provide them with frilly and lacey attire with which to adorn themselves for their liberal "life partner(s)."

   Here we see the Spring 2007 favorites.
      
The "I'm Gay and Loving        The "Van Helsing" Look
It" look. The liberal men      for the "Dominant" sissy
love the zipper in the rear.   libdolt.

  
The "I wanna get my AZZ    The "FLAMER" look is driving
KICKED BAD" look for lib   America's liberal metro- 
masochists all over.       sexuals nuts. They really
                           go for the girlie look.

  

The "WTF OVER" look is      The "CLOWN" look has
sending liberal             arrived in time to
metrosexuals into space.    reflect their political
The limp noodle wall-eyed   stance and positions.
critter wearing this is
NOT included. Sorry libs.

    
The "I want to DIE" look. DO   For the more "FEMININE"
NOT wear this outfit outside  of the liberal metro- 
of NYC, LA, or SF unless you  sexuals within the DNC.
WANT TO DIE! 

  Well, we can never say that liberal metrosexual men, as they continue to evolve into women, don't leave us laughing our azzes off! Thanks for THAT idiots.

    So, you think that Socialized Health Care is the answer despite all of the drawbacks to it? Well, Dear Reader, march on and learn the truth of Socialized Medicine from the Horse's mouth...that is, Canuckistan.

    Need an MRI, NO PROBLEM Comrade. Just have a seat and we'll get to you in say, oh, 31-117 DAYS LATER! http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/media_07mar2006_fig3_e.html

    Now, I had to get an MRI for a service-connected injury and went to the Doc (Tricare Prime) in July 05. By LATE July I had already been referred to a ortho who prescribed an MRI via the internet, I got the email with the appointment, and bingo, a mere 10 days after I was seen originally, I was getting an MRI. Then, about 3 weeks later, saw the Doc who scheduled me for a Sept. shoulder orthoscopy for three different problems to include a torn labrum, shoulder cuff! It was all done by October and I was in phys. therapy.

    Okay Comrade, now let's say your granny needs a cataract removed, cool, let the system care for her needs. Just a mere 30-180 days later and granny is hooked up.
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/media_07mar2006_fig7_e.html

    Perhaps the most d*mning statistic is the amount of Physicians FLEEING Canuckistan. Note that these Comrades are leaving the lap of luxurious socialism for the evil Capitalistic United States no doubt, where through hard work and good job skills, they can enrich themsleves.
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/smdb_figure_8_2005_e.html

    So Comrades, YOU'D BETTER D*MN WELL THINK IT OVER before you ask for the government to give you health care for free. Lastly and it was not on the information, is how many patients died from neglect or malpractice since, under Socialized medicine, Docs really cannot be held liable? Think I'm wrong. Think the Gunny is hitting in the berm? Ask ANYONE who has tried to SUE the government HOW it all worked out. 



"HI. I'm Doctor Nick.
Your Government assigned
Health Care Provider."

http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=statistics_a_z_e#W

   The Eurabians sure do have a set of nuts when they are confronting the USA but have a set the size of a pinhead when it comes to confronting evil like Hitler, the USSR and the Warsaw pact nations, Communism in general, genocide, and Milosevic in Bosnia.

   Yep, these imbeciles have been riding our security coattails for so long and have profited by it for so long, that it's time to yank the nipple out of their mouths. 

   The NY Times is running the story that the Eurabians are resisting our request to curb ties with Iran. Fine. No problem.

   How to remove the nipple from the Eurabian mouth:
  
Step 1. Close all bases in Germany...NOW.

Step 2. Withdraw ALL forces from Germany...NOW!

Step 3. Drop out of NATO...NOW. THEY need it more than we do.

Step 4. Let the Iranians develop their nukes and short-range missiles. They threaten EURABIA not us.

Step 5. Tell Iran in no uncertain terms that messing with Israel and/or developing long-range missiles that can threaten the USA will result in them experiencing what a bunker-busting nuke can do.

Step 6. Finish developing and implementing our Missile Shield defense. Share with Israel, the rest of the world can F.O.

Step 7. Implement George Washington Doctrine and AVOID foreign entanglements. If Europe is at war, supply BOTH SIDES and let them kill one another. NO MORE US BLOOD FOR EUROPE.

EXCERPT:

  "Administration officials say a new American drive to reduce exports to Iran and cut off its financial transactions is intended to further isolate Iran commercially amid the first signs that global pressure has hurt Iran’s oil production and its economy. There are also reports of rising political dissent in Iran.

In December, Iran’s refusal to give up its nuclear program led the United Nations Security Council to impose economic sanctions. Iran’s rebuff is based on its contention that its nuclear program is civilian in nature, while the United States and other countries believe Iran plans to make weapons.

American officials say that European governments may have facilitated illicit business and that European governments must do more to stop such transactions. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. has said the United States has shared with Europeans the names of at least 30 front companies involved in terrorism or weapons programs.

“They’ve told us they don’t have the tools,” said a senior American official. “Our answer is: get them.”

New York Times, January 30, 2007, Pg. 1, "Europe Resists U.S. On Curbing Ties With Iran."
By Steven R. Weisman