Iran puts its foot down, in the water

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

You can't wire funds to someone who has no way of receiving it. Conversation could have gone like this:

"Mr. President we need to pay the Iranians their settlement."

"Okay set up a wire."

"That's going to take some time."

"Okay, hell with it just send them some cash..."

But I'm sure its something much more sinister...

I just don't understand why people are hung up on the fact it was cash. Not even our cash. We know the reason for the payment so who really gives a shit... I still don't understand it.

I bet if Trump had done this, you'd be hung up on something.

In fact, I would absolutely guarantee that.

But with Obama...meh...or better yet "hell with it, just send them some cash"

In fact, that sounds exactly like something Trump would do.

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by OntheRail

Your fine with all the backdoor slight of hand from Obama... But if it were Trump... well that's a whole different matter... heads would be exploding and all.

Me I'd of sent them a check and told them deal with it... nah if the insisted cash... I'd of sent them a plane full of ash.

But with cash they can pack it on a camel Poof... no tracks to be followed.

Obama... was the Greatest supporter of terrorist that Iran could ever hope to deal with.... next to Kerry.

I don't think it was backdoor. I think it was the easiest way to get it done.

To the whole, "why didn't we hear about it until afterward" crowd...

Because it is a plane flying around with $400 Million Dollars on it!

[tucker6]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

It wasn't in dollars. The Iranians have no way of exchanging them into something useful. It was in Swiss Francs and Euros.

So the US couldn't have simply sent their money by wire to a neutral party, who could then wire the money to the Iranians?

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by barahona44

See, Obama tried to save the American taxpayer some money and you don't even appreciate it.

I very much doubt Obama saved the taxpayer anything considering the shipping & handling charges alone...

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

I bet if Trump had done this, you'd be hung up on something.

In fact, I would absolutely guarantee that.

But with Obama...meh...or better yet "hell with it, just send them some cash"

In fact, that sounds exactly like something Trump would do.

Not really.

I fully expected some shady looking stuff like this to happen if in fact Trump succeeded in the slightest bit with North Korea.

Its also mostly irrelevant... I don't have to agree or disagree with the actions taken to understand WHY they happened. The WHY here makes perfect sense. The "cash shipments in the dead of night to fund terrorism" conspiracy theorists choose to completely ignore the WHY and only focus on the HOW.

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by tucker6

So the US couldn't have simply sent their money by wire to a neutral party, who could then wire the money to the Iranians?

No.

Because nobody the Iranians can do business with we would trust being an intermediary with that kind of money.

Also do we really want to get into the sending money to England, who sends it to Switzerland, who sends it to Nigeria, who sends it to... etc. etc.

So it can end up in Iran?

Plane of cash = Easier.

[OntheRail]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

Not really.

I fully expected some shady looking stuff like this to happen if in fact Trump succeeded in the slightest bit with North Korea.

Your Bias is showing..... Trump Shady... Obama Expedient under same conditions.

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by OntheRail

Your Bias is showing..... Trump Shady... Obama Expedient under same conditions.

Not at all...

I think a plane arriving in Tehran loaded with a bunch of cash looks shady AF.

But then I realize we actually owed them the money. The process of actually setting up relations with Iran to send a single wire does sound like a pain in the ass. And a plane full of cash seems an easier solution.

100 years ago it would have been done with gold and ships.

[tucker6]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

Not at all...

I think a plane arriving in Tehran loaded with a bunch of cash looks shady AF.

But then I realize we actually owed them the money. The process of actually setting up relations with Iran to send a single wire does sound like a pain in the ass. And a plane full of cash seems an easier solution.

100 years ago it would have been done with gold and ships.

Who says you need to form a relationship in order to wire money. Just change the policy for five minutes and send the damn money.

[barahona44]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

It wasn't in dollars. The Iranians have no way of exchanging them into something useful. It was in Swiss Francs and Euros.

I know but I was just showing that foreigners, especially Third World nations, love cash and American cash best of all.Eventually the Iranians will use those Euros and Swiss francs to get dollars if dollars are needed in any dealings they have to make.

[OntheRail]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

Not at all...

I think a plane arriving in Tehran loaded with a bunch of cash looks shady AF.

But then I realize we actually owed them the money. The process of actually setting up relations with Iran to send a single wire does sound like a pain in the ass. And a plane full of cash seems an easier solution.

100 years ago it would have been done with gold and ships.

Why the f*ck should we of cared about making it easy for them... other then Obama was in ass lick mode with his anything for a deal stance.

Should of told them when a channel open up due to your action to become a better citizen in international standing we'll wire you the funds.

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by tucker6

Who says you need to form a relationship in order to wire money. Just change the policy for five minutes and send the damn money.

Good Christ...

Google SWIFT.

I'm over this conversation... for the millionth time.

[PaceAdvantage]

GOOD CRIST! (see what I did there?)

I have a feeling Obama needs to be investigated.

Better hire a special counsel.

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

GOOD CRIST! (see what I did there?)

I have a feeling Obama needs to be investigated.

Better hire a special counsel.

I explained why we sent cash.

I explained just wiring the money wasn't that easy.

I showed an example of how Republicans went after Obama for attempting to settle matters using American Financial Institutions already.

Since nobody here actually checks things out for themselves and just parrots the Fox/Right-wing/Alt-right talking point... here ya go... it won't be good enough... again I'm sure.

Sanctions against Iran
In January 2012, the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) implemented a campaign calling on SWIFT to end all relations with Iran's banking system, including the Central Bank of Iran. UANI asserted that Iran's membership in SWIFT violated U.S. and EU financial sanctions against Iran as well as SWIFT's own corporate rules.[24]

Consequently, in February 2012, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee unanimously approved sanctions against SWIFT aimed at pressuring the Belgian financial telecommunications network to terminate its ties with blacklisted Iranian banks. Expelling Iranian banks from SWIFT would potentially deny Iran access to billions of dollars in revenue and spending using SWIFT but not from using IVTS. Mark Wallace, president of UANI, praised the Senate Banking Committee.[25]

Initially SWIFT denied it was acting illegally,[25] but now says "it is working with U.S. and European governments to address their concerns that its financial services are being used by Iran to avoid sanctions and conduct illicit business."[26] Targeted banks would be—amongst others—Saderat Bank of Iran, Bank Mellat, Post Bank of Iran and Sepah Bank.[27] On 17 March 2012, following agreement two days earlier between all 27 member states of the Council of the European Union and the Council's subsequent ruling, SWIFT disconnected all Iranian banks from its international network that had been identified as institutions in breach of current EU sanctions and warned that even more Iranian financial institutions could be disconnected from the network.

In February 2016, most Iranian banks reconnected to the network following lift of sanctions on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.[28]

[PaceAdvantage]

Yeah, I read all that.

That's why I said a special counsel ought to be hired to investigate this fully.

It is, as you say, shady AF.

Since our wonderful all-truth-telling MSM failed to vet this out as fully as they do the number of ice cream scoops Trump enjoys for dessert, I see no alternative to a SC investigation.

Obama has some 'splainin to do