(Washington Times) Clifford D. May - During the final months of the Obama administration, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a license for Boeing to sell 100 new planes to Iran Air. Treasury also issued licenses to Airbus for a similar deal. Iranian officials claim these aircraft will be used for civilian purposes only. The evidence suggests they're lying. Emanuele Ottolenghi at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies tracked 768 Iran Air flights between Tehran and Damascus since Jan. 16, 2016. Few are ferrying tourists. They are supplying military equipment and fighters in support of Assad's forces and those of Hizbullah. In 2011, Treasury "designated" Iran Air for providing material support and services to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. Treasury noted that Iran Air had been transporting "missile or rocket components to Syria." Yet suddenly, just over a year ago, the Obama administration removed Iran Air's designation. As a matter of principle, President Trump should not allow Boeing nor any other American companies to be in the business of aiding and abetting terrorists and war criminals. The writer is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
2017-04-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive