The Trump administration has served the Iranian people and the cause of truth by dubbing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group.
The Revolutionary Guard uses violence and economic leverage to achieve authoritarian ends. Calling them terrorists is salutary candor. The designation also serves the cause of peace.
The Revolutionary Guard controls vast swathes of Iran’s economy from the energy industry to telecommunications. This gives them control over a feudal system with which to distribute resources to its supporters and fund its aggression. But it’s worse than that. Because the Revolutionary Guard manages its business interests poorly and with disregard for the public interest, its feudalism has turned Iran’s economy into an inefficient behemoth. Preventing market entry and competition, the Revolutionary Guard ensures that it is the necessary one-stop shop for individuals and businesses alike.
President Trump’s action on Monday changes that for the better. When the terrorist designation goes into effect next week, the Iranian government knows that foreign corporations will be reluctant to sign new business deals. They’ll fear U.S. sanctions.
The economic pressure constrains the Revolutionary Guard’s ability to cause harm around the world. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard currently uses operations officers, contract agents, and sympathizers to plan and conduct terrorist activities across our planet. Whether it is attempting to blow up restaurants in D.C., or politicians in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, or Israeli diplomats in India and Thailand, or starving civilians in Syria and Yemen, the Revolutionary Guard proves it means what it says.
The Revolutionary Guard absurdly claims to serve the 82 million strong Iranian nation. Instead, it exists to force obedience to Khomeinism and absolute clerical authority. That makes Iranians prisoners in their own land. The guard knows this, which is why it formalizes vast structures of repression. These include the Basij militia which involves roving gangs of armed men driving around Iranian cities attacking any who do not bend in deference.
Fortunately, Iranians have a new cause for hope. Listing the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist entity, foreign businesses will have to proceed far more cautiously in assessing whether they wish to do business with the Revolutionary Guard’s front companies. As the Revolutionary Guard loses business, other Iranian business interests will have an opportunity to fill the gap. We also hope that Revolutionary Guard officers will fight among themselves as they are forced to fight over an ever shrinking pie.
In short, we salute this decision and encourage Trump to press America’s allies to follow suit.
Source » washingtonexaminer