Posted on 10/03/2013 10:46:36 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, responsible for enforcing economic and trade sanctions against Iran and Syria, is being hindered because it has been pared down to a “skeleton crew” by the government shutdown, a Treasury official tells ABC News.
“This massively reduced staffing not only impairs OFAC’s ability to execute its mission, it also undermines [the Treasury Department's Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes] broader efforts to combat money laundering and illicit finance, protect the integrity of the U.S. financial system, and disrupt the financial underpinnings of our adversaries,” according to the official, who asked not to be named.
The Treasury official’s comments come as Iran sanctions are in the public eye. As the U.S. and Iran wade into diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the U.S. in interviews and in his U.N. speech not to back away from sanctions.
Broadly, employees essential to U.S. national security have remained on the job, despite the federal shutdown. According to plans laid out by the Department of Justice, all FBI and DEA field agents and support staff are exempt from furlough and will remain at work, for instance.
So what’s being affected? A Treasury official told ABC News, via email, that the office (OFAC) “is unable to sustain its core functions of: (1) issuing new sanctions designations against those enabling the governments of Iran and Syria as well as terrorist organizations, WMD proliferators, narcotics cartels, and transnational organized crime groups; (2) investigating and penalizing sanctions violations; (3) issuing licenses to authorize humanitarian and other important activities that might otherwise be barred by sanctions; and (4) issuing new sanctions prohibitions and guidance.”
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
This record is severely scratched, that needle keeps scratchin’ out the same tune.
Another day, another media outrage. Boo hoo.
“At this time, what possible difference could it make?” Especially since all the military golf courses around D.C. are fully staffed and operational.
So 0bama is telling the Treasury to blame the shutdown...for 0bama giving Iran a present after their phone call?!
Hasnt slowed down arms and support for AQ and the mussie Bros....
B.S.
Shut it down until grass starts growing in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue.
We’re all gonna die.
I can hardly wait for the media to report that the shutdown is hindering toilets flushing.
Well then get on harry reid’s arse and MAKE HIM ACT IN AMERICA”S BEST INTEREST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.