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March 13, 2007

Another Reason to avoid US placement: Israeli lobby & The hysteric anti-Iranian Jihad

I am not sure if I am amused or annoyed by this news from the FT that AIPAC has commenced a campaign lobbying to force US pension funds to divest from companies doing business with Iran.

Well, I am glad that none of my money is invested with schemes which these Religio-Nationalist zealots can touch.

As to the details of their little jihad, well, here are some of the key points:

The most influential pro-Israel lobby group in the US on Monday warned state pension funds that they would face a campaign to sell billions of dollars invested in companies with ties to Iran.

The nationwide divestment campaign was one of the main messages delivered at the annual convention in Washington of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), which also called for tightening sanctions against Iran at the United Nations.

Speaking to some 6,000 delegates, Howard Kohr, Aipac executive director, singled out for special mention CalPERS – California’s state pension fund – which he said had more than $1bn (£517m, €758m) invested in foreign companies developing Iran’s energy sector.

What he means, it would appear that these fanatics want to impose their little vision of political correctness and privatised foreign policy on investors.

“If the largest state pension funds in this country were to divest from companies with ties to Iran, it would have a crippling effect on Iran’s economy,” he said. Aipac would work with other Jewish organisations this year to support divestment efforts in 10 states.

“Stiff sanctions and targeted divestments – these will be the focus as we work to keep the pressure on Iran,” he said.

Records for 2006 show that CalPERS held over $468m in stock in Total, the French energy company, one of the foreign concerns that has invested most heavily in Iran. The California fund had over $330m of stock in Eni, the Italian company also active in Iran.

So, more of this silly playing politics, making the US a more difficult place to do business.

More business via London.

The concept and practice of “terror-free” investing is gathering momentum in the US, among public as well as private funds. Several states have already instructed their pension funds not to invest in countries on the State Department’s list of terror sponsors, namely Iran, Syria, Sudan, Cuba and North Korea.

Terror free investing....

A fine gift to Chinese interests and a fine example of utterly magical thinking.

Aipac said experts involved in the Sudan-Darfur divestment campaign, which is having a considerable public impact, were also aiding its effort.

Is it?

Besides on American investors?

Dupes, bloody dupes.

Posted by The Lounsbury at March 13, 2007 08:44 PM
Filed Under: Biz - Private in MENA

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Comments

Terror free investing

Yeah, everyone's got his wahabi version of halal investing. Some like it with pork, others like it without.

A fine gift to Chinese interests and a fine example of utterly magical thinking.

Very much my thought, except I usually don't think about China only in those circumstances. I see opportunity for startups on the micro level. When big players divest from otherwise profitable investments, there's room for small players to make larger profits. So if your name is Mahmoud, and you don't give a shit about direct business with the US because your grocery store doesn't reach that far, but you still want to become a small time local Rockefeller, becoming the Mollahs' best buddy can put you in a priviledged position to be an intermediary with people who wouldn't need any if it wasn't for US stupidity. Not on a significant scale in the global picture, but there's room to make enough cash to become the big man in your village without ever appearing on ILSA-ish radars.

Posted by: Shaheen [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 13, 2007 09:31 PM

Ah yes, I was just at a conference in Dubai which half the focus was on the concept of being a cut out.

Posted by: The Lounsbury at March 13, 2007 09:35 PM

Awk! Not satisfied with diverting my tax money into that endless tribal battle between the followers of Jehovah and Allah, they (Bush & Lobby) now want to take my pension! Still, there will probably be enough left for me to send along a donation to Reverend Haggard. After all, I don't want to be "left behind" after the big event. Um, I wonder if Reuters will be able to televise the decent of Jesus over Jerusalem? That way we could all see it on the bigscreen in the mega-church!

Posted by: Lawrence Stepelevich at March 16, 2007 03:34 PM

Awk! Not satisfied with diverting my tax money into that endless tribal battle between the followers of Jehovah and Allah

that is to say btw Xians and Jews? Or Xians and Xians?

What's the bloody fucking difference, Jehovah and Allah?

Stupid Cunt.

they (Bush & Lobby) now want to take my pension!

Bush has fuck all to do with this, again, stupid cunt.

Posted by: The Lounsbury at March 17, 2007 12:41 AM

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