Paul Krugman Blog- Trading With The Enemy (Koch's)

[n2doc]

Suppose you were going to write a political-thriller potboiler. You might invent something like this: a family of billionaires who support right-wing causes and pose as super-patriots, while actually using their political influence to cover for wrongdoing on multiple fronts — not just endangering workers and the environment, but even making deals with foreign regimes that are actively anti-United States and sponsor terrorists.

Reviewers would, of course, turn up their noses — this is patently unrealistic, super-villains like that don’t exist in real life.

Oh, wait. Koch Brothers Flout Law With Secret Iran Sales.

This isn’t a story on Daily Kos, not that there’s anything wrong with that; it’s a heavily reported piece from Bloomberg that is utterly damning.

If you have a strong stomach, by the way, skim through the comments and look at the knee-jerk defenses. Marc Rich! Solyndra! George Soros is worse! (No, he isn’t — there’s nothing like this in his record, and he’s spent a lot on humanitarian causes.) Not to mention the remarkable amount of anti-Semitism on display; not that it matters, but the Koch family aren’t Jewish.

So we’re living in a bad novel, and to borrow from Brad DeLong, the hard right is worse than you can possibly imagine, even if you take account of the fact that it’s worse than you can possibly imagine.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/trading-with-the-enemy/

[FarCenter]

1. Any evidence that the Iranians are enemies of the Koch Brothers?

I think not!

[Bandit]

2. They declared war on America..

They captured American citizens and attacked American soil. they held American citizens captive for almost two years and have never recanted any of it.. Yes they are considered, if not enemy, at least under sanction..Haliburton is also guilty of trading with Iran while under sanction, and Dick Cheney was CEO at the time...Sorry I went off half cocked as usual.. I didn't read your post very well. Enemy of the Koch Brother and not America....I guess no would be the correct answer..:shrug:

[Frustratedlady]

3. I hope this story has legs and keeps on running.

I'll bet it wiped that smirk off their faces for a bit.

Now, we'll be able to line up the sides. Those who are exposing this article (and, the Koch bros.) and those who are trying to hide it/them and their greed.

[A Simple Game]

4. Trading with the enemy? Confiscate their property, either that or

we could assassinate them then confiscate their property.

We can do that to American citizens now, no big deal, or so I have heard.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, n2doc.