By It looks like Greta Van Susteren is a bit pissed off at the ROK government for implementing wobbly sanctions against Iran:
Let’s face it – sanctions do NOT work and will not work if there is a leak or hole in them. So it is perplexing that a country – South Korea – that we have been protecting with American lives for 60 years is playing us over Iran. Why? money over principle and long term safety to this planet.
Here is the story: We have asked South Korea to join us in imposing sanctions on Iran. This is for us, for them and for the world.
Until Wednesday, South Korea has dragged its feet in response to our request (what’s with that? you would think they would jump in and help at once since we just helped them with North Korea over the sinking of their ship and loss of 46 sailors…..not to mention 60 years of American troops and lost lives.) South Korea is announcing they are imposing some….but not all. There is a major gap in what they are willing to do. And, guess what happens when sanctions are half baked? have gaps and leaks? I don’t need to tell you it means the sanctions are limp and worthless at creating the intended effect – here to discourage Iran from going nuclear. I know our State Department is publicly acting happy with South Korea like we got all we asked for but that is simply not so. (And let me repeat, of all countries to snub us!)
Here is the what they have agreed to do: South Korea, with US pressure, has added 102 Iranian firms and 24 people to a blacklist of who South Koreans can not do business with …..and promised to inspect cargo more diligently (more diligently? how about completely?) and hold back on investment in oil and gas business deals.
BUT…South Korea REFUSES to shut down Bank Mellat – which is the Iranian bank in South Korea that is critical to Iranian business. This bank operating in South Korea is very important to Iran. We asked South Korea to shut down this bank. They are not. They refused us. [Greta Wire via a reader tip]
You can read the rest at the link, but I had a report that this posting was being blocked in South Korea. Can anyone else confirm this?
As far as the South Koreans not strictly enforcing sanctions they are probably taking the pragmatic view that sanctions aren’t going to work anyway because other countries like Russia and China will keep doing business with Iran so why should South Korea cripple itself by not doing business with one its largest energy importers?
6:29 pm on September 11th, 2010 1
I'm off post in Yongsan-gu using a Korean ISP and got to the blog post, no problem…
6:40 pm on September 11th, 2010 2
US Officials Praise South Korea's New Sanctions Against Iran.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-stor…
Carry on. The bitch (well, she looks like one from the look of that picture) is just looking for attention.
7:01 pm on September 11th, 2010 3
She probably got a call from some disgruntled, left-over, Neo-Con in the State Department who would be unsatisfied with any language that doesn't sound hard-line enough.
"and promised to inspect cargo more diligently (more diligently? how about completely?)"
What does she mean by completely? I doubt even we would pretend to have the resources to do 100% inspections of every cargo vessel we find coming from or going to Iran.
7:33 pm on September 11th, 2010 4
Not blocked in TDC.
…and sanctions are unlikely to be effective.
8:05 pm on September 11th, 2010 5
Absolutely nothing that Greta Van Susteren says means anything of importance.
She is the worst of the worst… a poster girl for much that is wrong with America… the media, the legal system, politics, professional ethics and religion.
If you don't enthusiastically agree, it's only because you know nothing of Greta Van Susteren.
I will be more than happy to debate this if anyone can imagine something nice to say about her…
…well, except for complements on the erotic sensuality of her bedroom eyes, kiss-me lips and lustfully inviting expressions.
8:28 pm on September 11th, 2010 6
You get turned on by that manic old bitch, Chickenhead? You need to lay off the cognac for a while, dude. You'll destroy mankind.
10:11 pm on September 11th, 2010 7
I think CH is turned on by her erotic facial tick…
10:33 pm on September 11th, 2010 8
"Let’s face it – sanctions do NOT work and will not work if there is a leak or hole in them. So it is perplexing that a country – South Korea – that we have been protecting with American lives for 60 years is playing us over Iran."
So, if sanctions don't work, why is she getting worked up about this?
PS. Someone needs to remind her that South Korea isn't an American colony, but a sovereign nation with a democratically elected government.
10:40 pm on September 11th, 2010 9
TD that's not what she said. I'll spell it out for you; "Sanctions do not work (if there is a leak or hole) and will not work if there is a leak or hole in them." Both clauses refer to the leak or hole. You are free to dislike her but what she said is not illogical.
I do agree with you that South Korea is not a US Colony and as such is not indebted to the US for anything whatsover. The US should realize this and pull its troops out immediately since the relationship has not benefits for the US.
Clearly Iran is a stand up State that Korea should admire and comlement whenever possible. How dare the evil americans suggest shutting down companies that enable Iranian weapon programs!
10:54 pm on September 11th, 2010 10
Yeah right Hamilton. If the US depended on some country for 10 to fifteen percent of its oil needs, they would also put a sanction, and then see its economy crippled with oil shortages. Right.
10:55 pm on September 11th, 2010 11
Seoul Announces Iran Sanctions Package
They must have done this at the insistence of Ms. Van Susteren.
11:05 pm on September 11th, 2010 12
Tom the US put sanctions on both Iran and Iraq when they were major exporters to the US in the past so crawl back into your hole. Once again you show your ass in public.
12:06 am on September 12th, 2010 13
#12, right, so easy to say when you have your own oil and you produce your own oil any time you want. Plus, the US had a special plan for Iraq (it didn't work out). And we all know the US government will put money and American jobs over principle. Think China, and how you guys are in the current position you are in now.
Plus, if the US can't get along with countries then why should Korea jeopardize good relations with a country that has a good relations with in the past? So what if Iran develops nuclear weapons, let them have it, why the US meddle?
12:22 am on September 12th, 2010 14
Dunno about relations, though putting sanctions on the 'unrelated' components of the Iranian financial market is pretty useless from the standpoint of preventing Iran from developing nuclear capability. Banning Korea from selling Iran cars and cellphones and constructing office buildings for them hardly contributes to keeping Iran docile. And some of us probably don't know, but Iran can also serve as a political leverage against North Korea, if used carefully. Iran's ballistic missiles have their origin in North Korea, and Korea can pressure Iran to reduce military ties with North Korea in a 'choose us, or choose them' type of bargain. South Korea contributes way more to Iran's national power than North Korea does, especially at a moment like this when Iran already has far surpassed North Korea in missile technology (think of the Omid satellite launch). Nowadays it's more often Iran who's the giver than the receiver of benefit. Now that bargain would be for the South Korean politicians themselves to sort out.
1:21 am on September 12th, 2010 15
I see nobody in America complaining about China and Russia who are breaking the sanctions. Is the US prepare to stop doing business with them? China is supporting North Korea with nuclear weapons tech, and propping them up. Oh wait, but they're too big and too important for the US economy. South Korea on the other hand… easy target.
8:09 am on September 12th, 2010 16
South Korea is SUPPOSED to be our ally.
9:07 am on September 12th, 2010 17
K 14, remember, North Korea has rudimentary nuclear-bomb skills. Iran may prefer to maintain its relations with the North. But there are some other points that everyone seems to forget. The Iranian authorities say that they don't want nuclear bombs, that such weapons are against Islam. Maybe they just want break-out capability, the threat that they could develop nuclear bombs at any time. When responsible Israelis and Americans talk openly about bombing Iran, the Iranian leaders look for ways to deter us. Ahmedinijad says that he wants to end the "Zionist occupation" of Jerusalem peacefully. He wants the problem of Palestine to be decided by a democratic vote. Ne cites the peaceful end of the Soviet Union as an example.
9:52 am on September 12th, 2010 18
Glans #17 Ahmedinijad has said on numerous occasions not just that he wants the Israeli "occupation" of Jerusalem to end but that he wants the nation of Israel ("Zionist Entity") to cease to exist. He has said that Europe should give land to the Jews so that there can be a Jewish nation in Europe instead of Israel. If there were no Jews in 'Palestine' then of course he wants the Arab population to decide 'democratically'. The Jihadist don't actually want democracy, they want a Caliphate which is where Muslim clerics are the rulers. Chickenhead #5 I disagree with you about Greta, I happen to like a lot of her opinions but to me she has the sex appeal of bread mold. There are some other blond news babes however on Fox that get me harder than Superman's knee cap.
11:34 am on September 12th, 2010 19
"Chickenhead #5 I disagree with you about Greta, I happen to like a lot of her opinions"
Greta and her husband have no real opinions. They say what needs to be said to accomplish their immediate goals.
And their goals are never noble.
11:42 am on September 12th, 2010 20
What's the story with this bank? Is it being used for money laindering?
11:44 am on September 12th, 2010 21
Tom Langley 18, yes, Ahmedinejad wants the “Zionist Entity” to cease to exist, just like the Soviet Union ceased to exist, i.e. he wants the end to come non-violently. He wants a democratic vote by the people of "Palestine". I'm not saying I agree with him, I'm just saying that he's not threatening to attack Israel. Authoritative commentators in Israel and the US speak openly of bombing Iran. Ahmedinejad and other senior Iranian leaders say that, if that happens, they'll fight back.
After World War II, Silesia and most of Pommerania were given to Poland, and East Prussia was split between Poland and Russia. What if, instead, East Prussia had been given to the Jewish people? They'd have productive land in a pleasingly cool climate, conveniently located on the Baltic Sea.
11:45 am on September 12th, 2010 22
Korea is reporting that the US is happy with SK sanctions on Iran. Now, why would they lie?
12:34 pm on September 12th, 2010 23
Well Greta has taken notice of this blog posting and some of her readers apparently don't care a whole lot for the ROK Drop. If it makes her readers feel better the report I received was from an e-mail sent to me saying that the site was being blocked. That is why I asked my readers if they were having similar problems. The feedback from readers is that the site is not being blocked. So rest easy Greta readers the South Koreans can still read her blog postings.
12:39 pm on September 12th, 2010 24
@19 – Chickenhead you should explain your statement about Greta because I have only watched her a few times and saw nothing outrageous.
1:06 pm on September 12th, 2010 25
"The feedback from readers is that the site is not being blocked. So rest easy Greta readers the South Koreans can still read her blog postings."
Why would South Korea block this? It's like something doesn't work, and it's immediately the shifty Koreans are blocking American free speech. You guys are so full of it.
And Yes, more South Koreans should read this kind of ignorant comments (one of the comment that appeared in that blog in question):
"Greta, they are only are friends as long as we provide them all the necessary protection from N Korea. I would bet that the numbers of times we have asked for their backing is minuscule in comparison to what they have received from us."
You guys take your "charity" home. We're getting sick of your demands and guilt trips that never ever ends. Your bases in Korea is costing you guys far less than what it would cost to host them in your home, while allowing you to play hegemony to keep an eye on China and Russia so that you can pretend to be a superpower.
2:32 pm on September 12th, 2010 26
#9,
Yeah, I misread that. Still, she's just a talking head, that's all.
But, I'm always up for a good laugh. I wonder how she feels about Cuba and the fact every one trades with that country, even Americans.
2:41 pm on September 12th, 2010 27
“Greta, they are only are friends as long as we provide them all the necessary protection from N Korea. I would bet that the numbers of times we have asked for their backing is minuscule in comparison to what they have received from us.”
Maybe the US should ask Japan for help in a Vietnam war kind of war next time. Or Germany. Or UK. Who else would answer the call for 320,000 soldiers (out of national population of 20 million) to fight alongside 540,000 GIs (out of national population of 200 million) in America's longest running war in modern history?
4:31 pm on September 12th, 2010 28
GI Korea 23, of course not everyone likes the ROK Drop. You could say the same of any blog. But I like the ROK Drop! It keeps me informed on Korea. It gives me accsss to thinking different from my own. I visit a few days every week. Keep up the good work.
4:36 pm on September 12th, 2010 29
Woa! Some really creepy trolls and perverts hang here, apparently. Not worth commenting under the circumstances.
7:26 pm on September 12th, 2010 30
On Sunday morning, Korea time roughly 9 am, it was blocked. The block was removed when I clicked on the link here Sunday evening Korea time. Forbidden You don't have permission to access /why-wont-south-korea-back-us-100-we-dont-need-95-we-need-100/ on this server.
7:49 pm on September 12th, 2010 31
Yeah, I'm the "reader" who noticed a headline about Korea in a google search and clicked on it and it was blocked. I passed the link on to GIKorea and let him know that I couldn't read it because it was blocked in my part of Korea at roughly 9 am Sunday morning, Korea time. Later, it was not blocked. Now, if everyone wants to deny that it was ever blocked, then that's just whitewash.
It's hard to believe that this would become a greater issue than the fact that what Greta Van Susteren said in the blog post is 100% correct. The USA should be able to count on South Korea to support US sanctions involving the nuclear program in Iran especially considering the fact that nuclear proliferation has been such a big topic on the Korean peninsula over the past two decades. Maybe there just isn't a lot of faith in the Obama administration.
8:44 pm on September 12th, 2010 32
Blocked, my ass. Just because you ran into a technical difficulty…
If they're going to block a nobody's blog, why would they not block this site too? 
I've read far worse things here than that site.
8:49 pm on September 12th, 2010 33
#29 Woa! Some really creepy trolls and perverts hang here, apparently. Not worth commenting under the circumstances.
Then why did you?
Please share with us your expertise as relates to US and ROK relations.
2:44 am on September 13th, 2010 34
It looked like more posters on her blog criticized than agreed with her. Maybe that's why it was closed to further comments.
Not very well thought piece.
3:16 am on September 13th, 2010 35
Here's a question I want to throw out.
If China militarily swallows up North Korea after its collapse, and South Korea gets mad and asks for UN embargo, would the United Nations stop trading with China?
If South Korea asks the US to stop trading with China, would the US oblige?
Other than a few blustering words to show their displeasures, you know the answer is no and no. Because in the end, every country looks out for itself economically, that includes the US, my friends.
3:25 am on September 13th, 2010 36
#35
Well well, for once Tom's said something right…
Is this the same TOM we all know?
8:09 am on September 13th, 2010 37
#35 Not the real Tom. Can't be.
3:24 pm on September 13th, 2010 38
S Korea ban ends Tehran’s Kia imports
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5cdfb50a-bf54-11df-965a…
Sad. That bitch should be so smug now.
3:32 pm on September 13th, 2010 39
I'll have to agree with John #36 & Leon LaPorte #37, Tom #35 had a very good point. SK has helped the effort in Afghanistan & they of course also were very good troops in the Vietnam war. However the SK needs to realize that by helping Iran they are also helping NK as NK is where Iran gets a large amount of their ballistic missile & nuclear technology.
7:29 pm on September 13th, 2010 40
Well Langley, KIA stopped selling Iran its cars now. You can rejoice now that it substantially helped prevent Iran from asking for nuclear missile technology from North Korea.
4:08 am on September 14th, 2010 41
K #40 Every little bit helps, lol.
9:00 pm on September 29th, 2010 42
Congrats, this site made news. Korean government says it never even heard of this Fox News reporter, let alone care about her blog to block her. And #31, they said you're an ass to falsely claim something that's not true.
http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/world/201009/h2010…
3:12 pm on September 30th, 2010 43
well. Greta.
you said that US soldier guard Koreans for 60 years. are you talking about US soldier that run over jr. high school girl in the street and not punished? or soldier that out light bulb in womans body and break for fun?
or make a joke about korean customs because of it is just different.
1-
US stay in korean with the deal of making nuclear weapon. South korean was about to make an nuclear weapon. and Us garenteed to aid (remember this word) in the case of emergency case in korea with exchange nuclear program.
2-
Korean pay money for US army for staying in Korea. we also buy old weapon from US army which no one buy. we can spend same money to Russia and get better weapon. but as a partner, we spend rediculous money to buy rusted weapon from you.
3-
Can you remember "candle demonstration in Korea"? Do you know why Korean did that? it happens because US sell a beef to Korea which can have crazy cow disease, which none of nation even looking at, which force korean not able to decline.
even that thing happen, we still believe US is our partner.
and no brain journalist like you, are ruining the relationship.
remember , US and Korea is partner and US people did not give anything free.
P.s: we supported your stupid Vietnam War also. do you know how many Korean dies there ?
3:20 pm on September 30th, 2010 44
Dear Greta,
I saw your article, and feel you have no idea abot korea and just want to get attention.
moreover, your idea is also wrong, sorry i hate to say. But you are totally off from truth.
anyway, I think you got attentions from people. well. good job. but how can you handle if people found that you are not journalist material?
4:14 pm on September 30th, 2010 45
Tom! You've found your ghey wife now!
11:28 pm on September 30th, 2010 46
Tim #43: I don't think she was talking about the few unfortunate incidents that were either accidents or the acts of a relatively few lowlife dirtbags. She was probably referring to the tens of thousands who died in the war, or the hundreds who were killed/wounded in the late 60's, or maybe just the guys who spent a year or two away from their homes and families who just provided a deterrence to NK so idiots like you can speak your minds, comrade. Just how much money does SK pay to the US for staying in Korea? Unless I heard wrong, there were a lot of SK soldiers/marines that volunteered for Vietnam because the money was good. Good money for good soldiers. I wouldn't have wanted to be facing the pointy end of their bayonets. I'm no fan of Greta, but we have spent multiple billion$, and thousands of lives just for peace in the region. Whose economy, standard of living, and peace of mind has benefitted more, yours or ours?
11:32 pm on September 30th, 2010 47
Chickenhead: We need a poem about the cute new couple, Tim and Tom.
3:59 am on October 1st, 2010 48
a faag couple named Tim and Tom
decided to gang raape your mom
these miserable trolls
plugged all three holes
while you watched with your diick in your palm
World, be careful what you ask for.