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US Bans Sales of iPods To North Korea

gamer4Life writes "The United States has created their list of products banned from being exported to North Korea. This list includes iPods, plasma televisions and Segway electric scooters. U.S. intelligence officials who helped produce the Bush administration's list said Kim prefers Mercedes, BMW and Cadillac cars; Japanese and Harley Davidson motorcycles; Hennessy XO cognac from France and Johnny Walker Scotch whisky; Sony cameras and Japanese air conditioners."

12 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. The Good Kind of Sanctions by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As I've posted before, I think this is a good approach.

    There are good sanctions & bad sanctions. An example of bad sanctions were the sanctions the UN imposed against Iraq that caused a lot of human suffering. Yes, it put pressure on the dictator but it was easy ammo to use against the United States. Essentially claiming that we were starving and murdering the civilians--and I knew people that were saying we were doing horrible things!

    When we impose sanctions on a country to pressure the dictator, I think that things like food, water, clothing & medicine should be increased with pro-American propaganda along with it. What we should decrease is things like automobiles, electronics & other high standard of living commodities. Therefore we make it annoying for the people of North Korea to get by but it isn't possible to point to conditions of people dying due to our sanctions.

    Their economy might stagnate and people might die as a result of that but it's not so easy to point the finger at the UN then. In my opinion, the blocking of these high commodities is precisely how sanctions should be done. If these have little or no effect (which they probably will) then you can always ramp it up to include other things. I think one of the harsher things you could do is just block all traffic two/from North Korea from the United States. I mean, they probably block most of it already so that might not matter but internet access would be another commodity that would certainly upset me if I didn't have access to it.

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:The Good Kind of Sanctions by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Funny

      here are good sanctions & bad sanctions. An example of bad sanctions were the sanctions the UN imposed against Iraq [globalpolicy.org] that caused a lot of human suffering.

      have you tried living with a teenager that did not have her ipod? this causes HUGE amounts of human suffering!

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    2. Re:The Good Kind of Sanctions by hkgroove · · Score: 5, Funny

      Until recently, they've been using the shoddy bomb-casing full of used pinball machine parts the Libyan Nationalists gave them.

    3. Re:The Good Kind of Sanctions by Fujisawa+Sensei · · Score: 5, Funny

      They should only permit the export of Microsoft Zunes to NK, that'll show him!

      --
      If someone is passing you on the right, you are an asshole for driving in the wrong lane.
    4. Re:The Good Kind of Sanctions by Mysticalfruit · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, exporting the Zune to them would be a violation of the Geneva conventions.

      --
      Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
    5. Re:The Good Kind of Sanctions by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 5, Funny
      Does the USA check the mail to Johny Kim in N.Korea?
      Why not - they check everyone else's!
      --
      init 11 - for when you need that edge.
    6. Re:The Good Kind of Sanctions by inviolet · · Score: 5, Insightful
      This [sanctiong] does not hurt the dictator.

      It doesn't have to; he won't change his mind about us because we annoy him. What will get his attention is if the influential North Korean upper-classmen get pissed off at him over his policies.

      The lower-class are just ballast. It's the upper-class that wields the most political power because Kim can't function without them and their thousands of separate fiefdoms. If those upper-classmen cease enjoying their lifestyle, then watch for a regime change or even a "popular uprising of the common man".

      --
      FATMOUSE + YOU = FATMOUSE
  2. This will surely fail! by Kim+Jong+Il · · Score: 5, Funny

    This dastardly attempt by the imperialists to stifle us will surely fail, as it always has in the past.

    Our revolutionary scientific laborers, working under the glorious revolutionary banner of Juche, are coming up with our own as we speak! Our fervor shall produce better equipment than the American garbage, whether it be electronics, liquor, or food. Indeed, we have always done so, and the stories of us needing to import so called "luxury" goods are imperialist lies to discredit us.

    As just one of many examples, it is well known that Great Leader Kim Il Sung, in his secret bunker on Mount Paekdu, singlehandedly created the Internet during the War of Resistance against the Japanese, passing on the specification to American military whose scientists who took credit dastardly for it twenty years later. I post this first post as a trivial testament to our revolutionary ingenuity, illustrating our pre-eminence!

    Once again the imperialist dogs will be reminded of the futility of their ill-advised ways!

  3. But strangely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Zune is a go for Lil Kim.

  4. Re:North Korea is dark by Hennell · · Score: 5, Funny

    Say what you like about North Korea, but the country has a damn good record on light pollution.

  5. Re:North Korea is dark by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 5, Funny

    Say what you like about North Korea, but the country has a damn good record on light pollution.

    And Ethiopia has a damn good record on obesity.

  6. MAKE YOUR TIME by Infinityis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IN A.D. 2006
    WAR WAS BEGINNING.
    Kim: WHAT HAPPEN?
    Mechanic: SOMEBODY SET UP US THE BAN.
    Operator: WE GET EMBARGO.
    Kim: WHAT!!
    Operator: VIDEO IPOD TURN ON.
    Kim: IT'S YOU!!
    Bush: HOW ARE YOU GENTLEMEN!!
    Bush: ALL YOUR IPOD ARE BELONG TO US.
    Bush: YOU ARE ON THE WAY TO BOREDOM.
    Dictator Kim: WHAT YOU SAY!!
    Bush: YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO PRESS PLAY MAKE YOUR TIME.
    Bush: HA HA HA HA....
    Operator: DICTATOR!
    Kim: TAKE OFF EVERY 'MP3'!!
    Kim: YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DOING.
    Kim: MOVE 'ITUNES'.
    Kim: FOR GREAT JUSTICE