Gonzo Journalism: Ohio Newspapers Slip, Sliding And Avoiding Chiquita/Gonzales Questions

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Ohio's newspapers seem to have been stricken with sleeping sickness. Or maybe they have lost consciousness. Or maybe they just don't give a damn. What else could explain how the Los Angeles Times dug up a story about a $4.5 billion Oho corporation that seems to have been treated leniently by the Bush Administration in a case involving pay-offs to terrorists.

The Times says Justice Department prosecutors were "incensed" that nearly three years passed before criminal charges were brought. The company is Chiquita Brands International Inc., which has its headquarters in downtown Cincinnati. There are questions over whether the multi-national received special treatment in Washington:

"According to the Justice Department sources, the prosecutors were incensed by Chiquita's continued payments to the right-wing United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, after what they described as repeated warnings. But current and former department officials said they were opposed on some matters by political appointees in the department . . ."

Reporters in Ohio have not been aggressive in covering this story. Editors in Ohio have not been aggressive in pushing for headlines. It is a major journalistic fiasco, a complete and total failure to explore whether political connections in Washington allowed a giant multi-national company, for a time, to violate federal law.

Ohio Dealing With Iran? Feds Take The Trade Embargo Seriously

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- A businessman in neighboring Kentucky learned the hard way last year that the U.S. government takes its Iranian trade embargo extremely seriously. President Ronald Reagan imposed sanctions on Oct. 29, 1987 that restricted Iranian-linked goods and services, and his own administration was rocked by the Iran-Contra scandal over a backdoor effort to trade missiles for hostages.

Reagan's Executive Order 12613 resulted from Iran's support of international terrorism, and it was followed by two others during President Bill Clinton's administration that tightened the trade restrictions. Now we hear that two Ohio legislators are worried that the State of Ohio has investments in Iran. Would this be a grab for a cheap headline?

The U.S. Treasury Department's fact-sheet for American businesses makes it clear that since August 1997 "virtually all trade and investment activities by U.S. persons, wherever located, are prohibited."

And the sanctions have teeth: "Corporate criminal penalties for violations of the Iranian Transactions Regulations can range up to $500,000, with individual penalties of up to $250,000 and 20 years in jail. Civil penalties of up to $50,000 may also be imposed administratively."

About the only Iranian imports allowed are carpets, dried fruits, nuts and caviar.

HERE is the full-text of the fact sheet "What You Need to Know About U.S. Economic Sanctions," which is published by the Treasury's office of foreign assets control.

H/T to Buckeye State Blog for baring the news that two Ohio lawmakers are worried that Ohio may have somehow, someway found a loophole in the sanctions. But the federal law looks pretty solid because the Treasury Department explains, "The ban on providing services includes any brokering function from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located."