Iranian Money In The Ark-La-Miss

According to a newly released report exports to Iran have increased tenfold in the last 7 and a half years. Louisiana the number 2 U.S. state in terms of exports to Iran. Between 2001 and 2007 Louisiana sold Iranians over 117 million dollars worth of goods- primarily corn. And that isnt all Iran is buying from America. A recently released report shows the Ark-La-Miss making millions from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Judy Phillips of West Monroe says, "It really infuriates me to think that were selling to Iran". 40 U.S. states sell goods and services to Iran and Louisiana is number 2 on the list. According to the USDA most of the Louisianas corn crop is not for human consumption, its feed corn. In other words, some of these ears of corn that are in right here in the Northeast Louisiana cornfield this year, next year may wind up in the belly of Iranian farm animals. Judy Phillips, "Oh, it gives me chills". Arkansas getting their fair share of Iranian dollars. Since 2001 theyve sold Iran 2.1 million dollars worth of goods, primarily rice. Judy Phillips, "I didnt know we did that much business with Iran". One of the odder things the United States sells to Iran? Bull sperm. About 16 million dollars worth purchased primarily from Ohio and Wisconsin. Judy Phillips, "What is that about? What? What are they doing with that"? Evidently Iranian bulls not as virile as their American counterparts. But some of the items that Iran has purchased from the United States in the last 7 and a half years arent nearly as benign in fact, some of the things theyve bought from us, are quite deadly. In 2004 alone America sold 106 thousand dollars worth of military rifles, almost 9 thousand dollars in rifle parts and 148 thousand dollars in what the report calls unspecified weapons. Judy Phillips, "Im ashamed of my country I really am, and the president". So if Louisiana is the number 2 exporting U.S. state to Iran whos number 1? Well, its the state of Georgia. Now you might be thinking that theyre exporting those Georgia peaches, well think again instead, for the last 7 and 1/2 years its not peaches that Georgia has been selling to Iran, its cigarettes, 201 million dollars worth. So as the United States uses sanctions, diplomacy and the possibility of military action in an effort to get Iran to give up its nuclear weapons program, American businessmen and their Iranian counterparts make sure hundreds of millions of Iranian dollars keep flowing into the U.S. economy. While it may come as a surprise to most Americans trading with the enemy is a tradition that goes way back. During the Civil War southerners continued selling cotton to the north. In World War II American firms sold oil to Nazi Germany and just a few years ago Serbs sold weapons to their enemies during the Bosnian war.