| The Bush administration has finally turned in its | | | | The Almighty Dollar has already flashed its |
| battle against nuclear proliferation to the one | | | | lightning bolts. For example, last month American |
| Western weapon that is apparently downright | | | | banks were barred from facilitating some |
| omnipotent:The Almighty Dollar. | | | | transactions for a leading Iranian bank with |
| Washington has begun to employ the mighty new | | | | reputed ties to terrorist groups. |
| weapon to cut off Iran and North Korea from the | | | | And it appears that the weapon is already winning |
| international financial system. | | | | its first battles. For instance, experts say that |
| As part of its devastating dollar-diplomacy, officials | | | | some foreign banks are already cutting their ties |
| from the USA have met with banks overseas to | | | | with Iran and North Korea. |
| warn them against doing business with Iranian and | | | | Of course, there are potential pitfalls in such |
| North Korean businesses that have been linked to | | | | mighty powerful unilateral action. But the |
| the spread of nuclear materials and to the | | | | administration is determined to proceed because it |
| support of terrorist groups. In fact, the United | | | | knows full well that the Almighty Dollar is the |
| States is threatening to bar American banks from | | | | most powerful weapon in the national arsenal. |
| working with financial institutions that do not | | | | It also has the much appreciated benefit of only |
| hearken to the warning. | | | | being explosive metaphorically. |