Iran and North Korea's Lobbyists

While a number of war critics at home have openly sided with our Islamic fascist enemies, (even secretly hoping for the U.S. to lose, as Dinesh D'Souza has pointed out), a number of our enemies have already gained a foothold on our shores.

The Politico reported that 'Axis' Nations Find Access to Representation last week.

Iraq, North Korea and Iran -- the bad-boy troika so named by President Bush in his 2002 State of the Union speech -- have all enlisted their own hired guns in Washington, even as they try to avoid damage from real guns overseas.

North Korea is represented by the Institute for Business Development in Euro Asia Limited, which is based in London. It's a bit unclear from disclosure reports exactly what it is doing for a nation that has defied White House calls for abandonment of its nuclear weapons program. For $100,000 a year, the firm is facilitating "the creation of international joint ventures and other business partnerships." Nobody from the institute returned calls to discuss the work in more detail.

And as for Iran...

Iran has hired Mark Edmond Clark of New York for $48,000 between June 2006 to May 2007. The paperwork says he is to "coordinate with Mr. Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, or other staff at the Iranian mission to the U.N. when requested, on topics to examine on U.S.-Iran relations ... (c)ontact and attend the meetings of foreign policy, business, and professional associations as requested by mission staff ... and attempt to create opportunities for mission staff to meet with individuals ... and to attend meetings of foreign policy, business and professional associations when possible." Clark told The Politico he is not a lobbyist for Iran; he provides his client with research.

None of this should be a surprise, I suppose every repressive regime with aspirations of regional hegemony needs a lobbyist.