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