Caterpillar Cans Iran

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

As the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency considers how to address Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, those trying to stop Iran from building a bomb have notched what they boast is a victory.

Caterpillar, the giant American construction equipment company, has announced it will make sure its earth movers and bulldozers no longer end up in Iranian hands.

Questions about whether Caterpillar equipment may have helped build some of the secret tunnels or underground bunkers that hide Iran's disputed nuclear facilities were raised by the group, United Against Nuclear Iran. Its head, Mark Wallace, is a former American Ambassador at the United Nations, where among other duties, he gained a reputation for diligently chasing down international financial dealings with rogue nations, legal and otherwise.

"It is irresponsible for an American based company to be doing business in Iran and providing the heavy equipment if you will, to support Iran's natural oil and gas industry and perhaps their nuclear program," Wallace told Fox News.

Caterpillar says it has no assets in Iran and does not do business there. But United Against Nuclear Iran points out that a Caterpillar owned firm, the Canadian construction company Lovat, has "recently done business" in Iran. In addition, Wallace's group says, a company called Tunnel Boresh Machine is identified as a distributor of Caterpillar equipment in Iran. Caterpillar acknowledges that it cannot control where its machines end up, saying "Caterpillar's foreign subsidiaries may, under some circumstances, sell products to independent dealers that resell to users in this country..." meaning, Iran.

Could one of those users ultimately be the Iranian Revolutionary Guards building the huge Iranian nuclear projects?

Did Lovat or Tunnel Boresh help construct the tunnels such as those in Qom, for example, the formerly secret nuclear site made public by the Obama administration last fall?

A spokesman for Lovat referred Fox News back to Caterpillar, and Caterpillar says only one tunnel boring machine was used by Lovat in Iran, in the late 1990's, before Caterpillar acquired the company. That machine was used for a water, sewer, and drainage project in Tehran. In addition, Caterpillar notes, there is no way to determine if its equipment may have been used in the nuclear program because used construction equipment is so widely available in the Middle East, and sold at large auctions to many buyers.

Tunnel Boresh Machine told Fox News that Caterpillar equipment was not used in the construction of Iran's nuclear facilities. But that possibility was raised in the most public of ways. United Against Nuclear Iran paid for a billboard near Caterpillar's Illinois headquarters that plastered a photograph of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad and a bulldozer, with the question: "Today's work, Tomorrow's Nuclear Iran?"

The answer it no, according to Caterpillar.

The company has announced it will no longer permit its machinery to end up in Iran.

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03...test=latestnews

[Peikko 1,575]

How?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How?

That's what I'm wondering. All it takes is a middle man and they'd never know. Or care...

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

That's what I'm wondering. All it takes is a middle man and they'd never know. Or care...

true. but eventually they'll need parts, and that turns a minor delay into a longer one.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Cat, made in America and proud of it. Next, they should stop selling to Australia.

[Peikko 1,575]

true. but eventually they'll need parts, and that turns a minor delay into a longer one.

You think they'd care about replacing with authentic Caterpillar parts? Oh my!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You think they'd care about replacing with authentic Caterpillar parts? Oh my!

It's not like there are a lot of generic companies making parts for heavy equipment, and earth moving equipment has wear parts need replacing periodically.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's not like there are a lot of generic companies making parts for heavy equipment, and earth moving equipment has wear parts need replacing periodically.

Maybe not, but those in need often make do and mend - I could be wrong, but I don't see this as being much of an obstacle, it is not unprecedented for those who don't have the proper parts to jimmy something that works.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Maybe not, but those in need often make do and mend - I could be wrong, but I don't see this as being much of an obstacle, it is not unprecedented for those who don't have the proper parts to jimmy something that works.

Improvising is not a concept that all too many Americans seem to be familiar with. Outside the developed world, that's how things get done.

[Peikko 1,575]

So it would seem. I can't believe anyone seriously thinks this is a genuine bar to Iran getting its hands on whatever machinery it likes. Bizarre.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Improvising is not a concept that all too many Americans seem to be familiar with. Outside the developed world, that's how things get done.

Only in the blue areas might that be a "foreign" concept. The practice is live and well in the red parts of the nation. Ask any farmboy, and he will tell you, there is not too much he can't do with some baling wire and a set of fencing pliers.

As far as western technology, it depends on the area. Some indigenous folks are fast learners and talented operators, but when the machine doesn't do what it is supposed to do, more likely than not, the machine is possessed with evil spirits, and they won't have anything more to do with it until it is fixed. But, it will make a fine chicken coop until somebody comes by and fixes it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Only in the blue areas might that be a "foreign" concept. The practice is live and well in the red parts of the nation. Ask any farmboy, and he will tell you, there is not too much he can't do with some baling wire and a set of fencing pliers.

Like this?

Or the improvised baby-sitter?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Like this?

Or the improvised baby-sitter?

You just don't appreciate fine craftsmanship.

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

You think they'd care about replacing with authentic Caterpillar parts? Oh my!

i'm sure they won't. however, if they want it to fit and work properly, that becomes an issue.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

i'm sure they won't. however, if they want it to fit and work properly, that becomes an issue.

How true. I'd like to see an improvised hydrostatic transmission part. Or some hydraulic control valve bodies. Or an injector pump. Or an excavator boom.