www.libyashopping.net, and Other Embargo Defying Websites
July 2002
What happens if you read one too many of those infamously noncommittal Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) interpretations (see 2.1)? You surf the web. You don’t need to know Arabic, Farsi, Spanish or other embargoed languages to find sites which make you wonder why anybody even bothers discussing esoteric sanctions points. Conveniently, many of these sites market their embargo defying wares in English. Imagine what you would find if you searched in local languages? Consider this article your English language on-line embargoed destination shopping guide.
A particularly popular site among the sanctions crowd is www.libyashopping.net . At this website, Libyans appear to be able to purchase all the latest US technology — computers, printers, networking gear — you name it. Just click on computers, Duh! On a recent visit, a top of the line 2.4 Ghz chip was available for sale at the reasonable price of 990 Libyan Dinars ($815). That’s not too much of a mark up over US prices. An assortment of US brand name computers is also advertised at equally competitive prices. All these items would probably require an export or reexport license, but don’t fret, OFAC and/or BIS probably approved everything.
But of course, if you’re in Damascus, Syria, you’ll need another computer resource center: www.future-sy.com . No, Syria is not technically embargoed, but this site’s made to order computer business model is so compelling that it warrants an honorable mention. Click on “offers” to reach the “personalize your PC” page. Choose your RAM, HDD, and processor up to 1000 Mhz, and they will deliver anywhere in Syria. Never mind that, at a minimum, the chips are likely subject to the EAR and are licensable to Syria. BIS too licenses anywhere in Syria, for your convenience.
You got your computer, now you need software. In Iran, you can find a service provider who can assist in software development of all the major US brand name software: www.asredanesh.com/ada_prod_ss.htm . It’s amazing that you can provide development services without having the actual software, which one would ordinarily presume requires export and reexport licenses to Iran. These types of licenses usually require a sign off by the Secretary of State, currently Colin Powell, so you can imagine how easy they are to obtain. The “contact us” button says Asre Danesh has offices conveniently in both Iran and the UAE (and you wondered where the software came from), but the phone numbers country codes listed, “98,” are all Iran.
To track down copies of US software and other products in Iran, an amazing English language resource is the Iran Yellow Pages: www.icciran.com/theiranyellowpages.htm . Particularly fruitful were the featured links, “computer” or “internet,” where you can finds so many Iranian links touting US origin products it makes you wonder whether we actually even have an embargo on Iran. Some may want to investigate who’s claiming to be their “certified” representative or authorized distributor in Tehran.
Tiring of technology and need a vacation? How about to Cuba, where travel by US persons ordinarily requires a license? We’ll need a travel specialist who understands the needs of US Nationals like us: www.gocubaplus.com/services/uscubatravel/index.asp . Fortunately, there is a one stop website that will arrange this travel without bogging you down in all that complicated and annoying licensing red tape.
Speaking of Cuba, OFAC generally does require a license for imports into the US of Cuban products, including cigars. But there are a plethora of on-line vendors willing to take their chances. www.exclamationscubancigars.com/ only accepts US$ and virtually guarantees delivery anywhere in the US. Forget about flaky de minimis talk, this is the real deal: “authentic Cuban cigars made with Cuban tobacco and hand rolled in Cuba.” If you prefer free shipping, try: cubancigaronline.com/frameset.htm , and for a complete guide of companies willing to send Cuban cigars to the US, check out: www.dmoz.org/Shopping/Tobacco/Cigars/Cuban .
With only a click of the mouse, you too can find embargo defying websites.
*Special thanks to the excellent search engines that helped find these websites, search engines which sometimes populate the actual websites in embargoed countries.
