How long before the anti-Bush crowd picks up this story and starts calling it retaliation for opposing the Administration? No matter what the motive is, the government is merely enforcing the law by fining those that illegally violated sanctions against Iraq.

Of course, fines like this are not as rare as it would seem. Years ago I read that the government was cracking down on unauthorized trips to Cuba. U.S. citizens that violated the law and traveled the Cuba faced fines when they re-entered the U.S., if they were foolish enough to have their passport stamped. Even if they flew from another country, like Canada or the U.K., they were breaking the law. Customs agents starting taking note of it. They weren't fined on the spot, but instead received letters in the mail, similar to the ones being sent out for those that violated the Iraq embargo.

The sanctions and the process seem very similar to what was in place for Iraq. Our current embargo against Cuba makes it illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba. Even on sanctioned trips, there are strict limits on what you can spend money on, how much you can spend, and the value of goods you can bring back to the U.S.