Despite tough rhetoric from the Bush administration for the last seven years, exports to Iran have increased dramatically. Even though trade restrictions are in place, many commodities are allowed to the country President George Bush has referred to as a member of the “axis of evil.”

Prior to the Bush Presidency only $8.1 million worth of products were sold to Iran. Last year $146 million worth of American products were sold in Iran.

Cigarettes topped the list of American exports with $158 million in sales during the Bush years. When told of the Iranian trade and the prominence of cigarettes in it, John McCain expressed surprise and quipped, “Maybe that’s a way of killing them…I meant that as a joke.”

Other products include agricultural products, medical equipment, brassieres, movie film, golf carts, fur clothing, vitamins and bull semen.

Yes, bull semen–$12.6 million worth of it. Obviously, American bulls are excited about the burgeoning trade.

U.S. Government trade statistics even showed $148,000 in prohibited military sales. These included military rifles, rifle parts and aircraft carrier equipment. That raised some bewilderment. Iran does not have an aircraft carrier.

Further sleuthing found that the rifles and rifle parts actually went to Iraq. While the aircraft carrier parts went to Italy. Looks like a trade bureacrat needs to be a bit more careful with the popdown menu. The rest of the sales were military uniforms approved on a humanitarian exemption.