While the official line was that this step was taken as a function of normal year-end "indexing, " the real impetus was clear: By mid-December, the stock experienced a roughly 29% decline from its peak value on 6 September1 -- despite reasonably strong earnings -- thanks to an international divestment campaign waged against a company seen to be providing indispensable new revenue streams to one of the planet's most odious regimes.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy