One Is The Other
The United States and the UK have today warned Iran that if they do not comply with UN resolutions regarding its nuclear program then tougher economic sanctions will be implemented, including oil and gas sanctions. The Bush Administration has also employed rhetoric suggesting that tougher measures are also a consideration and that ‘all options are on the table’.
In completely related news, oil hit a record high today, reaching almost $140 dollars a barrel before falling off at the end of the day to $134.57. Some experts have speculated that at some point during the summer, prices could climb as high as $200.00. Iran, of course, is the fourth largest producer of crude oil in the world, and while economic sanctions against its oil exports might hurt the Iranian populace, their affects will most certainly be felt globally, driving oil prices higher. With that, of course, comes the adverse affect that it will have on other commodities, as oil is required to produce them, causing their prices to increase. Ultimately, that will only push the United States closer to a recession, no matter how adamantly the government and the Fed claim otherwise.
It’s a dangerous game, especially given the fact that the Iranians know they have a card up their sleeve – that China, a permanent member of the UNSC, is one of Iran’s larger oil importers, and that in 2004 Iran and China’s Sinopec Group signed an agreement that it would purchase 250 million tons of liquefied natural gas over thirty years from the Iranians to develop the Yadavaran field. Given the precedent set by China with regards to Sudan and its oil exports from that country, it is a stretch to think that the Chinese would lend their weight to a unanimous UNSC resolution that, in any significant way, would seriously damage the Iranian oil sector.
Like it or not, the Iranians have room to maneuver. As The Telegraph reported today, the Iranians are not completely rejecting out of hand the recent overtures of the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. While many in the country have called the package a waste of time; others have claimed that its merits should be debated as a method with which to keep channels of negotiation open. But one message that does remain very steadfast is that the Iranians consider their right to develop nuclear power an internal matter and not one that should be decided by foreign powers, especially the United States given its military occupation of Iraq, threats of military action, and support of Israel. Of course, the flip side is that the Iranians are well known supporters of Hezbollah, and that (in the post 9/11 climate) the West fears that the Iranians might gift such a group a nuclear device or simply use one themselves to directly strike Israel. That, of course, is territory that I have covered exhaustively in previous entries, so use the search feature if you’re at all interested in my thoughts on the matter.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
‘Iranians Could Be West’s Best Ally’
Almost 70% of Iranians favor normal relations with the United States. With all options against Iran still on the table, the West should pay more attention to a population whose majority supports democracy.
http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/Open_Think_Tank_Article/Iranians_Could_Be_West’s_Best_Ally
June 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
That’s been a fact for a while. The problem is that they favour Iranian democracy that hasn’t been put in place by the United States. They favour independent democratic reform. That’s the reason why, when the West is aggressive towards them, many of them become insular.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
[quote comment="55815"]That’s been a fact for a while. The problem is that they favour Iranian democracy that hasn’t been put in place by the United States. They favour independent democratic reform. That’s the reason why, when the West is aggressive towards them, many of them become insular.[/quote]
Yes I agree Matt. As you know Iranians had the first democracy in that part of the world. It was overthrown in 1953 by the US and UK for oil. A dictator Shah was installed who was then overthrown by the Mullahs. Stay Classy, Exxon & BP! Obama isn’t perfect, but on the surface at least his move to more open dialogue seems constructive. I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama makes a game changing concrete move this summer most likely during his world foreign policy tour.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
A friend of mine mentioned that this is part of the Second Coming of Christ. He’s not really Christian, just Catholic like me. As such, he recommended we both take a reading of Revelations and prepare ourselves. I know I’m already going to hell, but I’m certain I won’t be alone.
If you can give all that land in between the two rivers, as depicted by Israel’s flag, (I forget which rivers so help me out here) and Israel acquires that land, Christ will come again.
Matt, you are a historical expert, can you enlighten me on this?
June 16th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
…for arguments sake, Satch…
…I’m not a historical expert by any means, but I have read a lot of info on this topic and researched it. You can find some of this information by searching for Zeitgeist (The Movie), searching related topics to facebook and other social networking tools, the book of Revelations itself depending on which bible you read, and even spiritualists have been prone to writing on this topic. Jehovah Witness’ sites also describe these events in “The Watchtower,” as well as Mormons, etc. It’s mainly a Christian belief system, but has been found in other fear based religions as well…the Catholic version of Revelations is much different, which is the bible I own because of my family origins
…personally, I am more prone to believing my own ideas in relation to this topic, I don’t believe in organized religion so these paragraphs summed it up well for me, taken in stride from a book I read about a decade ago called “The Tenth Insight.” You can confirm this information if need, from what I provided above. I just don’t have the time to call out every resource.
…end time scholars study prophecies hidden in the bible. They believe we live in the “last days.” Basically they think that were bound for the Return of Christ and the creation of heaven on earth. However, before Christ returns, natural disasters, and many other “apocalyptic” type events have to happen and these events have been written in biblical scripture. Apparently, the scholars spend their time watching world events and keeping track of these global issues as they occur on a timetable…
…one of these events is a peace treaty in the middle east that would allow the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Due to this, true believers will disappear off the earth and ascend into heaven. At this point comes the trials and tribulations, and basically all hell breaks loose. Giant earthquakes destroy the economy, rising sea levels destroy cities, rioting, environmental refugees, crime, tornadoes, tsunami’s, blah blah blah…(you get the point)…
…apparently at this point some sort of supreme super power is set to revive things by way of a centralized electronic economy which does business in most parts of the world. It’s pretty much Zeitgeist in a nutshell at this point. A chip implanted in ones body where all economic transactions are documented and stored. Often why some people believe facebook is step in that global documentation…
…anyways, this Antichrist, protects Israel and “facilitates” a peace treaty, then attacks later which causes a world war that ultimately involves the Islamic Nations, Russia and finally China. The prophecies say that as Israel is about to fall “angels of God” swoop down and win the war, which brings about world peace for a thousand years. YAY….
Anyways some of that was taken out of the Celestine Prophecy kindred book “The Tenth Insight,” which I found to be the most interesting considering that the author James Redfield had the book published in 1996, pre 9/11. I also found that most of that information was a culmination of all religious texts and prophecies, sort of mushed into one lump sum. I wouldn’t say that’s an accurate prediction, but I would throw it out there, that he’s pretty close in his predictions, except for when angels of God swoop down and win the war…and all the other theological discriptions. But thats just my IMO.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Becca- That’s a pretty good summation!
June 16th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Ugh. Oil prices. How depressing. How much more depressing - the fact that I can’t seem to become less reliant on oil. Feels awful knowing every drive, I’m helping destabilize the globe.
By the way - fab show in Winnipeg tonight. Your choice to have “Fear the Reaper” play after the set?
June 16th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
so ok, i’m sorry, but i have no idea where i can post this and have someone pay attention. this has nothing to do with the posting, but i needed to write this.
this has to do with the rochester, ny show that was to have taken place mar. 21, 2008.
i was totally ok with absorbing the cost of the ticket to the “cancelled” show in rochester, ny. sure, i was very disappointed that i had travelled all the way from edmonton, ab to rochester, ny for nothing, since you had become ill and ‘postponed’ the show, but you know shit happens and there wasn’t anything to do about it.
like i said, i was absolutely ready to forgive the cost of the ticket, but you know what…a cancelled show would mean an automatic refund of the ticket by ticketmaster, but because you didn’t ‘cancel’ the show and only ‘postponed’ it, that meant for me to get a refund for a show that i will have NO WAY of attending, i would need to PAY ticketmaster $17US for a ticket that cost me $13US. once i realise that i would be giving more money to ticketmaster to get back money that is rightfully mine, well, i’m sorry but i can’t just forgive the cost of the ticket anymore.
you seem like the type of person who, if given the opportunity to help out one person against a major money-grubbing motherfucking corporation that you would try your best to help.
so, please officially cancel the rochester, ny show.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Satch,
When you say your friend isn’t “really Christian” Perhaps you mean Evangelical or fundamentalist because, as a fellow Catholic, I’m pretty sure Catholicism is a Christian denomination (believing that Jesus was the Son of God and all).
One of the good things about the Catholic Church is that it’s stressed that Revelations is a highly metaphorical and symbolic work of eschatology that doesn’t offer easy interpretations (nor some sort of literal guide). I wouldn’t worry too much about it (unless the vague prognostications of Nostradamus keep you up at night).
People have been predicting the second coming of Christ since the first years of Christianity. Also, people who believe it (or New Age variants) tend to be cuckoo for Coco Puffs.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:02 am
infinitelyabsurd,
Thanks! I’m not worries and neither is my friend. I know Catholicism is a derivation of Christianity. There are so many streams of the same thing it sometimes amuses me to the point of laughter. A friend of ours is Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian, but I’ve never discussed this with him (we always seem to talk about other things).
I’m not afraid of Revelations, regardless of what the Church teaches.
If any of it is even remotely true, it really does not matter. One can’t really prove it definitively and it does not matter anyhow. I am prepared to deal with whatever happens, not without a lot of complaining mind you, as some things are outside our control.
None of that stuff keeps me up at night.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:16 am
About all the prophesy talk …
Speaking as someone who used to believe that stuff, I can say that I now believe we have many other alternatives at our fingertips that could allow history to unfold a little differently.
However, what’s troublesome to me about those notions of fate is that some people in very powerful positions actually fully believe in them literally. I think the Christian religion in particular has been twisted and abused in a horrible way by those who would wield power over others, and it’s become quite clear during the Bush years that this problem is coming (or has come) to a head.
These people have the power to encourage these events to come to pass. And even if they do not fully come to pass, the road toward Christ’s alleged return appears to be a destructive and dangerous one.
Self fulfilling prophesy is the worst kind…
June 17th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Oops please pardon my misspelling of “prophecy”
(Matt, why can’t we edit our own comments anymore? I really liked that feature!)
June 17th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Some economists argue that the US is already in a recession. Housing prices are falling faster than they did in the Great Depression.
I hear a lot of talk about the price of oil merely catching up to inflation, and that actually with respect to inflation, it’s still cheaper than it has been in the past.
Also, I can’t seem to find the search option anymore. Can someone point me in the right direction?
June 17th, 2008 at 8:28 am
nevermind about the search option, i found it…
June 17th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Recession needs to end and talks of Depression should be fruitful pretty soon.
And let’s just look at it as another Lose/Lose election coming up. Obama wants to TAX oil companies… because they need more reasons to raise gas prices!!!
I don’t have to point out McCain’s shortcomings do i?
June 17th, 2008 at 11:52 am
No matter what the economists or the media are saying, the states ARE in a recession. People can keep their heads in the sands all they want, but realistically this is the case.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
[quote comment="55856"]Oops please pardon my misspelling of “prophecy”
(Matt, why can’t we edit our own comments anymore? I really liked that feature!)[/quote]
A edit function would be great. My stubie fingers aways hit the wrong keys.
l’ll go ahead and assume there is no edit function so ppl can’t change their comments after or during a argument.
So maybe a timed edit function like they have on Facebook would work?
As far as all the prophecy stuff goes…..come on lets admit it.
We are the survivors of a lost alien civilization….Lol.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Bush, a true man of the people… who are getting rich from the high oil prices his policies have created.
Let’s check the record on US actions around WMDs.
- The US introduced the fission bomb in 1945, even after it became apparent the Germans weren’t ever going to develope it in 1944.
- The only nation to drop nuclear weapons on civilian populations, wipping out TWO cities.
- Introduced the much more powerful hydrogen bomb in the early 1950s and built tens of thousands of both types of nuclear weapons.
- Released large amounts of radioactive material in atmospheric weapons tests and releases from facilities like Hanford increasing cancer rates worlwide.
- On the chemical weapons front, the US exported dual purpose chemicals to Iraq in the 1980s which were then turned into weapons using German supplied technology. These weapons were then used to kill thousands of Iranians and Iraqis.
While an Iranian nuclear bomb wouldn’t be a good thing, I’m a lot more concerned about what’s going on south of the border. The US just mistakenly shipped a number of nuclear detonators to Taiwan and several nuclear weapons made an unintended flight to Louisiana on a B-52.
Who’s the real threat to world peace, Iran or Bush’s USA anyway?