Is The US Preparing For "The Total Destruction Of Iran?"
Is war just around the corner? While in theory it would make perfect sense to distract Americans from the long road to US insolvency, and other more pressing issues such as the endless criminality all around us, in practice we have so far heard merely rumors. The Herald of Scotland, however, may have credible proof that a US-led attack on Iran approaches and could be just days away. The newspaper has procured proof of an arms shipment to Diego Garcia, which consists of "of 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs...put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities." Additional insight comes from Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London: “They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran. US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours." Is war imminent? And will Obama repeat Bush's mistake with Iraq, resulting in a huge spike in oil, coupled with a rush to safety in dollars and/or gold? If inflation will not start on its own, its has to be kindled: preferably by a Blu-117 bomb. Is the relatively long period of market stability and low volatility about to come to a sudden end?
More from the Herald:
Hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.
The Sunday Herald can reveal that the US government signed a contract in January to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures.
Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities. There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack, should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran not to make nuclear weapons.
Although Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971. The agreement led to 2,000 native islanders being forcibly evicted to the Seychelles and Mauritius.
The Sunday Herald reported in 2007 that stealth bomber hangers on the island were being equipped to take bunker-buster bombs.
And it gets worse, when one considers the eerie similarities with Operation Desert [blank]. We all know how that whole fiasco ended.
Contract details for the shipment to Diego Garcia were posted on an international tenders’ website by the US navy.
A shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California, to Diego Garcia.
Crucially, the cargo includes 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs.
“They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran,” said Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran. “US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours,” he added.
The preparations were being made by the US military, but it would be up to President Obama to make the final decision. He may decide that it would be better for the US to act instead of Israel, Plesch argued.
“The US is not publicising the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely,” he added. “The US ... is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran’s actions.”
According to Ian Davis, director of the new independent thinktank, Nato Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said.
For Alan Mackinnon, chair of Scottish CND, the revelation was “extremely worrying”. He stated: “It is clear that the US government continues to beat the drums of war over Iran, most recently in the statements of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
“It is depressingly similar to the rhetoric we heard prior to the war in Iraq in 2003.”
The British Ministry of Defence has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action. It has already been used for strikes against Iraq during the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars.
We are confident that the administration's diplomatic core is wildly spinning in advance of a possible incursion, and fully expect that Tehran will be exposed as a poison nest full of dirty, smelly CDS speculators who have been controlling the spreads on global credits ever since the late 70's, about the time Iran ceased being a most favored nation (forget that CDS did not come to the scene until the late 90's, at least Ollie North may get a cameo appearance as head CDS Novator). At worst, the Administration will coin a new term for the incursion's target, recycled appropriately from none other than the Oracle of Omaha: Weapons Of Mass CDS-based Destruction and Other Types of Mass Destruction that Speculators Do Good Too.
H/t fiatcurrency
(25 votes)
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on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:28
#266219
Wow, this is some HEAVY news here Tyler!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:53
#266345
Don't get too freaked. The US periodically does these heavy posturings - 2 yrs ago it sent a whole buncha warships to the Gulf, then did nothing. Then last year there was the undersea cable cut that put persia in an internet blackout, thought to be in prep for war - both came to nothing.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:04
#266463
Agree.....it's a bunch of nuthin'.
First Dude just bagged a Nobel Peace prize. An egomaniac like him covets bullshit unearned accolades....and at the very least it will make his trigger finger sweaty. Not to mention he can't first strike anybody anywhere.....his political capital went up in smoke with what's left of the HCR mess.
Only way he could strike is if Iran started lobbing some big shit into Israel, but Israel is pretty well armed with US weapons in their own right, distrust Obama from the git go ( look at their recent dis of Biden ) and could easily finish off Iran, which is years away from a nuke.
There are always two US carriers in the Med 24/7/365. Just one of them has the capability to vaporize Iran. All of this other moving around is probably about something else.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:26
#266491
+1
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:25
#266576
Besides, the US is having its own row with Israel.
"Israel's ties with the United States are in their worst crisis since 1975 ... a crisis of historic proportions," the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted Oren as telling other Israeli diplomats in a telephone briefing over the weekend.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62E11O20100315
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:32
#266589
Means nothing. It's nothing more hen talk. The US has to pretend it matters but rest assured this will not change the direction of policy. We are tied to Israel very closely and I doubt anything will break that tie as long as Uncle Sugar can dole out goodies.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:05
#266631
"This is starting to get dangerous for us," Biden castigated his interlocutors. "What you're doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LC16Ak02.html
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:21
#266644
oh it's true as true can be, but, as shameful notes, probably will come to nothing. speaking of unearned accolades, obama as warrior comes to mind. and i say that as a pacifist.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:37
#266662
If you think Biden cares one lick about the safety and welfare of the troops then I have a great deal on some tungsten...errr....gold bars. It's just talk. It's pillow talk. Deeds not words.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:52
#266682
"Besides, the US is having its own row with Israel." How stupid someone can be to believe in this garbage. Zionists do own the US ruling elite. Just look at the Obama White House. Most of its staffers are holders of the Israeli citizenship.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 01:48
#266901
it's an exaggeration to say most are holders of israeli citizenship (rahm, his chief of staff does, and is an israeli army vet besides). but your larger point is well taken: the vast majority of all national politicians of both parties act like not just citizens of israel but members of the likud party and many like dead ender settlers.
some of this is simple self-preservation: check out artur davis's nomination and cynthia mckinney's defeat. but a lot is voluntary, unexamined political momentum like the reflexive anti-communism that killed 50,000 americans in vietnam while killing untold numbers of vietnamese, cambodians and laotians, only to trade with them amicably a generation later.
it keeps the mic busy but, like the oil argument currently, doesn't make lots of economic sense. the oil producers would sell to us at prices not the monopoly price because it is in their interest to not maximize short-term profit but rather long-term profit and the consuming nations' financial welfare is a concern.
look who started the iraq war; it sure as hell wasn't exxon or bp or shell. it was neoconservatives like cheney, wolfowitz, rumsfeld, pearle and bush. look behind the scenes and it gets more obviously linked to israel and specifically ariel sharon.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:10
#266707
That's exactly what I was thinking.
The US Navy already has enough armament/munitions/ordnance to blow Iran and just about everything else of value or interest in the Middle East sky-high. And, as you said, Rainman, that power is already there or within ten-days' sail. A move like that could be done in relative secrecy.
I have the sense that this is some subliminal sabre-rattling directed at the Chinese, via Tibet or the western provinces. I have no proof or rumors of proof but, it just seems a strange coincidence that we are moving major bombs through what amounts to the Chinese backyard for no apparent reason.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:56
#266354
Upon further reading I'm pretty convinced that this story being 'leaked' to the Scotting newspaper was a quite deliberate event, and a 'subtle' way of letting Iran know that the US means business, and is now officially rattling its saber.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:33
#266499
Seriously? Like they didn't know it for the last decade? It's just a strategic allocation of miitary assets. We do it all the time.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:35
#266656
Especially since all of the strategic warehouses were emptied rather than budgeting to properly maintain & replace equipment and expendable supplies in readiness since 2003.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:57
#266531
Nothing will happen, as usual. Too bad; nuclear Iran represents a transition to complete instability in the world.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:01
#266535
Had the same thought macfly.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:06
#266374
Actually, I'm a little disappointed with the breathless sensationalism. Look fellas (and gals too), in order to understand the world around us, and what is ultimately directing our historical events, it's really fucking simple:
The US, like the British Empire before it, the Spanish Empire before it, ad infinitum, is an imperialistic enterprise that utilizes its technological advantages to extract, utilize & otherwise exploit opposing regions, peoples & cultures for its own benefit.
The country itself can trace its founding back to the original colonies which were created as a result of granting royal charters to independent investment groups. Never mind that pre-existing indigenous peoples already 'owned' the land. Like Australia, which as recently as 1967 officially classified Aborigines as fauna (!), Indians were viewed by Europeans as nothing different than hostile deer & bears.
Fast forward to today. We have two mutually dependent groups that require the complete direct assistance of the other to survive: the Fed and the MIC.
Without the ability to deficit finance (ie print money in which to purchase debt), the DoD could never hope to cover a fraction of the operating & capital expenditures necessary to maintain world-wide military domination. However, OTOH, without the ability to break the hard oil peg (ie print money in which to purchase debt), the Fed could never hope to cover a fraction of the operating & capital expenditures necessary to maintain world-wide financial domination.
Get it? Both GWI & GWII were, and have always been, about oil. We are in Afghanistan not to pursue the Taliban and/or (de)stabilize Pakistan, but rather to surround Iran. One can bitch & moan about our state of affairs, but without our military ensuring the power of the Fed (and by extension the $USD), I don't think many ZH space monkeys would really enjoy paying the true market price for oil and all that that entails.
Let's just say that the only world we currently know right now is fairly peaceful compared to the alternative. We've got 3rd generation welfare queens & their broods 'quietly' staying on their side of the tracks, we've got vast armies of unemployed 'quietly' sitting in their homes drinking & watching daytime TV, we've got huge numbers of "students" 'quiety' warehoused at attending schools, we've got millions of public employees going to "work", etc.
If any and/or all of these groups ever woke up from their collective stupor, they could cause a bit of a head-ache for the types of smarty-pants that inhibit ZH (myself included). As Denninger so eloquently states, we are all Lehman.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:20
#266395
we are all Lehman.
You probably won't believe me, but: Speak For Yourself. I am NOT Lehman.
Nice rant, though... and I love Denninger...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:56
#266451
Do you eat? Most of your produce is either grown in Mexico, or an illegal alien picks/processes food grown in the USA. Pesticides/herbicides are petroleum based; without our dollar/military hegemony, food costs would skyrocket.
Do you drive a car? Our happy motoring environment is based on the ability of our dollar/military hegemony to deliver benefits far in excess of true costs.
The number of possible examples are endless, but the two above should suffice. Yes, Virginia, you are Lehman.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:55
#266618
I live in a 2 billion dollar ag. county -- MIGRANTS not "illegals" pick the crops. AND, the migrants are heavily subsidized by the federal government -- transportation to and from work, and housing is all TAX payer funded.
Pay Americans a decent wage and stop the subsidies which are hidden costs.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:12
#266635
It's clearly misguided to suggest we are all Lehman. Personally, I hold myself to a standard where such a possibility is not possible. I would hazard to guess that the majority on ZH would fall into this category - not the least of all yourself B9K9 - your contributions are too good to be otherwise. But perhaps it is not all that different to say that if we are not in fact Lehman, then we have either 1) profited immensely from the ineffecient biases that Lehman inserted into all the markets from which we have benefitted without ever having done enough to stop it, or 2) been too stupidly engrossed in the orgy to have even realized what was going on. So perhaps its more correct to say - yes, Virginia, you are either Lehman or no better than Lehman.
RKH
DVM
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:24
#266835
Actually, if we ate locally grown pesticide free food -- okay, okay, if we allowed some cross-country produce shipment in the off seasons -- and if we had to do that, we would soon bring costs down to the point where the differentials with corn- and oil- dependent food prices wouldn't matter so much. Moreover, health costs would drop precipitously, freeing up economic resources for real stuff, like teaching those warehoused students some math so we could invent some real things.
This doesn't address the issue of workers processing the food, tho.
Would this speed up adoption of more efficient cars? Would it cause development of gas resources? Better yet, would it cause development of solar, geothermal etc?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:01
#266462
Sounds like a regular rabbit hole to me.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:53
#266615
you say "for our benefit"... you're forgetting about the indentured servitude they (the fed and the MIC) have ensured for our children and our childrens children. the path is unsustainable no matter how look at it...it will end in due time..preparation and awareness are our only friends.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:50
#266678
k9 i am printing out your work
your eloquent.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:49
#266745
How's the noggin feeling velobabe???
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:55
#266687
B9K9: You once again hit the bullseye. I will force my son to read your comment. Thank you, sir.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:00
#266754
Yes, it's about oil, or specifically, Iran just isn't playing ball with US intentions to dominate the region politically so as to guarantee access to cheap oil. Iran is supplying arms to Iraq opposition groups, bad, but worse, they've had the audacity to establish a new oil exchange that trades petroleum in -anything but dollars-, and that exchange is picking up steam.
And to be honest, I'm less frightened by yet another asshole nation state having a minor nuclear capability than I am of 5-10-20 dollar per gallon gas which would crush any investments related to our suburban sprawl driving everywhere culture.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:16
#266763
"the smarty-pants that INHIBIT ZH."
Not a Freudian slip I presume.
LOL
Kayman
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:39
#266845
'a bit of a head-ache'...it's called a hangover. Take some Goody's, you're gonna need it.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:06
#266908
while i buy your broad brush take on empire, i deeply don't buy that these colonial (or whatever) wars in the islamic world are a) about oil first and b) in the interest of the country. see above for my (hardly unique) take on the zionist/likud motivation for much of it. as for the rest, it's largely working for political advantage by scaring the people with useful, revolving villains so as to maintain elite control.
as for actually helping the country, these wars do the opposite: they drain our resources and make billions of people hate us. our last real warrior president (ike) summed it up nicely in his farewell: beware the military/industrial complex; they do not have your best interests at heart.
empires do many stupid things that help to bring about their own demise. the spanish used their new world gold to buy luxury for an indolent aristocracy not invest in productive capacity, the british didn't try hard enough to avoid ww1 and its war breeding peace treaty (not to mention trying to keep the pound's prewar gold value). we fight these deeply foolish wars. how serious could we be if we won't even consider buying the opium production of afghanistan but rather continue dropping bombs on them (killing one "terrorist", giving birth to ? more).
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 08:56
#267037
agreed on all parts, but wasn't Britain already hijacked by the Rothschilds when ww1 came around? there are few things more profitable for the elites than a big old nasty war
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 09:03
#267049
" how serious could we be if we won't even consider buying the opium production of afghanistan but rather continue dropping bombs on them"
Oh I wouldn't say that about the opium. It's been bought as we speak.
Read: "The myth of rule of law: Or how money works - the destruction of hamilton securities group" by Catherine Austin Fitts.
http://www.ratical.com/co-globalize/CAFmrl.html
She can explain the drug issue well enough.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 06:03
#266976
Wise words, and especially these: Get it? Both GWI & GWII were, and have always been, about oil.
When you understand this, and the peak we are perched on, all their actions make sense.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 07:11
#266989
good rant...however WE do pay a high price for oil. Our big chunk of income tax goes to support the military which guard ALL tankers plowing the seas and many nations that produce. That cost is not shown on the gas pumps. Nor all the tax breaks and price supports directly and indirectly enjoyed by companies. We pay more than europeans when you figure those cost in to the mix.
As for the Zombies, as long as the Fed keeps printing cash for the handouts they will stay quite until the bond market or dollar tanks and then what?
The top has a nasty wopple to it, and damn few see it or believe it, or admit it. And, with blindfaith, the world observed what followed on.....
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 12:21
#267388
According to an article in the Nation, the Pentagon spent more than $40 billion in 2009 building up the Navy to assure U.S. control over the international flow of oil.
But also don't forget about the Pentagon's effect on demand. As of 2008, the Pentagon itself was consuming 395,000 barrels of oil every day for ops in the mideast. If the Pentagon was its own country, it would be #32 on the list of oil consuming countries (beating out entire nations such as Sweden, Pakistan, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Chile, Israel, etc.).
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:54
#266686
I dunno. I hear a lot about the next target being Kandahar.
There are lots of targets within the coverage of Diego Garcia and it is a very busy base...has been for several decades.
There are few facts underneath a ton of speculation...for all we know the bombs are a new version with better safety features.
And the idea that commerical transport of tons of munitions slides past the Somali pirate patrolled Indian Ocean sounds a little odd to me.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:30
#266221
Awesome soliloquy.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:49
#266339
We are confident that...Tehran will be exposed as a poison nest full of dirty, smelly CDS speculators who have been controlling the spreads on global credits ever since the late 70's, about the time Iran ceased being a most favored nation (forget that CDS did not come to the scene until the late 90's).
ROFLMAO. Well played, sir. Well played, indeed.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:30
#266224
This could go a long way to explaining exactly why so much US debt has recently been bought up by the UK.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:46
#266260
As well as stubbornly high oil prices.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:24
#266297
And stubbornly high inventories of crude... floating and otherwise.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:55
#266349
oh yes.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:27
#266492
I think it's a whole lotta nothing.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:34
#266593
Oil futures are down.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:31
#266227
I really hope this is not where we're headed. I'm dismayed (but not surprised) that it seems a distinct possibility.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:35
#266236
This is where it's always headed. We have always been at war with Eastasia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:25
#266300
lol ;-)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:31
#266228
And will Obama repeat Bush's mistake with Iraq, resulting in a huge spike in oil...
Mistake? I'm disappointed in you.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:38
#266242
All it takes is a few mines exploding in the Strait of Hormuz and it's off to the moon with the price of oil. That would take care of that pesky $80+ resistance we've seen lately, wouldn't it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:17
#266287
Gold will also go up. Count on it.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:26
#266301
....and silver.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:48
#266334
Ordering in just a sec. Biggun.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:35
#266426
And tungsten, tungsten always goes up when there is war either looming around or in full motion ....
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:02
#266460
I can see it now - sometime in the not to distant future -the whole western economy has gone Albert Speer shaped.
Desperate for more Tungsten to make those vital high velocity projectiles they consult in their war bunker.
Obama wails "where where are we going to find these war materials - China bought all our heavy metals with our paper years ago"
Then at the back of the room Larry slowly raises his hand.........
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:30
#266498
"Then at the back of the room Larry slowly raises his hand........."
Sir...Sir, we might just have some in Fort Knox. A lot actually. Don't ask.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:35
#266595
The sad thing is it sounds like a bad comedy war movie..and at the same time it's so plausible. Hopefully they will cast Larry the Cable guy as Larry Summers. "Harvard CDOs? Git 'er done!"
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:07
#266613
A little warning for the New Romans - beware the Brainy Barbarians
A biased account but a interesting take by Terry jones - go to 15.30 minutes
noolmusic.com/.../history_barbarians_the_brainy_barbarians___greeks_.php - United States
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:59
#266622
Larry wasn't sleeping through the meeting? Strange....
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:25
#266490
Let's not forget about that oil and gas up in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, you know, Halliburtons pipeline contract. Iran may not stand for it, without being made to heel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gegOBP3--IA
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:34
#266495
Damn it, Cheeky Ass Bastard--where the hell have you been? Missed you. By the way, we are starting a Tungsten ETF -- TUN (rhymes with FUN) at Wisdom Tree next week. We're expecting massive liquidity.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:57
#266620
Wait a minute... are we talking paper tungsten or physical? How deep is this rabbit hole?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:36
#266318
Blockade, maybe. Mine the Straight, not. How would we get our oil out?
There are three potential ways to resolve this debt mess: (1) hyperinflation, (2) repudiation, and (3) war. (1) and (2) are essentially the same, destroying the currency and the government that issued it. (3) kicks the can down the road a bit further as we would have more assets to mortgage.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:46
#266329
It would not be "us" to mine the Straight, it would be the Iranians. And apparently they've got around 10.000 speedboats tucked away in the jagged coastline armed with Silkworm missiles - their (quite credible) message to the Untied States seems to be "noli me tangere"
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:57
#266355
which is why we have people in Yemen.....and did some not highly publicized work in Somalia...take a look at the map and the water between Yemen and Somalia....that takes care of the Straight of Hormuz (which will be mined by Iran, everybody knows that)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:10
#266757
>(3) war
Yeah, because that whole war thing worked so well for the Soviet Empire when it invaded Afghanistan.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:05
#266371
The US and Israel have severely, severely underestimated the asymetrical damage Iran and her proxies can do and the immense mistake they will make in starting this conflict (unless of course the 'mistake' is somehwat the point at a higher level). Iran has a strategic tie to NK that very few people understand the implications of, AND they're chalk full of russian defensive and offensive weaponary that, frankly, in many categories is better than anything 'we' have. This will end so, so badly for everyone if they really green light this war.
But it sure as hell will do wonders for my precious metals holdings...but that's one morbid silver lining (no pun intended).
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:32
#266732
What? Nobody can compete with our weapons.
Some MIG from 1990 isn't shit compared to our stealth bombers.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 11:33
#267290
Actually, while not provable, it is overwhelmingly likely that they have a fair number of Su-30s now. But no, their air force will likely not be of any real concern. Their strategy will mostly be defensive and focus on strategic retaliation (green zone in Iraq, Israeli cities, etc) and anti-ship warfare (and they have some 'good shit' in the anti-ship department). They also have, as I mentioned, strategic alliances and proxies that will all 'go live' the minute the first bomb drops, and trust me, this will get asymmetrical and really nasty in ways you clearly haven't considered. If Iraq and Afghanistan (and Vietnam, and Russia's dance in Afghanistan, and...) have taught us anything, it's that the big guys pretty much always overestimate their superiority and underestimate the nature and duration of conflict.
This war, if it occurs, will be very educational for you.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:26
#266916
Yeh, Saddam had the same weapons and how did that work out for him? If the political will is there, we'll roll the Iranians up in 72 hours also...Ok maybe 84 hours...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:32
#266229
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss(es).
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:42
#266327
"... same as the old boss."
Yup...CIA backed (?) with NeoCon stamp of approval.
http://www.rezapahlavi.org/articles/?english&id=409
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:43
#266230
What they do "best".
I met a Delta Strike Force leader the other week at a seminar he led, he also guarded opium fields in Vietnam. He was in charge of command during the initial strike in the Af the days following 9/11/01. He told me his forces had surrounded Bin Ladin in the mountains of Northern Af/Pak. He told the higher ups that he could take Bin Ladin out. He was told to stand down. After he told me that story, I asked what he thought about WWIII, and added it was curently being fought in the currentsea markets, among other economic entities. He agreed, then added, 'Rand has been planning at the drawing board, and is now gearing up.' -(I paraphrased the quote, as it was impromptu, and I did not have a tape recorder)- I thanked him for his time. That was all I needed to hear.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:29
#266415
Jawbreaker by Berntsen is a great book.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:37
#266429
Awesome, thanks for the reference.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:58
#266814
ok, that's 2x already....
for christ sakes it's "currencies / currency" not "currentsea"...
no wonder our education system is going down the crap-hole...
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:24
#266912
current in the river that goes to the sea
currentsea , money must flow. its a personal idea, like in" hey Dude" .
And our education system has went in a pension plan for spelling bee winners. lol
Ahn gonna go rite ut and get me somn tat ejucashin
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:24
#266913
current in the river that goes to the sea
currentsea , money must flow. its a personal idea, like in" hey Dude" .
And our education system has went in a pension plan for spelling bee winners. lol
Ahn gonna go rite ut and get me somn tat ejucashin
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 08:20
#267008
ahhh so solly. no undastan ingrish.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 10:04
#267140
...and you can't keep an accent either. jeesh.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 10:02
#267135
I junked you, see me after class.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:16
#266831
That event at Tora Bora is covered in this documentary (timestamp isn't working for some reason but the relevant stuff starts at the 54 minute mark - watch at least until the 58 minute mark).
In the summer of 2002, while special forces soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg were killing themselves, a soldier who claimed to be on the ground at Tora Bora when bin Laden was located, agreed to talk to an NC newspaper on condition that his name not be used. The soldier claimed they were forced to allow "two Russian-made helicopters to fly into the area where bin Laden was believed to be, load up passengers and fly toward Pakistan". Easy to dismiss except 2 weeks later, Newsweek printed a story that said Afghan locals told them the same thing (Bin Laden was allowed to leave in a helicopter).
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:00
#266905
Completely logical... catch BL... no Iraq war!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:32
#266231
Why have we spent 8 years surrounding Iran if we just plan to destroy it within hours. Makes no sense but what do I know...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:42
#266250
Don't mistake the illusion of "We can destroy said country within a few hours" with the actual intent to destroy said country within a few hours.
But, all in all, we only need to control the oil. If push comes to shove, everything else is expendable.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:30
#266422
We just set up shop in Afghanistan and drink their milk shake. No need for war.
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iran.pdf
The straw needs to drill kinda sideways...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/images/2008/02/09/il_430xn192...
http://www.campnofriends.com/articles/000840.html
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:40
#266433
Good points....and that BO pic is hilarious!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:18
#266390
Ah, maybe you forgot Iran has 55 million more people than Iraq and Iraq had nothing in the way of an army. If would could not subdue Iraq in six years how can we expect a better result in Iran? If I were Iran I wouldn't bother even responding to U.S. war machine, I would bomb every refinery, oil terminal , oil well, pipeline in KSA! The defense would be an offensive strike on KSA. I fail to see how we think we could win this no matter how many buildings are destroyed?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:33
#266734
Let them bomb their oil wells. It's not like we get our oil from there anyway.
The only people it will hurt is the Chinese, who seem to have no problem with hurting us.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:31
#266920
+1
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 15:21
#267707
If the US does not get oil from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where does it then come from?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:46
#266799
Keep in mind as well that Iraq is still roughly 55% Shiite - the Shia formed the backbone of the resistance that kept the US at bay for several years, and even if the US military numbers are still high there has been a defensive drawdown in the last year, not only of soldiers but also of equipment. A blitz attack on Iran would have Iraq coming unglued within hours.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:35
#266922
I doubt it. Over 1 mil people were killed in the 80's fighting the last war. The bIraquis seem to like their Democracy experiment. Dumping Saddam for the Iranian theocracy seems like a bad idea..
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:40
#266847
We may be the most technologically advanced military in the world but how did that "shock n awe" work out? Fighting it out in the trenches is the only way to do it especially when they all look alike.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:37
#266923
Read some history. Conventional forces can only defeat guerrilla tactics can only be defeated by infiltration.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:28
#266917
poco, because holy burton wants to rebuild it?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:32
#266232
If the pretext for attacking Iran is that they might be building a nuclear bomb and actively working against the non-proliferation treaty, shouldn't that mean we are to blow up Israel too? They refuse to sign the treaty, refuse to allow inspectors in, and have not documented their nuclear arsenal.
It's a shame that we will shower Iran with bombs while they have, according to the IAEA, followed the non-proliferation treaty, but at the same time we shower Israel with tens of billions in aid and weapons and the refuse to go along with the same treaty we hold Iran acocuntable to? Nucking futz!
I believe Iran saying they wish to trade their oil for anything other than Dollars is really the true motive of the US forthcoming attacks. But then again, I wear pretty tin-foil hats.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:40
#266246
Is there room under your tin-foil for one more? If yes, then move over:)
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 16:21
#267758
Don't hog! Don't hog!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:47
#266265
Petro-dollar, or we'll bomb your country.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:24
#266290
...trade their oil for anything other than Dollars is really the true motive of the US forthcoming attacks.
And exactly why Iraq got attacked by the USA imho because the petro-dollar link can not be broken. Iran set up their own oil bourse, which opened on February 17, 2008, and sells oil in non-USD currencies.
If you really want to go all-in tin foil, the Iraq invasion happened at the very beginning of a yearly 'holy blood time' (or some such) for the Elites and started the same day as that holiday and stopped at the last day of the same holiday period.
Need dates, here you go: The 2003 invasion of Iraq (from March 20 to May 1, 2003) was led by the United States.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:49
#266338
Absolutely... The fact is that all present day fiat currencys, and by far the most important of which is the the US dollar, are not truely "fiat" at all. Fiat currency has never, nor will it ever exist in the objective world...
They are backed energy resources, crude oil being the foundation commodity...
If you have not checked out this excellent site before, I strongley urge you to. Hours of great reading and all quotes linked to the source.
http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpWESSEX/Documents/contentsfall.htm
Will give you a great insight into the context on which the "elites" form their decisions...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:29
#266584
Don't know if you knew this, but Iraq started selling oil in Euros (I think) in 2001 or 2002 (again, I think...too lazy too Google right now...but if you do you'll find it easily enough).
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:55
#266811
Likewise too lazy, but remember it the same way.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:54
#266348
He who controls the spice controls the universe (quote from the pustule-covered flying fat guy in Dune for you none SciFi folks). He/she who controls the money controls...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:42
#266505
The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. "Come, Feyd Rautha, I'm hungry..."
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:34
#266591
Curse those damned Harkonnens.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:03
#266818
With the Emperor smugly counting his legions of Sardaukar.
The book/movie (recommend the three disc SciFi channel version) is a disturbingly surreal--possibly even prophetic--analogy.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:17
#266389
"...shouldn't that mean we are to blow up Israel too?"
Nah...unless we discover oil underneath Israel. 'Till then, it doesn't matter what they do with their nukes unless they point them at the USA.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:33
#266417
The key here is that Israel is not a signatory to the non proliferation treaty. Iran is, so they are in violation, hence the pretext for attack. Israel cannot be in violation of a treaty they have not signed. Not that this makes any of it right, but there you have it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_Nuclear_Non-Proliferation_Treaty
I am no fan of the current regime in Iran but to put a human face to the country, take a look at Rick Steves recent show on Iran. It is shame that so many innocent people will die, due to governments (US & Iran) that don't actually represent their peoples' wishes.
http://www.ricksteves.com/about/pressroom/activism/iran.htm
Another thing to consider is the US is/was formed and consists of people who have Judeo-Christian beliefs, so naturally the US would have a certain affinity for Israel.
Just some food for thought.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:43
#266506
+1
Your judgement has become clouded by facts.
It's more popular today to hate Israel while letting Irainian thugs skate.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:34
#266592
Huh? Affinity for Israel as a result of Christianity? What are you smoking?
We have an "affinity" for Israel due to the exodus. There are two main countries that absorbed that and they are the two most militarily and financially aggressive on the planet.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:13
#266828
@ Trav7777
Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)
The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible, the quintessential sacred text. The first five books of this comprise the Torah (or Pentateuch), the core sacred writings of the ancient Jews, traditionally written by Moses under divine inspiration.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/index.htm
Notice how the Pentateuch and other Jewish writings are part of the Christian Bible.
Also I believe Jesus was Jewish. The term Christian means followers of Christ, so I guess that would also make them followers of Judaism with the one caveat, Jews have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as the true Messiah, they are still awaiting the Messiah.
I do like your example of the Exodus. It is such great picture for Christians. Notice how the Jews are in slavery in Egypt (typifying this world), i.e. bondage, such as people are in sin, and the only way to not die is to put the blood of a lamb on your door post. This is a picture of the salvation that comes through the blood of Christ, known as the spotless Lamb of God, sacrificed so that we may live (the blood of Christ). So as the Exodus goes they/we are delivered from slavery (sin) and our lives are spared and we enter the promise land, the land of Israel, or as the picture paints, Heaven.
If you read the story of the Exodus there are many other examples/pictures. One I like is where Moses is told by God to strike the rock and living water will come forth. The rock is Jesus Christ, he was struck, that is he died to give us life. The second time God instructs Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses strikes the rock a second time. You see the rock only needed struck once, that is Jesus dying on the cross was all that is needed for our salvation. Moses only needed to speak or ask and living water would have been given, so Moses sinned and was not able to enter the land of Israel, but I am sure he is in Heaven.
So as you can see Christians have an affinity for and support Israel. Why wouldn't they?
Here is another quote from Genesis that a lot of Christian take to heart:
Genesis 12:2-3 (New International Version)
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
That is why traditionally the US has been Israel’s staunchest supporter.
Take from all of this what you will, but these are the reasons the US supports Israel, and the reasons why Bin Laden et al keep committing terrorism against the US.
Old Testament Books
by Matt Slick
The Old Testament has 39 books total, which consist of...
Pentateuch - 5 books
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Historical Books - 12 books
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings,
First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
Poetic books- 5 books
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Prophetic books- 17 books
Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
A list of books with brief descriptions of contents.
Pentateuch - 5 books
Historical Books - 12 books total
The next 6 books trace the time from Samuel to the Captivity
The Next 3 books deal with Israel's Restoration.
Poetical - 5 books
Prophetical - 17 booksMajor Prophets - 5 books
Minor Prophets - 12 books
http://www.carm.org/christianity/bible/old-testament-books
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:30
#266838
Iran has not violated the NPT. Sounds like you are relying on a source that is not credible.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 00:08
#266863
I didn't mean to make it sound as if Iran were in violation, they may very well not be, my apologies. I meant that suspicion of them making nuclear weapons will be the reason for any attack. Similar to US suspecting that Iraq had WMD. It won't matter if they have them or not, Iran will most likely be attacked. But on the other side of the coin Iran is not going to come out and say they are in violation of the NPT. Iran is taking pages out of North Korea's play book though. If they are producing weapons it is to their advantage to conceal the fact until they have them and it is too late to do anything about it.
To look at it from an Iranian point of view, if you had the US breathing down your neck, nuclear weapons would give you some security from Washington when they decided it was time for regime change.
I am not trying to make an argument to attack them. I just giving my interpretation of events.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:27
#266730
700 years BC, the Northern Tribes of Israel (The House of Israel) were conquered by the Assyrians and were exiled from what is now modern day Israel. While some historians believe they were lost to history modern archeology and anthropology trace them to NW Europe, the British Isles, Iceland, and the United States. The Jews that currently occupy what we now call Israel represent the Southern Tribe of Judah.
We will always be at odds with Iran and other non-Judeo-Christian countries and we will stick with the Israelis because they're our brothers whether we know it or not.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:36
#266735
your comment proved interesting. How do you know then that the iranians are not your brothers? Perhaps they too are our brothers, whether we know it or not.
I have my own ideas.And sticken to it.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 02:35
#266921
Persians brothers of Israel and Judah? A tip of the hat to Cyrus The Great who freed the Jews from Babylon and allowed them to return to Jerusalem where they rebuilt the temple. But not brothers, no.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:39
#266244
Why use a privately owned shipping company to transport already purchased, US DOD weapons?
Why wouldn't the Navy or Air Force haul these over there?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:42
#266252
Outsourcing, can you say Blackwater...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:43
#266253
1. Contractors need jobs.
2. Contractors vote.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:24
#266406
0. Contractors make campaign contributions.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:48
#266515
Are they shipped on ships? Wouldn't that be something, if THAT ship got hit by pirates?
It's got the makings of a great mini-series. LOL
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:11
#266634
So the shipping manifests would "accidentally" end up public knowledge.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:58
#266691
"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him." - Sun Tzu
My guess is that it is either 1.) typical equipment deployment/management or 2.) a standard play of deception (see quote above).
I think if the US wanted to hide something, they would have.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:40
#266245
If this happens, it will push the US over the edge, once and for all. And it will most likely spread across the region. This short term stupid move will cause long term catastrophic issues for decades to come. Get ready for $6 gas, at the very least, etc.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:18
#266562
REMEMBER: War (really big ones) are good for the economy.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:41
#266247
Iran is simply a wag-the-dog scenario. Ignore the impending economic doom, there are MUSLIMS that hate us and the West! Now, whether or not Iran poses a problem, the U.S. clearly will flex its muscles to remain a supreme superpower in the world - we have shown that we now are in decline as an economic force.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:42
#266248
I'm sure Mr. Nobel Peace Price "Winner" will "do the right thing".
And by "do the right thing" I mean "do whatever The Group tells him to do".
Hey look over there, sheeple - no, no not here. There!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:22
#266294
Well he did give the War is peace speech back then - it was quite funny actually.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:41
#266249
And it might even distract viewers from the rapidly escalating Liesman-Santelli global conflict!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:43
#266251
T-888, it's because the private shipping company is probably owned by a donor, or is connected politically to the government in some sort. Anyone want to look into it?
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 00:50
#266885
Here's a start for Superior Maritime Services:
http://www.sunbiz.org/pdf/69568819.pdf
Any zh-er in the neighborhood?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:43
#266255
It makes sense.The people who actually run the country will profit tremendously.
Of course, the entire gambit is insane.It provides a nice scapegoat to blame a giant market crash on and will sucker the gullible into supporting the .gov.Millions will die to satisfy these evil maniacs.They have been frothing about Iran and the Bomb for some time in preparation.
Malignant.That is the word that describes this unelected force of creeps that pushes us into war.And for what?The reasons are venal as well as depraved.
It will go nuclear too.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:44
#266256
Question: Who's going to pay for this latest little adventure?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:07
#266271
It sounds like the Iranians are going to pay (dearly) if there is even a scintilla of truth in the story. In the mean time, GO SHOPPING -- GO TO THE MALL.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:13
#266280
I was being serious...
We can't afford another Afgan/Iraq mess.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:32
#266309
It's just another way to pump massive amounts of dollars into existence, created from nothing.
Or rather, pumping massive amounts of dollars into existence is how they can afford global adventurism.
(Until they can't.)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:33
#266311
Postal -- why worry about paying for another military adventure? It's not like we're ever going to pay this debt back. (I'm serious about the debt default, but agree with you about the pointlessness of the wars.)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:42
#266326
seems like a great way to force everything on earth into UST, doesnt it...? just sayin...
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 04:57
#266963
The objective in both Afghanistan and Iraq required boots on the ground ... in Iran it is to eliminate the nuclear capability ... bombs will do just fine
Iran's leadership is too irrational to have a bomb.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:24
#266298
We have this magic thing we call a printing press.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:08
#266377
"Fucking thing is jammed!"-BS
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:45
#266511
We can never run out of money-Sheila Bair
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:41
#266739
"Fuck!" BS exclaimed as his magic press fizzed and spatted. "She la!" "What is it BS?" She La Bear said as she waltzed into the room. "Don't call me that, you know I don't like it." "What is it?" "The press, it isn't, it isn't working." He popped the back off, and scoured the innards. "Is the ink cartridge full?" "Yes, of course it is! FUCK!" She la was used to BS panicking, he had a knack for getting uptight very quickly. She tried to rub his shoulders. "Not now!" He said as he raised his shoulders, as the Queen Mum did when Michelle thought she could touch her. "Get Tim on the phone." She walked over and dialed, then handed the phone to BS. "TIMMAY!" "Tim, Tim, this is Ben...we have a problem with the...." There was a loud noise on the other end. "VROOOOM....VVVROOOMMMM!" "What the hell are you doing?!" "I'm a racecar! VROOM!"
"DAMN IT!" BS slammed down the phone over the press with such force, the relic lost it's top cartridge. "DAAAMN IT! OK, think Benny, think..." His first thought was to call Hank, but the last time he saw him he was wearing lipstick and a dress and was sitting in Bawnee Fwanks lap like a kid asking for a Christmas present. He knew Hank was in no frame of mind to be of any use. Besides, BS was a little jealous that Bawnee wasn't hanging out with him. There was only one option.
"This is Barry." "Mr. President, hello, this is Ben." "Oh hey there guy, whats crackin'?" "Well sir, the press seems to have run out of steam. I think it is time to institute plan B." "Well now, you called the right guy! Plan 'B' it is." Barry paused. "Look, this is no fault of yours, we all knew that thing was past it's prime." "Thank you sir. I will not take this personally." BS hung up the phone, and walked to the door. As he put on his fedora, he looked at the press one last time. "Well partner, it was quite a ride." That was the last anyone ever saw of him.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:52
#266855
what's crackin'....lol.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:08
#266823
"Question: Who's going to pay for this latest little adventure?"--Postal
Answer: They are. Their kids are. You are. I am. We are. Our kids are.
Who else always has, throughout the ages, and always will?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:44
#266257
Not going to happen. Putting the necessary equipment in place for the "just in case" scenario. Definitely not going to initiate a strike but certainly will respond quickly.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:46
#266261
War maybe, total destruction? No chance.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:46
#266441
China, Russia, and Iran have an accord that states if one is attacked, the other two will respond. If we go to war with this bloc, total destruction is imminent.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:49
#266517
Celente is adamant that attacking Iran will be
the start of WWWIII
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:47
#266262
Cheer up everyone. This war is being waged by Obama, therefore, it is all good. As proof: no one will even protest...!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:08
#266378
He may even win a second Nobel Peace Prize for waging a "War of Change, and Hope." Hell, they'd have more reason to give him one than they did the first time.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:52
#266524
An open, transparent war. Yes we can!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:06
#266821
Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can! Can't wait for him to pay my bills! Ahh Lawdy!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:47
#266263
If this happens, it could be the end of the Union once and for all.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:48
#266266
INFLATION WILL NOT HAPPEN...this will just further slow down and detroy our economy. $6 gas will not do anything but prevent people from driving to the unemployment office. They will walk. This is about as dumb a thing i have seen posted here and I LOVE ZEROHEDGE.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:31
#266306
um reducing the amount of goods or services due to higher gas prices would cause inflation. Just like if you increase the amount of goods or services, it causes deflation.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:34
#266312
(relative to a constant money supply and constant demand.)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:27
#266412
Rising oil prices would reduce the amount of money available for other goods and services (assuming constant money supply & demand). Rising commodity prices without a corresponding rise in the money supply is deflationary.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:36
#266427
Not trying to pick a fight here but rising energy prices are deflationary...
Don't mistake price inflation with monetary inflation. Monetary inflation being the excess supply of currency beyond the demand for goods or services.
Almost every US recession since 1972 was preceded by an oil price spike. In each case, the tipping point was reached when oil consumption reached 4% of US GDP. If oil was inflationary the fed would be raising interest rates in these times instead of lowering them. Clearly deflationary.
The US is not an island onto itself. Other nations bid up the price for the same oil we consume.
Even if the US has all the supply to meet national demand, if the price of this oil reduces demand it is akin to decreasing the monetary supply which increases the dollars actual value and thus deflation.
I know, when it comes to energy it defies the general economic logic (whats taught at uni today anyway) but this is due to one simple fact. There is no difference between a dollar and oil. Dollars are backed by oil and are given its purchasing power by the resources supply.
Even on a gold standard, gold is only an account keeping tool. Money itself is a claim on energy, always has been and always will be ;-)...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:31
#266651
absolutely right, gold star!
And oil has peaked, how cool is that?
That means production has peaked and money with it.
A total ROTFL Toonces the Cat moment we face here.
on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 01:44
#266899
Haha yes, things are going to get interesting to say the least.
We know conventional crude has peaked given the time it will take to bring any new production to market and given present decline rates from producing fields.
Unconventional is another matter but at the end of the day will never make up for the rate at which conventional can be extracted so yes, we are up shit creek. Right now.
Supply that is unaffordable and reduces demand is no different to a decreasing physical supply itself. Strangley, both end with the same result of a low market price and therefore make unconventional resources uneconomic to produce because with out growth in energy demand you got no economic growth. A vicious self reinforcing cycle.
Oh, and i'll put this in bold caps lock to highlight importance to passers by haha.
OIL CONSUMPTION IS THE MOST ACCURATE MEASURE OF A NATIONS ECONOMIC HEALTH POSSIBLE.
THEREFORE.
IF ANYONE TRYS TO TELL YOU NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMY BECAUSE OIL DEMAND HAS PEAKED, SLAP THEM IMMEDIATELY.
This entire system is going to collapse, not even the most religious economist can trump the laws of physics.
Its just a question of time ;-)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:28
#266747
I am not confusing price inflation with monetary inflation. Although I should of been more specific and said price inflation. Price inflation of course being a symptom of either a loss of supply or monetary inflation.
If I remember correctly oil got to 140 or so in 2008 and crashed before the market crashed. The spike in oil isn't what causes the next period of deflation. It is the crash in prices due to price volatility, or rather prices out pacing inflation in other markets.
I am not saying the price of oil would reduce demand, far from it, it will reduce the supply of goods. That is completely different than reducing demand. The rising cost of oil increases the cost of everything, meaning supply has to be cut in order to sustain loss of business, or business has to raise prices in order to sustain the rise in oil prices. Either way it is inflationary.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:32
#266308
Don't kill the messenger
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world-news/final-destination-iran-1.1...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:55
#266350
They are probably just re-stocking the stuff that they used in the Iraq war. And how does this guy get "Ready to strike 10,000 targets" from a shipment that contained 302 bombs?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:00
#266440
True... If the fed had the power to lower oil prices they could create instant inflation...
(edit... When increasing oil supply to an economy and lowering its value, that increases the energy each unit of currency is backed by, energy allowing us to do work which boosts economic growth. Yes I realise how that sounds but its fact, junking this comment will not change that)...
Now we all know that no one has the power to decrease the price, unless of course, you could increase the phyical supply available to the market (hint hint, wink wink).
Economics 101.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:11
#266267
Look, a purple unicorn!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:07
#266270
if(approvalRatingPercent < 50)
{
invade($randomEvilCountry);
}
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:12
#266278
Awesome!
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:15
#266282
correction:
if(approvalRatingPercent < 50)
if(AmericanIdol.Ratings == ViewershipRatings.Low)
if(economy.Jobless_U1 > 10%)
invade(GetRandomMiddleEastCountry());
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:22
#266401
A robot that destroys worlds...
They should make a movie about that.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:32
#266479
correction #2:
function (government.corruption);
{
if(approvalRatingPercent < 50)
if(AmericanIdol.Ratings == ViewershipRatings.Low)
if(economy.Jobless_U1 > 10%)
invade(GetRandomMiddleEastCountry());
else(economy.Blame==Snowstorm.inWinter)
if(approvalRatingPercent >50)
get(StateOfTheUnion.Speech==Iran.AxisOfEvil);
if(StateOfTheUnion.Speech==Iran.AxisOfEvil[selected.Index.value=null])
return(Alert="Believe me..... We have proof of WMD.")
if(isNaN);
then(Credibility=0)
}
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:08
#266272
So when do we see the spark? What are they going to do to false flag this attack?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:11
#266276
It seems to be a little heavy in explosives for how small the target sites are. Unless they intend to take out the Iranian military at the same time- which I doubt. Could be a few are for North Korea.
Or maybe it is just a little short squeezing for the area. Like my father use to do to my brother and me. We would come inside from playing and find his belt lying on the table but he was not in sight. Two things always happened; we quite doing whatever it was that was pissing off our mother and, we began doing what we were suppose to be doing.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:34
#266313
Without his belt, his pants were likely around his ankles. Where was your mother while this was all happening? LOL
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:48
#266336
Hey, might as well kill two birds with one stone, right?
(also, dead cat bounce. just wanted to say it.)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:26
#266410
Surprised you waited this long.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 22:19
#266770
These are NOt the bombs we had in the basement! MY gads,!its a swindle!
No, those are not my footprints and you are not reading this.
I am so amazed at americans view of war.
We are now roughly at the point we were in 62, kennedy standoff re cuba. I was a 11 year old at the time. This was such a big deal that they allowed me to watch their black and white tv for ten minutes. They felt since we all were in danger we all should know.
Germany was bombed heavily during the wars and the impact upon the people was transmitted to us children who were born from them.
My mother (not jewish)was in her late teens and became a casualty of lust and beauty and was marched for many days, starved and were glad for a piece of shoe lether to chew on.
I dont see the seriousness here. I bet the world could blow up and someone will respond with
Yea..SO?
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:15
#266283
"March Madness" - basketball and bombing - the ratings will go through the roof...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:16
#266285
Sorry - but I don't believe this. President Barack Obama has WAY too big of an ego to do this, resulting in a one-term presidency. Unless there is some manufactured pretext (and I mean serious rationale to scare supporters into accepting it - Iran simply having nuke weapons is not nearly enough)... he would lose whatever remaining support he has from anyone still holding out hope that he is a positive change agent (and there are many).
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:59
#266353
And Bush failed to win a second presidency due to starting the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts?
War = Second term (And the added bonus is that the NeoCons would then have to support Obama)
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:01
#266361
Iran simply having nuke weapons is not nearly enough
you are kidding, right?
There is virtually no country in the world that supports Iran having nuclear weapons.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:56
#266751
Yes because Pakistan and PRK have used them as soon as they got them.
There is no nation on the planet that has issued more bellicosity than PRK and yet they were allowed to get nukes and haven't used them.
Nukes protect you from US invasion
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:24
#266407
Obamas ego. ?? lol I dont think he runs the SHOW. I doubt Obabme matters to anyone but his family and those who were fooled again.
We keep having elections in which we have no choices. I dont think WE matter either.
Lets not forget, if we hit Iran we are also putting our thumb in Chinas eye again.
keeping in mind our policy of preventive domination, (Iraq, afganistan)Pakistan may be the target.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:08
#266469
Two words for you:
RAND Corporation.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:43
#266668
:-) Good to see you you sick bastard. More phucknuts than before brotherman. peace
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:18
#266288
"195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs"
"US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours."
Something wrong with the math here.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:30
#266305
The targets are all clustered REALLY close together.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:01
#266359
Yup... most are in just a couple of mosques actually...
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:20
#266289
No. Israel is preparing for the total destruction of Iran. The U.S. is awaiting its marching orders.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:20
#266291
Did I miss something? I see no sources in that Herald story that could be followed-up for verification. I also kinda doubt that a tender for transport services would have gone into such detail. Having been a private sector Contract Adminstrator for companies doing D.o.D. business, this just doesn't look right.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:38
#266321
You got it, Sparky. Those bombs are empty tubes full of ... wait for it ... bearer bonds.
Those Japanese bankers. They never give up.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 18:58
#266532
+1000
They never did tell us what happened to those, now we know.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:23
#266296
My Dear Friends,
Iran should be a glass-top parking lot within weeks, if not sooner.
Hannibal
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 17:31
#266424
Self lighting as well.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:25
#266299
My id spooks me even more :(
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:28
#266303
So...I'm wondering what China and Russia do then? I thought that much of Iran's crude was going to China.
on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:54
#266337
Russia will get out the party hats and start the Conga line. Their oil and natural gas just inflated big time.
China? Not so much.