Iran

[eyeball]

Easy solution……Buy defence stocks………Ask yourself, when Western Governments are announcing cutbacks to their militaries, why are defence stock prices still rising.

Advice that could be worth thousands to you……You’re welcome in advance.

I'll pass thanks, that's advice that would just keep me up at night.

[Guest Derek L]

I'll pass thanks, that's advice that would just keep me up at night.

Suit yourself…….But it’s free advice that could help narrow the perceived income gap………To quote Wild Bill, there’s heart people and head people………I don’t disparage you being a “heart person”, I honestly find that noble, but this is generally the reason there is disparity between many people’s incomes……..Not some conspiracy or outright theft, but the ability to put emotion and morals aside when it comes to making money……….I’d rather have money and the economic freedom to champion my perceived causes then rely on self righteousness.

For what it's worth, I've no problem sleeping at night

[eyeball]

Suit yourself…….But it’s free advice that could help narrow the perceived income gap………To quote Wild Bill, there’s heart people and head people………I don’t disparage you being a “heart person”, I honestly find that noble, but this is generally the reason there is disparity between many people’s incomes……..Not some conspiracy or outright theft, but the ability to put emotion and morals aside when it comes to making money……….I’d rather have money and the economic freedom to champion my perceived causes then rely on self righteousness.

For what it's worth, I've no problem sleeping at night

Don't get me wrong, my head tells me people like you should be rounded up and re-educated.

I'd probably sleep like a baby then.

[Guest Derek L]

Don't get me wrong, my head tells me people like you should be rounded up and re-educated.

I'd probably sleep like a baby then.

Kinda hard to do that when “people like me” champion the military, police, energy, defence and firearms industries (And lobbies)……..As I’ve quoted before: Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun

[GostHacked]

Easy solution……Buy defence stocks………Ask yourself, when Western Governments are announcing cutbacks to their militaries, why are defence stock prices still rising.

Advice that could be worth thousands to you……You’re welcome in advance.

Every thousand dollars you make, someone else on the other side of the planet dies because of it. Sure you want to make that kind of investement?

[Guest Derek L]

Every thousand dollars you make, someone else on the other side of the planet dies because of it. Sure you want to make that kind of investement?

Though you have a valid point, I don’t tend to look at it like that………Every Starbucks coffee, I-Phone or Che T-shirt you buy indicates a need to be filled…..What I champion is the ability for you to have that need and someone else to provide it…….And for you to even have the ability to complain about the way in which the said process is protected.

[GostHacked]

Though you have a valid point, I don’t tend to look at it like that………Every Starbucks coffee, I-Phone or Che T-shirt you buy indicates a need to be filled…..What I champion is the ability for you to have that need and someone else to provide it…….And for you to even have the ability to complain about the way in which the said process is protected.

How do you feel about the companies that make your iphones, to install nets around their buildings to prevent their employees from comitting suicide? They could never hope to afford that item they are making for you to buy over hear. But I guess that could be a whole other topic and how one loses when the other gains, and sometimes through ill gotten measures.

Edited January 29, 2012 by GostHacked

[Guest Derek L]

How do you feel about the companies that make your iphones, to install nets around their buildings to prevent their employees from comitting suicide? They could never hope to afford that item they are making for you to buy over hear. But I guess that could be a whole other topic and how one loses when the other gains, and sometimes through ill gotten measures.

Again, I suppose it’s a matter of perspective………I look at those working in third world factories and sometimes wonder, what would they be doing if they weren’t producing goods for the western world? Would they revert back to tribalism and go at it with machetes? Would their nation become beholden to warlords? Would Sally Struthers be making infomercials, chalked full of images of children with flies in their eyes, eating mush?

[Wild Bill]

Again, I suppose it’s a matter of perspective………I look at those working in third world factories and sometimes wonder, what would they be doing if they weren’t producing goods for the western world? Would they revert back to tribalism and go at it with machetes? Would their nation become beholden to warlords? Would Sally Struthers be making infomercials, chalked full of images of children with flies in their eyes, eating mush?

This is a good point, Derek. While it is true that conditions in some of these countries are frankly revolting by our standards, few seem to recognize that without such jobs most of these people would be starving in the streets.

I rather doubt if some who criticize got their way and had plant close would be thanked by those "exploited" workers.

[Guest Derek L]

This is a good point, Derek. While it is true that conditions in some of these countries are frankly revolting by our standards, few seem to recognize that without such jobs most of these people would be starving in the streets.

I rather doubt if some who criticize got their way and had plant close would be thanked by those "exploited" workers.

From a moral standpoint, thinking knowing that there are factories full of workers the same age as my kids is disturbing, on the inverse, I do question if these factories packed up a left, what would they be doing? We can look at from the standpoint in some of these countries 20-30-40 years ago the vast majority were peasant farmers in a agricultural based “economy”…….Today, many of these countries are climbing the rungs into the “second world” and in some cases being on the cusp of the “first world”………

I won’t pretend to know what is the better lifestyle, but based on my wife’s experience growing up in Apartheid South Africa, which one could argue was “semi-first world”, once Apartheid ended and many of the “professional & middle class” (see white) buggered off, the overall standard of living in the country defiantly slipped for both the remaining whites and blacks alike………Would these third world countries be better off not making Tvs and Nike runners? I dunno

Edited January 30, 2012 by Derek L

[August1991]

As for Pakistan, they are checked by India.

I agree in the sense that India would see any Pakistan aggression as a threat.

Nevertheless, let's be honest. This is a 1912 First Balkan War situation. Like the Ottoman Empire, the Soviet Union is no more and there is now a power vacuum. Various nationalities see the chance to take their place.

It's going to happen one day. The only difference between Saudi Arabia and Iran in a sense is that the west gets LOTS of oil from Saudi Arabia.

There are many, many differences between Saudi and Iran but I have to agree. The Saudi royal family may not see it but the writing is on the wall - to choose an ancient metaphor.

It's leading towards the United States dropping bunker busters all over their country and installing a brutal dictator that will open up their markets to them.

I disagree.

Several years ago, but after 1979, I spent some time in Tehran. And over the years, I have had my dealings with Iranians. (The Shafia trial was a horrific reminder of how difficult it can be to fix details. Incidentally, while Afghanistan is a mix, in some ways Afghanistan is to Iran what Northern Ontario is to the Toronto region.)

Nevertheless, as one Iranian in Tehran explained to me, Persia/Iran has two sides: it is both western and eastern. At present, the eastern side is predominant. I'll add that Shi'ites are an excitable lot; they are the Italians of the Muslim world.

[Oh gawd. How many stereotypes/generalizations have I invoked... ]

-----

In short, I don't think NATO/US will have to do much in Iran other than apply external pressure and support internal dissent. I may be wrong but like the Soviet Union or Red China, I think that the Iranian regime will change from within.

Edited January 31, 2012 by August1991

[greyman]

The US making war with Iran would be a huge mistake, and I'm not convinced there is much public support in either country for it. I think a lot of Americans are war-fatigued, and a lot of Iranians are more aligned with the west than the Rick Santorums of the world would be willing to admit.

War with Iran's loudest drum-beaters wear suits and work at Lockheed-Martin.

[AusKanada]

The US making war with Iran would be a huge mistake, and I'm not convinced there is much public support in either country for it. I think a lot of Americans are war-fatigued, and a lot of Iranians are more aligned with the west than the Rick Santorums of the world would be willing to admit.

War with Iran's loudest drum-beaters wear suits and work at Lockheed-Martin.

Agreed 100%, good post.

[Guest Derek L]

The US making war with Iran would be a huge mistake, and I'm not convinced there is much public support in either country for it. I think a lot of Americans are war-fatigued, and a lot of Iranians are more aligned with the west than the Rick Santorums of the world would be willing to admit.

War with Iran's loudest drum-beaters wear suits and work at Lockheed-Martin.

Do you think Western civilization would prefer their economies to collapse if there was a sudden, drastic increase in the cost of energy (oil) across the globe?

[Guest Peeves]

It's leading towards the United States dropping bunker busters all over their country and installing a brutal dictator that will open up their markets to them.

So you endorse Iran's present repressive regime?

I think it's going wherever Iran forces it to go. Since the Iranian leadership contemplates an early end of the world when the 12th imam returns they seem to feel it is 'their time for the leadership in Islamic history. They have always considered themselves as superior to the Arabs, and wanted to rule them. The Arabs have always resented the Persians. A generalization I agree but historically understood.

They, the Iranians are the driving force behind future world events in the area of the middle east, and the reaction to their provocation. They have no need for a nuclear bomb yet are working on one and on a delivery system. THEIR DENIAL IS SPURIOUS and their open threats to another democratic country will obviously be considered as a nuclear threat not to be ignored.

So if the embargo and freezing of their accounts doesn't work to deter them, the developments are inevitable.

Most accounts of the story say that al Mahdi went into hiding as a child around the age of 5 years (about 13th Century). It said he has been ‘in hiding’ in caves ever since but will supernaturally return just before the Day of Judgment. According to the Hadith the criteria for the Hidden Imam are:

He will be a descendant of Muhammad and the son of Fatima

Will have a broad forehead and pointed nose

Will return just before the end of the world

His appearance will be preceded by a number of prophetic events during 3 years of horrendous world chaos, tyranny and oppression

Will escape from Madina to Mekkah, thousands will pledge allegiance to him

Will rule over the Arabs and the world for 7 years

Will eradicate all tyranny and oppression bringing harmony and total peace

Will lead a prayer in Mekkah which Jesus will be at his side and follow in

http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/12th-imam.htm

[Moonlight Graham]

You haven’t read the script obviously…….Israel bombs a research site, Iran sinks an oil tanker(s) in the gulf, A United States led force destroys the Iranian military over the course of several weeks, terror attacks increase in Israel, The United States taps their strategic petroleum reserve to help counter the rise in price of oil, Iranian dissidents, aided by Western airpower overthrow the Theocracy in Iran within three months….Pakistan, Syria and Saudi Arabia are put on notice…

Agree with everything up to the last couple of parts.

Israel will bomb Iranian facilities. This will ignite a conflict between them in the M.E. I imagine. US/NATO will come to the rescue, and proceed to help Israel in the bombing of sites. After that, who knows.

Iran is zero threat to launch a conventional nuclear strike vs Israel. The only danger I see is them giving/selling nukes to terrorists who would do that job for them (which is still a big risk for Iran if the nukes were traced back to them), or Iran otherwise selling nukes to people the West wouldn't approve of (ie: Syria, Palestinians).

[Tilter]

How do you feel about the companies that make your iphones, to install nets around their buildings to prevent their employees from comitting suicide? They could never hope to afford that item they are making for you to buy over hear. But I guess that could be a whole other topic and how one loses when the other gains, and sometimes through ill gotten measures.

Read about this in the New York Times supplement to our weekend Hamilton Spectator. I know the plight of the Apple employees has a lot to be desired but then look at the bright side --- working about 60 to 70 hours a week the employees can make $22.00 -- any more than that would shave Apple's 2010 last quarter profits to under the 13 BILLION bux and the shareholders would never go for that.

Gotta go, I hear that the newest Ipods are coming out in pink---( sort of makes you wonder what fell into the plastic dye vat) & if I don't hurry they will be all sold.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Agree with everything up to the last couple of parts.

Israel will bomb Iranian facilities. This will ignite a conflict between them in the M.E. I imagine. US/NATO will come to the rescue, and proceed to help Israel in the bombing of sites. After that, who knows.

Iran is zero threat to launch a conventional nuclear strike vs Israel. The only danger I see is them giving/selling nukes to terrorists who would do that job for them (which is still a big risk for Iran if the nukes were traced back to them), or Iran otherwise selling nukes to people the West wouldn't approve of (ie: Syria, Palestinians).

The world may well have to turn the other cheek, and watch Israel do WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. Only Israel can do this and get away with it. The nation threatened can definitely respond in preemptive fashion, without fear of negative consequence. The same cannot be said for other nations in the area.

[Tilter]

Iran What will happen

Basically, a lot of glass flooring in the middle East

[Guest Derek L]

Agree with everything up to the last couple of parts.

Israel will bomb Iranian facilities. This will ignite a conflict between them in the M.E. I imagine. US/NATO will come to the rescue, and proceed to help Israel in the bombing of sites. After that, who knows.

Iran is zero threat to launch a conventional nuclear strike vs Israel. The only danger I see is them giving/selling nukes to terrorists who would do that job for them (which is still a big risk for Iran if the nukes were traced back to them), or Iran otherwise selling nukes to people the West wouldn't approve of (ie: Syria, Palestinians).

That’s quite clear Iran has next to zero ability to launch a conventional attack on Israel, hence their reliance on proxies and terror groups………I honestly do think any Western response will depend on the Iranian reaction to an Israeli strike(s)……..If they clam up and do nothing, nor will the West…..It should also be mentioned that Israel obviously doesn’t have the capability to launch a sustained bombing campaign on Iran alone…….Any air strike(s) will likely mimic the ones they launched on Iraq and Syria, and there is a better to even chance that Iran might not acknowledge to the world several surgical air strikes……..We could see the entire issue quietly disappear.

[greyman]

Do you think Western civilization would prefer their economies to collapse if there was a sudden, drastic increase in the cost of energy (oil) across the globe?

Oil is already under-valued, what you're talking about is already a likely scenario as it is, so in the grand scheme, what would be the point in wasting even more oil fighting with Iran for theirs? Talk about a waste of money, and resources.

[Guest Derek L]

Oil is already under-valued, what you're talking about is already a likely scenario as it is, so in the grand scheme, what would be the point in wasting even more oil fighting with Iran for theirs? Talk about a waste of money, and resources.

That’s an ignorant statement in that it clearly demonstrates the lack knowledge in both military material expenditures of fuel versus the known supply and production level of Middle Eastern oil.

[greyman]

That’s an ignorant statement in that it clearly demonstrates the lack knowledge in both military material expenditures of fuel versus the known supply and production level of Middle Eastern oil.

I know if we sent battleships, bombers, fighter jets, and personnel into combat, they're not going with solar panels attached to them.

[Guest Derek L]

I know if we sent battleships, bombers, fighter jets, and personnel into combat, they're not going with solar panels attached to them.

What are the daily production totals of Middle Eastern Oil? Contrast with the daily usage of the US military combined with the daily usage in the Western World……..Surely one is greater than the other no?

[greyman]

What are the daily production totals of Middle Eastern Oil? Contrast with the daily usage of the US military combined with the daily usage in the Western World……..Surely one is greater than the other no?

There a point in there somewhere?