Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: .
Posts: 2,173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the Iranian and other press has reported several times in recent weeks of oil (and other) commodities being brokered in currencies other than dollars
A few that come to mind
Russia - Iran
China - Japan
Iran - India
Russia - India
I think I saw some China / Iran - South American agreements as well
Essentialy they are putting into place bank financing that it linked to one or other of the priniple's currencies, not the Dollar or Euro, so avoiding any exposure to US or European finance pressures - or exchange rates.
It could be the beginningof the end for the dollar as the universal trade currency.
If a major proportion of the oil market is no longer tied to the dollar, then the USA becomes exposed to some very interesting inflationary risks
A few that come to mind
Russia - Iran
China - Japan
Iran - India
Russia - India
I think I saw some China / Iran - South American agreements as well
Essentialy they are putting into place bank financing that it linked to one or other of the priniple's currencies, not the Dollar or Euro, so avoiding any exposure to US or European finance pressures - or exchange rates.
It could be the beginningof the end for the dollar as the universal trade currency.
If a major proportion of the oil market is no longer tied to the dollar, then the USA becomes exposed to some very interesting inflationary risks
hval, in re your little jest ...
If you think you can take it, come on and try.
Don't forget, once you have it, you have to try and make it run.
See how much fun that was for NATO in Former Yugoslavia, and UN in Somalia if you doubt my cynicism in re the UK taking over much of anything these days. Given what a mess y'all are making of your own affairs, I don't think you can handle something about six times bigger.
(Which of course makes one wonder how America expected to implant democracy into Iraq, given how indifferent American voters are ... about 1/3 never bother to vote ... )
Yes, it's a late response, but you get what you pay for.
In re Iran:
We'll see how that works out for them, given their balance of payments.
I seem to recall that when the Saudi King led the 1973 embargo, Shah of Iran kept happily pumping and selling as the price went up ...
Agree on the Libya supply being slight mitigation. But then, the price will move about, yet again, as things get less stable on the macro supply side .
As they are already "aligned" with the US, and have their own regional paranoia to deal with, I don't see this as anything but noise.
No, it isn't. From a news article reporting on the topic.
You might with to put the word "rushing" in quotes as well.
How lovely. Their position appears to be:
"We'll talk about anything besides what you want to talk about."
Amazingly clever!
Why, it sounds like how the Israelis and Palestinians talk to each other -- about nearly everything except what the other side actually wants to see on the table.
Way to conform to the regional stupidity, lads! You'll keep us amused for a few more decades at this rate!
If you think you can take it, come on and try.
Don't forget, once you have it, you have to try and make it run.
See how much fun that was for NATO in Former Yugoslavia, and UN in Somalia if you doubt my cynicism in re the UK taking over much of anything these days. Given what a mess y'all are making of your own affairs, I don't think you can handle something about six times bigger.
(Which of course makes one wonder how America expected to implant democracy into Iraq, given how indifferent American voters are ... about 1/3 never bother to vote ... )
Yes, it's a late response, but you get what you pay for.
In re Iran:
They are looking at cutting off oil for five years.
I seem to recall that when the Saudi King led the 1973 embargo, Shah of Iran kept happily pumping and selling as the price went up ...
Agree on the Libya supply being slight mitigation. But then, the price will move about, yet again, as things get less stable on the macro supply side .
Iran's foreign minister warned Arab neighbors on Thursday not to put themselves in a "dangerous position" by aligning themselves too closely with the United States in the escalating dispute over Tehran's nuclear activity.
The Pentagon is rushing a “mothership” --
The ship could be ready in four to five months time, officials said.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Tehran is ready to sit down with world powers for talks on its alleged nuclear ambitions as he downplayed the harmful effects of newly imposed sanctions. The other countries who have been involved in "talks" with Iran in the past say that when it comes to talks "Iran is willing to talk about anything but the nuclear issues".
"We'll talk about anything besides what you want to talk about."
Amazingly clever!
Why, it sounds like how the Israelis and Palestinians talk to each other -- about nearly everything except what the other side actually wants to see on the table.
Way to conform to the regional stupidity, lads! You'll keep us amused for a few more decades at this rate!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,763
Received 2,750 Likes
on
1,171 Posts
Still some Iranians have a sense of humour
Iranian company wants to send toy drone to Obama - CNN
An Iranian non-profit company says it will honor U.S. President Barack Obama's request that Iran return a drone that crashed there last year.
But instead of the actual drone, the company says it will send miniature toy versions. A lot of them.
"We plan to send a full squadron of 12 to the White House for President Obama as a present," said Reza Kioumarsi, a spokesman for the Aaye Art Group, a Tehran-based non-profit, non-governmental company that makes novelty items.
Iranian company wants to send toy drone to Obama - CNN
An Iranian non-profit company says it will honor U.S. President Barack Obama's request that Iran return a drone that crashed there last year.
But instead of the actual drone, the company says it will send miniature toy versions. A lot of them.
"We plan to send a full squadron of 12 to the White House for President Obama as a present," said Reza Kioumarsi, a spokesman for the Aaye Art Group, a Tehran-based non-profit, non-governmental company that makes novelty items.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glasgow
Age: 61
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lonewolf_50,
I agree with many of your comments. The UK is in deep doo doo, led by politicians who are generallys self serving, and has somehwat depleted the military in order to save money, whilst ignoring what is actually happening.
Friends of mine (alright, some chap I once met in a pub, and who was drunk enough to talk with me) and I have discussions about politics and the wealthy. Three main topics we all agree on are: -
1/ We feel that Europe is going the same way as "The Decline & Fall of Rome"
2/ Politicians actually have very little effect on the world (a generalism here) and it is the rich and wealthy who really control the world. We also feel as if we are returning to a "feudal" nature. The difference being that instead of our feudal masters just taking money of us, they have got us to buy in to this "we need" culture, where we buy unnecessary products and replace them on a regular basis. This keeps us subserviant, and makes them wealthy.
3/ Justice is not served in the Uk & Europe.
Remember, the above are generalisations, and a precis of our sometimes heated discussions. No fisticuffs as yet.
EDITED TO ADD: -
The above are part of ongoing discussions of "Does humankind exist for a reason, and if so what reason/s?" and "Is there a god? If so, why?"
I agree with many of your comments. The UK is in deep doo doo, led by politicians who are generallys self serving, and has somehwat depleted the military in order to save money, whilst ignoring what is actually happening.
Friends of mine (alright, some chap I once met in a pub, and who was drunk enough to talk with me) and I have discussions about politics and the wealthy. Three main topics we all agree on are: -
1/ We feel that Europe is going the same way as "The Decline & Fall of Rome"
2/ Politicians actually have very little effect on the world (a generalism here) and it is the rich and wealthy who really control the world. We also feel as if we are returning to a "feudal" nature. The difference being that instead of our feudal masters just taking money of us, they have got us to buy in to this "we need" culture, where we buy unnecessary products and replace them on a regular basis. This keeps us subserviant, and makes them wealthy.
3/ Justice is not served in the Uk & Europe.
Remember, the above are generalisations, and a precis of our sometimes heated discussions. No fisticuffs as yet.
EDITED TO ADD: -
The above are part of ongoing discussions of "Does humankind exist for a reason, and if so what reason/s?" and "Is there a god? If so, why?"
LW....does not all those comments apply to the USA as well? We are being urged to buy Volts...Bill Gates keeps Microsoft rich by changing things and forcing us to buy new OS programs which make our old programs obsolete
...the guvmint makes us buy Health Insurance after detailing exactly what the policy shall contain...to call Obama self serving would be an understatement....and we are cutting our Military at a time we have much need for a strong force.
As I am posting before the Morning Java Mocha kicks in....that may sound incoherent...but you get my drift I think!
...the guvmint makes us buy Health Insurance after detailing exactly what the policy shall contain...to call Obama self serving would be an understatement....and we are cutting our Military at a time we have much need for a strong force.
As I am posting before the Morning Java Mocha kicks in....that may sound incoherent...but you get my drift I think!
@hval: No fisticuffs, of course! We are shooting the bull, as it were.
@SASless: indeed, government by the people and for the people is under threat, partly because of how easily it is to "divide and conquer" a people somewhat divided, rather than unified.
I'll not go onto my nearly 30 years long rant about the deliberate attempts at Balkanization of the American polity ... in which our differences are accentuated day in and day out Rather Than that which we have in common.
E Pluribus Unum is one way to approach things.
There is another that seems to be more commonly voiced:
"I am different, listen to me, damnit!"
rather than something like
Vive le difference!
Oh well, I don't think this is a new challenge for anybody in the human race ...
As to the toy drone to be presented to President Obama:
I like the sense of humor.
@SASless: indeed, government by the people and for the people is under threat, partly because of how easily it is to "divide and conquer" a people somewhat divided, rather than unified.
I'll not go onto my nearly 30 years long rant about the deliberate attempts at Balkanization of the American polity ... in which our differences are accentuated day in and day out Rather Than that which we have in common.
E Pluribus Unum is one way to approach things.
There is another that seems to be more commonly voiced:
"I am different, listen to me, damnit!"
rather than something like
Vive le difference!
Oh well, I don't think this is a new challenge for anybody in the human race ...
As to the toy drone to be presented to President Obama:
I like the sense of humor.
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Torquay, England
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nice pictures that shows the World that we are not listening to any threats about a carrier transiting through the Strait
Last edited by glojo; 1st Feb 2012 at 16:57. Reason: Attempting to resize images as per forum requirements.... Edit 2... I still have absolutely NO knowledge whatsoever of ANY previous admonishment.
Man, that's a robust task group.
Carrier, Tico, two Burkes, a Type 23, and ... something Dutch or Canadian? Can't recognize what's in the foreground, just in front of the Type 23 ... for some reason, the gun mount looks Canadian to me. But it's got a Lynx on the back, so I don't think it's a Canadian escort ...
Carrier, Tico, two Burkes, a Type 23, and ... something Dutch or Canadian? Can't recognize what's in the foreground, just in front of the Type 23 ... for some reason, the gun mount looks Canadian to me. But it's got a Lynx on the back, so I don't think it's a Canadian escort ...
Lonewolf_50,
It's a French frigate.
Anglo-French-US task group.
It's a French frigate.
Anglo-French-US task group.
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Torquay, England
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apologies and NO you have DEFINITELY not told me about it and MANY apologies.
They are not my images and I was afraid to meddle but I will alter them ASAP
Ships in that group are
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
USS Sterett (DDG-104)
USS Russell (DDG-59) Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
USS Cape St. George (CG-71) Ticonderoga-class cruiser.
HMS Argyll (F231) Type 23 'Duke' Class frigate.
French Ship La Motte-Picquet (D645) Georges Leygues Class Destroyer (Frigate in French designation)
They are not my images and I was afraid to meddle but I will alter them ASAP
Ships in that group are
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
USS Sterett (DDG-104)
USS Russell (DDG-59) Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
USS Cape St. George (CG-71) Ticonderoga-class cruiser.
HMS Argyll (F231) Type 23 'Duke' Class frigate.
French Ship La Motte-Picquet (D645) Georges Leygues Class Destroyer (Frigate in French designation)
To pr00ne and glojo: thanks! My recognition skills seem to have faded over the years.
For those interested: a nice summary by Colin H. Kahl is available on line, at the moment, in explaining why an American, or coalition, pre-emptive strike/raid/war is a lousy idea. He is responding to a chickenhawk "analyst" at Foreign Affairs magazine (Matthew Kroenig) who raised a stir with his article "Time to Attack Iran."
Article Summary and Author Biography
"Opponents of military action against Iran assume a U.S. strike would be far more dangerous than simply letting Tehran build a bomb. Not so, argues this former Pentagon defense planner. With a carefully designed attack, Washington could mitigate the costs and spare the region and the world from an unacceptable threat."
Seems to be a Rummy style "strategist" who bases his plans on best case thinking rather than worst case analysis.
I am glad he is FORMER as a defense planner. Of the two arguments, I find Kahl's better reasoned.
For those interested: a nice summary by Colin H. Kahl is available on line, at the moment, in explaining why an American, or coalition, pre-emptive strike/raid/war is a lousy idea. He is responding to a chickenhawk "analyst" at Foreign Affairs magazine (Matthew Kroenig) who raised a stir with his article "Time to Attack Iran."
Article Summary and Author Biography
"Opponents of military action against Iran assume a U.S. strike would be far more dangerous than simply letting Tehran build a bomb. Not so, argues this former Pentagon defense planner. With a carefully designed attack, Washington could mitigate the costs and spare the region and the world from an unacceptable threat."
Seems to be a Rummy style "strategist" who bases his plans on best case thinking rather than worst case analysis.
I am glad he is FORMER as a defense planner. Of the two arguments, I find Kahl's better reasoned.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Westerham, Kent
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Britain was forced to plead with the US to take part in the flotilla challenging Iranian power in the Gulf after American commanders decided the Royal Navy had nothing to contribute to the mission.
The disparity in vessel numbers means the British presence in the flotilla was of greater diplomatic than military significance.
A source described Britain's approach as “classic willy-waving”, accusing the UK of posturing to conceal its military irrelevance to the confrontation with Iran.
A Whitehall official confirmed the sequence of events and described the international negotiations over the flotilla as “humiliating” for Britain.
The disparity in vessel numbers means the British presence in the flotilla was of greater diplomatic than military significance.
A source described Britain's approach as “classic willy-waving”, accusing the UK of posturing to conceal its military irrelevance to the confrontation with Iran.
A Whitehall official confirmed the sequence of events and described the international negotiations over the flotilla as “humiliating” for Britain.
I suspect most of what is written above could soon become standard commentary regarding any of Britain's international military exploits.
Oh England, how the mighty have fallen!
Britain had to plead with US to take part in Iran flotilla - Telegraph
I suspect most of what is written above could soon become standard commentary regarding any of Britain's international military exploits.
Oh England, how the mighty have fallen!
I suspect most of what is written above could soon become standard commentary regarding any of Britain's international military exploits.
Oh England, how the mighty have fallen!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glasgow
Age: 61
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saudi To Go Nuclear - Maybe
In the Times Newspaper today (Friday 10 February) is an article writing that Saudi is saying that they would obtain nuclear weapons within weeks if Iran does produce nuclear weapons.
In the event of a succesful nuclear test by Iran, Saudi would probably obtain nuclear weapons from packistan. Saudi would also change its civilian nuclear programme to include a military element for the enrichment of uranium.
In the event of a succesful nuclear test by Iran, Saudi would probably obtain nuclear weapons from packistan. Saudi would also change its civilian nuclear programme to include a military element for the enrichment of uranium.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Or perhaps admit the reality of their existing assets. I've always been sceptical that they'd spend so much on a couple of dozen DF-3As with conventional warheads; or if they did.that they weren't upgraded post 98 when Pakistan developed their bomb.
