``The world economy continues to face uncertainty and downside risks persist,''
the officials said in a statement after meeting today in Osaka, Japan.
``Elevated commodity prices, especially of oil and food, pose a serious
challenge.''
Now I ask you: Did these miscreants add ANYTHING of value to their countries or the world at large? Not a shred. The cost in energy, security, and provisioning to gather these jerks in spot to the tax payers of the world is just a never ending rip off of poor people. Just who are these worthless individuals? Members of their country's elite - with backgrounds for the most part in the Law and Classical Economics uniquely unsuited to be of the slightest help in Energy and Agriculture, the problem areas they themselves have identified - but there you have it. They are, in fact, quite qualified to "monitier the situation" and be "very concerned". Thank goodness! I fee much better knowing that these folks are monitering and concerned.
This is the very reason why NOTHING will get done before it is too late. We continue to employ superannuated jerkoffs with little capacity to imagine the possibilities - and an even greater reluctance to embrace the probable.
I remember a famous quote from the 9/11 inquries into who was to blame at the Federal Level for the security lapse: "This was a failure of imagination" - as is the response of the U.S. Federal Government to the certainty of the coming energy and food debacle.
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Iran just told the world to go scratch. Again.
The only country capable of really doing something about it is the U.S. Not Israel. Not Saudi Arabia. Nor China, India, Pakistan. The U.S., and much of the West, is in a uniquely bad spot here. We have some real dummies in the West that would rather have a Nuclear Armed Iran than take action. The only group more hypocritical than the Crazed Right in America is the Looney Left. Usualy led by establishment Hollywood, "stars" like Barbara Streisand, Warren Beatty, and Steven Spielberg et al, all of whom conduct PROFLIGATE energy lifestyles that absolutely require the continueance of the U.S. war machine!!! Hey Babs! Park the jet with pink cushioned toilet seat so that you can take a deuce comfortably and fly coach! 10,000 gallons in jet fuel just so you can have some privacy while you take a crap is out of bounds! If you did park the jet, among other things you could do, our politicos would not be under the kind of pressure that ends up with working class kids getting their legs blown off in Oil wars! Any questions?
The Looney Left is ok with their hero's ways, for reasons that remain unclear to me, but ARE ok with a mad man of Hitleresque proportions within reach of a nuclear weapon. Is it me, or is this freaking MADNESS? Or do the Hollywood types envision a series of concerts like Farm Aid... only this one will be called "Nuke Aid, to assist the poor victims of the Nuclear Blast. Now stay tuned MTV viewers and we'll tell you how all this affects Madonna's upcoming 50th birthday tour!"
You see, I think we could prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and avoid a military confrontation with them. But that won't happen if the San Francisco mindset pervades our diplomacy. The only way diplomacy works is if the consequnces of its failure are too gruesome to consider.
The Law of Unintended Consequences applies to Liberals and Conservatives alike.
Back to housing later today...
Mentatt (at) yahoo (d0t) com
11 comments:
Greg -- I read your blog every day and am looking forward to your continuing series on bank failures "Check back later as I continue to make my case... That the U.S. banking system is likely to collapse if the energy crisis is not ameliorated somehow, and with it the U.S. $"
I am not a member of the Crazed Right or a member of the Loonie Left. I am an American, now retired, Silicon Valley executive (semiconductors and disk drives). I have been a VP of a large NYSE listed company and CEO of a smaller company. I have a Bachelors degree in Physics and much postgrad work under my belt. I have also lived abroad for long periods (Europe and Asia). I am in short, I think, a well balanced and well informed American.
It is with this background that I say to you your rant on Iran's nuclear program is wrong and unjustified. There are many reasons for reaching this conclusion, I will list only two of them here, and ask two questions of you at the end:
• There is no credible evidence that Iran is anywhere near producing a nuclear bomb. Our government intel reports are not credible as I am sure you will agree.
• I belive every sovereign country has the right to develop nuclear energy.
And now my two questions:
• Israel already has an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Shouldn't we be pressuring Israel to eliminate their nuclear weapons as we threaten Iran with war?
• Are you really suggesting we Americans should start another unilateral war?
Greg,
I'm not a member of either the fringe left or right either.
I may only be considered fringe in the sense that I believe the entire American system of government is broken. But that is a widely-held belief nowadays.
Its our American political system which led us into an illegal war in Iraq, and which is trying to start another illegal war in Iran.
So, I only ask, show us the evidence on Iran. Where is the evidence that they are producing nuclear weapons? Where is the evidence that they are a threat to the US?
Greg - bubola. I thought you said that you were going to stick to economy and energy, not politics.
Chuck H.
Sorry, Chuck, I was venting about this:
My wife is from Japan, and I have had the sincere displeasure to visit Hiroshima. Every American should make a pilgramage there. You cannot help but feel shame walking through the Hiroshima museum. Few American's know the full story about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Here is a fun fact: The American military did not let independent reporters in to the bombed cities until 7 years later. They did not want the world to see first hand the attrocities they commited. A nuclear attack on ANY country is unacceptable.
Let us look at this froma diffent time and perspective: It is the DAY AFTER a significant nuclear exchange involving Iran. What does the world look like? and what risks would you have taken that you had not, if you could do it over again?
The Iraq war was an assinine thing to do. Iraq has nothing to do with the potential outcomes of a Nuclear Iran.
If Iran becomes a nuclear power, the world will truly be in deep do-do.
And no, I am not suggesting we start another war, legal or otherwise. I am pointing out that a conflict with Iran is now VERY likely, and that some of the blame for this lies with the "looney left" who have taken away the "crazed right"'s fear factor. In the chess game of diplomacy, that fear factor is, or was, worth something. The unintended consequence of their actions might NOW mean a conflict with Iran.
My apologies if I appear political. Perhaps my severe dislike for both sides showed through. The extreme left is funded by folks whose behavior is at BEST hypocritical, much like the Right's.
A nuclear armed Iran would likely mean that ALL of our discussions are quite moot.
Sorry I just read the other comment.
Who said start a war?
In order to AVOID a war we must handle Iran better than we have done so far.
The actions of certain special interests groups in the U.S. have INCREASED the probability of war, among them the Hollywood private jet schucks. No matter how well intentioned or politically correct, it is my opinion that the unintened consequences of some of their actions has actually increased the probability.
Those unintended consequences of certain U.S. politicos has led us here - VERY close to war with Iran.
If you think things are bad now, just wait until the U.S. military or Israel attacks Iranian territory. Oil will be rationed in days. Many, many indigent senior citizens from Wisconsin to Maine will freeze to death next winter. Thousands will perish. Our discussions of a housing/banking/$ collapse will be sooooooo past tense.
I have a son who will be draft age in less than 3 years! Any conflict with Iran and voila! The draft is back, and I did not raise my kid so he could get killed fighting over something that is going the way of the Do Do bird.
The Looney left can't think 2 moves ahead in a simple chess game, yet their icons are THE hypocrites in Oil misuse. Not that they out do the jerks on the Right, Steve Forbes, Larry Kudlow, et al are appalling human beings.
Oh, and by the way, in case you can't tell from the 500 articles I have written... I am an extreme libertarian. We don't do war.
Still, I will stick to economic forecasting - political commentary is clearly not something I do well!
Greg
Amadinejad, the president of Iran, is essentially a 3rd rate mayor. He has no real power, and everything he's said to date is nothing but bluster. The people who do run Iran, the mullahs, have no reason to risk all out nuclear war with anyone -- they do all this nonsense strictly for domestic consumption.
And, I did support the Iraq war for the first two years. I guess I have a problem with a guy like Saddam who tortures women and children to keep everyone terrorized. Little did I know the Republicans would screw that little Iraqi adventure up so badly.
Keep it coming, sir. I like your insight.
Dear Greg:
We are wasting our time here. Here is my prob with this Iran and nuclear power threat. Assuming that they want to have nuclear weapons which I would assume. Simple self protection if nothing else. We can do nothing to stop them. Only America or Israel either have the military power or the political capital (actually that is doubtful for the US) to have a go at Iran. America is bankrupt and can't afford a second front without a draft. Israel can only do an air strike. They can't put boots on the ground. Also if they screw up and don't get the job done on the first try all hell breaks loose in Middle East and they have to keep their heads down as the retaliation from Syria, Lebanon and Gaza + whoever else rains missiles on them.The only real option IMHO is first use tactical nuclear by US or Israel. This is not likely without some provocation/attack on US soil that can be tied to Iran. Either way the only option we have right now is to bluster and threaten but barring a terrorist attack on US (or perhaps a sinking of a US warship in the gulf) no possibility of war with Iran. AND they darn well know it.
Cheerfully yours,
Chuck H.
In 2003, the attack on Iraq was justified by the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Today, we know this was a lie. (No weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, but the true reason for the invasion of Iraq - oil - was revealed by Greenspan in his most recent book).
No proof exists today that Iran aims to produce nuclear weapons. There are only allegations to that effect. Please note that all US intelligence agencies distance themselves from these allegations. So the situation is even worse than in the case of Iraq. At that time, at least the US intelligence agencies did support the US government. The fact, that the intelligence agencies do not support the claims of the US government is in my opinion reason enough to be extremely cautious. The number of civilian casualties in Iraq is close to one million. Does the US want to repeat a disaster like this in Iran? Only because somebody in the US government can not distinguish between fact and fiction?
I have read your blog regularly but was really put off by your remarks on Iran. As others have said: prove it.
It's interesting that you mention Hiroshima-- remember that the only nation that has ever used nuclear weapons against another nation was the United States. We dropped two bombs on civilian targets then spend the next 60 years blathering on and on about how "others shouldn't have them."
We tell other nations that must produce more oil, yet don't even seem concerned what we're using more of the stuff than anyone else.
We've become a nation of crybabies, losers, cads, whores, shills, sloths, troglodytes, fundamentalists and hypocrites. It's probably too late for us in any case...
Well... Thanks for your comments. Let me have ONE more bight at the apple.
Diplomacy, my dear friends, is gentle art of showing your opponent a big stick and a sweet carrot, and then offering to beat their brains in or feed them delicious goodies while you whisper sweet nothings in their ear.
Some folks HATE this administration so much that they refuse to accept the possibility that their actions might hamper our governments diplomatic missions and INCREASE the probabilities of war.
Where in my post did suggest bombs or boots on the ground?
Finally: It does not matter WHAT I think should be done. I was venting about what I think MIGHT be done, and how we got here. Because fellas, if you think things are fucked up NOW, you ain't seen if we have a go with Iran.
I totally agree with your comment that the war with Iran would cause a complete and total "game over" situation almost overnight. In my opinion only, this civilization is doomed. The only question is how it dies. Slowly being choked to death by an ever tightening noose of scarce oil and food. Or suddenly by having a trapdoor open under it and breaking its neck. The war with Iran is such a trapdoor. Others are a war between India and Pakistan, bird flu, terrorist attack on significant oil infrastructure, etc.
As a very cool guy said once. "Only two things can ruin a man. Bad women, drink, gambling. And thats already three. And there are many, more"
Chuck H.
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