I don't like the actions of these Muslim extremists any more than you do. But, we need to look at the entire Middle East situation with a very critical eye.
Often, it has been said, that there are two sides to every story. When it comes to how we get the news, and what we are lead to believe, there are really three sides to every story; our (U.S.) side, their side (Iran, China, Russia, etc), and the right side.
Since the two sides (U.S & The Others) are posturing themselves for the same thing; oil, I have got to believe there is more to this story than what we are being told. The "right side" is really a matter of who do you believe.
THE NEWS IS NEVER BALANCED
For years CNN was blatantly bias toward the left. It got so ridiculous that an alternative news station was formed to counteract CNN's left wing reporting, and that news channel was FOX.
I try to look at the big picture, and remain open to the idea that anything is possible. I think you have to in order to be an intelligent and successful investor.
I have to admit, I was really attracted to FOX in its first few years, but its become obvious that even they are blatantly bias toward the right. So, once again, everything boils down to "who do you believe".
If you believe as I do that "anything is possible", you really cannot take one side or another since both sides have an agenda, and both sides are bias.
EVERYTHING BOILS DOWN TO MONEY
This Iran situation is very unfortunate, and I believe the situation has more to do with oil, and less to do with nuclear capabilities.
The fear, of course is if Iran builds a nuclear weapon, they may use that weapon against Israel. Israel has nuclear weapons, and is more than capable of defending themselves.
The U.S. seems to be playing a game of "good cop, bad cop" in its defense of Israel. This is a very dangerous strategy for our country since the Israeli military is a very powerful and capable force. If Israel felt threatened, or sensed a clear and present danger, they could annihilate their opponent in short order.
U.S. OIL DOMINANCE IS THREATENED
It looks as if the real rumblings in Iran has more to do with the U.S. losing its dominance over oil, and oil trading.
In his book, "Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar", William R. Clark points out that;
"The proposed Iranian oil bourse signifies that without some sort of U.S. intervention, the euro is going to establish a firm foothold in the international oil trade. Given U.S. debt levels, and the stated neo-conservative project of U.S. global domination, Tehran's objective constitutes an obvious encroachment on the dollars supremacy in the crucial international oil market".
It is rumored that in March 2006, Iran will open its own oil trading exchange that will trade oil in euros, and not dollars.
This being said, we need to again ask ourselves, 努ho do you believe".
If we are considering military action against Iran, would we really be doing it because of nukes, or oil?
If we do take military action, we need to consider what we are getting ourselves into. Read my January 19th post entitled 釘arking up the Wrong Tree". We may be getting ourselves into World War III.
