Three Things About Iran

1) Oil closed above $70 a barrel today. The two most-cited reasons being supply disruptions in Nigeria and diplomatic tension between Western nations and Iran.

2) Iran is the fourth largest (as of 2004, since 2005 numbers haven't been crunched yet) exporter of oil in the world.
3) Iran has been deliberately pronouncing its intentions lately:
        a) Exercises in the Gulf showcasing advanced weaponry - super fast torpedoes and stealth missiles
        b) Development of nuclear program and successful uranium enrichment
        c) Pronouncement of extreme hatred of Israel and warning of the nation's impending annihilation
Which has led to increased fears regarding Iran in the West and subsequent increases in world oil prices.

Who's profiting from global fears? Is Iran practicing a sort of economic terrorism? Is oil our Kryptonite?

Reflections of Nixon/Iran Rattles its Saber, Again

It's like Nixon, but different.

News reports today are awash in the latest political scandal to plague the Bush administration, that Bush approved the release of National Intelligence information to the New York Times. Wow. It just keeps getting better and better. No White House has been more reviled and plagued with controversy since Nixon. It will be interesting to see how history textbooks will describe the Bush legacy. I'm predicting respectful with no/slight hint of criticism. Textbooks are meant to be objective. Keyword="Meant." Historians, on the other hand, will have a field day dissecting and deconstructing the Bush Administration for a long time. Barring the threat of nuclear holocaust, of course.

Saber Rattling from Iran

Is it that Iran is following the North Korea model or does North Korea follow the Iranian model? Either way both nations have long histories of loudly lauding their accomplishments on the world stage in order to frighten other nations into giving concessions. Not much has been heard from North Korea lately. Much has been heard from Iran. This is a common tactic. Next time you're in the supermarket, observe how the children react when mom or dad tells them they can't have anything, breath-holding/throwing objects/pouting/crying/screaming "I hate you" always ensues. Weak parents (those whose self-confidence is determined by their child's opinion of them) will give in. Strong parents will not. Lesson for the United States and its allies: See through the BS, but keep a wary eye out for wayward objects thrown your way.