Today I was reviewing an article about US strategic interests in oil and natural gas put out by ANOTHER think tank (Spero) back in May. Of course, what was said was pure spin and there is a load of illogic in it that the author Ariel Cohen hopes will pass by unnoticed. You could write a paper better than that in 11th grade for your civics class. I may, or may not, write further about it. It pissed me off. While the title implies we are learning about US oil dependency, and many topics are brought up and only paid lip service, what is REALLY in that article is a very strong articulation of all the various options that Iran has to really screw things up for the US partly by its weapons holdings and the training of its military, but also because of its HIGHLY advantageous physical location. They can literally control about 80% of the world's oil supply!! and it just might come to that, too. The paper -- National security consequences of oil dependency -- pays about one phrase's worth of attention to finding diplomatic solutions; the rest is pure hyperbole. But what it does point out is that the US simply must get its allies together in a row and force them (if they want oil) to partake in the next big US imperialistic operation. Send in your ships to the Gulf! Vote to help us stop the Caliphate before it's too late!! Um Humh!!

Ariel Cohen, of the neo-conservative Heritage Foundation, told Newsnight that an opportunity had been missed to privatise Iraq's oil fields.

He advocated the plan as a means to help the US defeat Opec, and said America should have gone ahead with what he called a "no-brainer" decision.

Mr Carroll hit back, telling Newsnight, "I would agree with that statement. To privatize would be a no-brainer. It would only be thought about by someone with no brain." Courtesy, Greg Palast.

The paper lead me to conclude that MOSSAD will be making another run at starting a war with Iran through SOME highly inflammatory act and having the US and whatever allies it can muster do the real dirty work.

Here is the link to the rightwingers picks of the week ..

And this link will take you to the Council on Foreign Relations 'workbook'; be sure to skip right to page 47 where the whole Iran scenario is discussed. James R. Schlesinger is Chair of the Task Force. This should give you a CLUE.

Here is the spin from Hillary Clinton as of today. Hidden in that mass of wordz is an admission that the US is spending lots of money securing the Gulf so YOU can have a "clean" energy future, but that's .. just .. Hillary ... through .. and .. through.

Read what was already up in 2001 here.

The rest of the dogs of war journalists are all jumping on this "hot" topic now, and the 'take' is that Iran would be good to go IF it would just play along and not rock the boat. But the US needs to PLAY its cards; as saber rattling is necessary before it strikes its next victim. Therefore, all these newest posts streaming in overlook the absolute determination of the US to keep its oil pouring in to keep itself and Isreal in charge of the militarization of the world, the Big Boss in the Age of Genocide and Perpetual War; no one else is entitled to even their own resources, particularly energy resources EVEN IF the US cannot even bear to face the fact it needs to make dramatic changes to its OWN energy policy before too long. Even the corporations cannot be SO stupid as to not see that. But policy unthink tanks, are policy paper pushers; that's how their gravy gets on the table. So here is a new piece for you all to think about. I've abbreviated it, so for the rest, just follow the link. It's really the best thing out there today. We don't need to hear from the right wing pundits and we don't need those NOT in the know telling us things that they make up.

There is already a war going on in the Gulf. Only if you REALLY want to understand it, you simply must read the right wingers who are a bit more transparent about it, as they already have their causis belli as well as the money to fund it. It's about NAVIES and the ability of the Iranians to STOP them. -V

Iran Nuke Moves Hint at Interest in Deal

by Gareth Porter

Iran's unexpected agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Mohamed ElBaradei to resolve old issues surrounding its nuclear program in less than two months, and the fact that it has installed only two-thirds of the centrifuges previously announced, indicate that Tehran may be positioning itself for another bid for a diplomatic solution. The IAEA report circulated to board members last week, which is still unpublished but has been leaked to the press, says only 2,000 centrifuges have been activated. In mid-2006 and again in January 2007, Iranian officials had said they planned to have a 3,000-centrifuge cascade by sometime in spring 2007.

More HERE.

On June 5, 2001 US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld explained to troops at Camp Bondsteel what role they played in the new administration's economic strategy. He declared, "How much should we spend on the armed services? ...My view is we don't spend on you, we invest in you. The men and women in the armed services are not a drain on our economic strength. Indeed you safeguard it. You?re not a burden on our economy, you are the critical foundation for growth."