some incoherent rant that I started and never posted... until now
I've been thinking about it, and while I should be sleeping I'm thinking about it some more.
1) It's pretty clear that Iran (if it's even fair to call all of the factions in that country by one name) has no idea wtf is going on. They don't even seem to know where their own borders are, since after they were confronted about this UK marine abduction thing they claimed that it took place in some other location that was also within Iraqi waters. Finally they came out with a 3rd location that was in Iranian waters. If they had any kind of evidence they would have presented it by now. They haven't. Their entire case boils down to... "Nuh uh!"
2) Iran imports 40 percent of its gasoline from abroad.
3) Iran's entire economy is based on oil exports.
So... it might seem like the west has little leverage here, but Iran has equally little leverage. In fact my point is that Iran has much more to lose than the world at large. A few missiles hitting a few pipelines would cripple Iran's economy. Not only that, but they'd soon run out of gasoline if the UN showed some teeth for once and enforced sanctions. This would take about 10 percent of the world's supply of oil offline. Prices would spike. There would have to be some cutbacks. Rich bastards with their 200 gallons per day cigarette-boats might have to go out once every other weekend. Normal folks might pay an extra $5 a week to commute to/from work. That's a Subway sandwich. That's a quarter pounder meal at Mc D's. That's not a huge deal.
Would I put up with some hardship to see these assclowns sidelined? Yes. But, like I said before, I made the choice to live right next to where I work. I pay more rent for it, but I save time in commuting. As part of the deal I emit less carbon and pay for less energy. It's a net win for me. Maybe more people will consider the same.
I'd pay $4.50 a gallon for gas to have Iran sidelined... I walk to work. Maybe if it *was* $4.50 more people would consider moving close to their workplaces.
1) It's pretty clear that Iran (if it's even fair to call all of the factions in that country by one name) has no idea wtf is going on. They don't even seem to know where their own borders are, since after they were confronted about this UK marine abduction thing they claimed that it took place in some other location that was also within Iraqi waters. Finally they came out with a 3rd location that was in Iranian waters. If they had any kind of evidence they would have presented it by now. They haven't. Their entire case boils down to... "Nuh uh!"
2) Iran imports 40 percent of its gasoline from abroad.
3) Iran's entire economy is based on oil exports.
So... it might seem like the west has little leverage here, but Iran has equally little leverage. In fact my point is that Iran has much more to lose than the world at large. A few missiles hitting a few pipelines would cripple Iran's economy. Not only that, but they'd soon run out of gasoline if the UN showed some teeth for once and enforced sanctions. This would take about 10 percent of the world's supply of oil offline. Prices would spike. There would have to be some cutbacks. Rich bastards with their 200 gallons per day cigarette-boats might have to go out once every other weekend. Normal folks might pay an extra $5 a week to commute to/from work. That's a Subway sandwich. That's a quarter pounder meal at Mc D's. That's not a huge deal.
Would I put up with some hardship to see these assclowns sidelined? Yes. But, like I said before, I made the choice to live right next to where I work. I pay more rent for it, but I save time in commuting. As part of the deal I emit less carbon and pay for less energy. It's a net win for me. Maybe more people will consider the same.
I'd pay $4.50 a gallon for gas to have Iran sidelined... I walk to work. Maybe if it *was* $4.50 more people would consider moving close to their workplaces.