Soj's diary on the Iranian bourse disturbed me and much thanks for that diary indeed. Apparently, the Iranian Euro-based oil exchange (Bourse), slated to compete with the dollar-based NYMEX stock exchange and with the London IPE exchange this spring, could deliver a massive blow to the US dollar and we American workers.
This means that the dollar is fucked if this new exchange starts trading oil in Euros. And guess who will first in line: China, the second largest holder of US dollars in the world, and who holds said dollars in order to buy, among other things, oil. But mostly for oil.
This means that a recession is almost inevitable due to a dollar devaluation in response to the bourse opening... and keep in mind that the yield curve finally inverted last week, AND the Ruskies, who bankroll the Iranian nuke program, might turn off the gas spigot in 3 days, initiating another worldwide fuel crisis. The London Times is ominously calling this article "Fears of a new cold war as Russia threatens to switch off gas."
The Russian/ Ukraine natural gas crisis that could start this Sunday could seriously affect Europe who gets 40% of their gas via the Ukrainian pipeline and,
Keep in mind that the Russians bankroll most of the Iranian nuk-u-lar program (Bushco, this one DOES actually exist!). And Iraq was a gift to:
- Terrorists who get money from Saudi Arabia
- Russia, who is centralizing strategic businesses much like a Bush-manipulated faux-democracy
- Iran, the people that will actually get nukes real soon, and who now scoff at the idea of a US invasion due to the bogged-down Iraq situation.
- The US can't or won't say shit about this because Bush "knows Putin's soul" and wants Russian oil for when the Iranians cut the US out of the bourse (when they are referred to the UN)...
Finally, let me repeat: PLENTY of oil profits go to terrorists. PLENTY. Rich Wahabist Saudi tycoons and Bushco heck-of-a-job Exxon goons pay for terrorists, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Repub oil companies support terrorism and they manipulate markets for profit. It's that simple. They are an abomination and must be stopped.
Democrats need to tar Republicans as oil-for-traitor, Middle East funding terrorists.
And don't EVER forget how Big Oil turned their backs on a fallen US city.
After all, they call us terrorist sympathizers almost daily so why not grow some fucking balls Democrats huh?
Democrats, while rightly calling Republicans traitors, need to make a New Deal level of push for alternative fuels, especially wind and biomass fuels of which hemp produces the most biomass per acre of any crop, but which doesn't require much pesticides or fertilizers.
If you didn't click on the link to the Russian/ Ukraine news, do so.
Summation: Besides being screwed in the spring due to the Iranian Bourse, 80% of Europe's natural gas from Russia goes through Ukraine's pipline, the Russians are ostensibly going to turn off the tap at 10am on Sunday, 3 days from now (afterwhich the Ukrainians say they will impose a 15% surcharge, paid with Russian pipeline oil, on all shipments to Europe who are dealing with a deep freeze right now)...
2006 is shaping up to be a year to dread IMO...