This also makes me hopeful of the new leadership of North Korea. This marks a possibility that Kim Jong-un might be taking his country in an entirely different direction than his father was, and may give the North Korean people and the peninsula greater stability in the future.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Nuclear Progress
Only a week after I made a post about the threat of nuclear weapons, we finally have some progress towards diminishing the threat. As reported by Al Jazeera, North Korea has suspended it's nuclear programme in exchange for US food aid. I don't see anything in here about decommissioning it's present nuclear arsenal, but at least it's a step in the right direction. It is not to be forgotten that the US (and other nations) is still developing nuclear arms, and should also be suspending it's own weapons programs.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Santorum Is Not An Apologist
As reported by the Daily Mail, US Republican presidential runner Rick Santorum made a comment the other day where he states his opinion of Barrack Obama's apology to the Afghan people over the burning of a pile of Koran's. This incident ignited Afghan tempers and has caused riots and protests all over the country, and has resulted in the death of four US servicemen and the wounding of eight others, as well as the deaths of thirty Afghans.
Rick Santorum's stance: Obama was wrong to apologize, it made him and the US look weak. My position on this is that the Commander-In-Chief (the US President) is totally responsible for the actions of his/her subordinates. He states that the burning of the Koran was not a crime, but a mistake. It is a mistake that should not have been made, for which the president is responsible, and for which he and the people involved must be accountable for. Not only does this show that Santorum does not share this opinion, it also shows his complete lack of sensitivity and regard for the values and culture of Muslims. With Santorum being such a strong Christian, would he be as quick to denounce the burning of a pile of Bibles?
His audacity grows further when he demands an apology from Hamid Karzai and the Afghan people for the resulting deaths of the US servicemen. His view of these events and his obvious ignorance of Islam can only be a further danger to the American people if this man is elected president, as his policies are sure to be unsympathetic to Muslims and result in more suffering at the hand of the "War On Terror", especially because his views on Iran are very hawkish.
No Evidence Should Mean No Action
As reported by the New York Times via Democracy Now, US Intelligence Analysts are maintaining that there is no hard evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. I just hope that lessons of history, even recent history, are not lost on the American public. Let us not forget that the entire country was duped into launching an illegal invasion of Iraq based on the same rhetoric and hearsay that is being aimed at Iran. Although this time the US doesn't have the receipt for these WMD's.
High Frequency Trading
Here is an interesting article on the problem of High Frequency Trading(FHT). For those who are not familiar with the term, FHT is a trading action used by large banks that utilizes computer algorithms to instantly recognize key market data and make transactions based on movements in that information, effectively allowing the bank to instantly trade on share price movements. This generates huge profits, as the banks have the capital needed to make a profit on a miniscule price move.
The problem with this system is the huge contribution in market volatility, notably so in the May 6, 2010 Flash Crash, where the Dow Jones nearly instantly plunged six hundred points. I remember this being attributed to a "fat finger", but to me it looked like a near catastrophic failure of this system, which I'm sure has minimal security measures installed.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
What Can You Do?
It seems intimidating to think about standing up to the government as just one person, and usually the question "how can I make a difference?" comes to mind. We must realize that we, the people that live in democratic societies, have the control. It's through your freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to protest, and above all, freedom to vote. This is a right you are entitled to, and should not take for granted, for it is the only way to true freedom.
I am sad to see that it is taken for granted in my country. In the 2008 Canadian Federal Election, only 58.8% of registered voters went to the polls to vote. In the 2011 Federal Election, that number rose slightly 61.4%. That means that 38.6% of people did not vote; over a third of the population. I understand that some people have no interest in politics, but they must also understand that a simple vote can make a huge difference in the every day life of their country, because there is not one aspect of it that is untouched by government or society. With the huge amounts of information at our fingertips and our every day lives, anyone can do some research about a political party within minutes.
If you don't like something, protest! Governments, especially the US, love lazy, impressionable people. Why? Because they don't speak up. They don't have the willpower to get off the couch and get in the streets with signs that bear slogans of their unhappiness with government policy. This is a privilege our freedom provides us, and should also not be taken for granted. If I'm not convincing enough, I'm going to cite the example of Khader Adnan, a Palestinian prisoner who just won his freedom from Israeli Administrative Detention (arrested with no warrant and held indefinitely); his form of protest a hunger strike that lasted sixty six days and almost cost him his life. While I'm not encouraging people to starve themselves in the name of Democracy, I do support Khaders statement, his bravery, and his non-violent way of protesting against oppression. He is an example to us all of the power that we all possess.
I am sad to see that it is taken for granted in my country. In the 2008 Canadian Federal Election, only 58.8% of registered voters went to the polls to vote. In the 2011 Federal Election, that number rose slightly 61.4%. That means that 38.6% of people did not vote; over a third of the population. I understand that some people have no interest in politics, but they must also understand that a simple vote can make a huge difference in the every day life of their country, because there is not one aspect of it that is untouched by government or society. With the huge amounts of information at our fingertips and our every day lives, anyone can do some research about a political party within minutes.
If you don't like something, protest! Governments, especially the US, love lazy, impressionable people. Why? Because they don't speak up. They don't have the willpower to get off the couch and get in the streets with signs that bear slogans of their unhappiness with government policy. This is a privilege our freedom provides us, and should also not be taken for granted. If I'm not convincing enough, I'm going to cite the example of Khader Adnan, a Palestinian prisoner who just won his freedom from Israeli Administrative Detention (arrested with no warrant and held indefinitely); his form of protest a hunger strike that lasted sixty six days and almost cost him his life. While I'm not encouraging people to starve themselves in the name of Democracy, I do support Khaders statement, his bravery, and his non-violent way of protesting against oppression. He is an example to us all of the power that we all possess.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Nuclear Weapons
In lieu of the events concerning Iran and it's nuclear programme, I'd like to write a piece on nuclear weapons. I'll start out by saying nuclear war is the single biggest threat to Humanity and the Earth, far surpassing the long term threat of Global Warming.
There is so much talk of the threat of nuclear weapons from Iran, but I counter that the biggest threat to the world by nuclear weapons comes from the United States. It's aggressive foreign policy stance to the rest of the world forces the development of nuclear weapons as a deterrent to it's hegemony. Threats of a no fly zone over Russia's ally, Syria, by the US have been responded to with threats by Russia:
"First, I am instructing the Defense Ministry to immediately put the missile attack early warning radar station in Kaliningrad on combat alert. Second, protective cover of Russia's strategic nuclear weapons, will be reinforced as a priority measure under the programme to develop out air and space defenses. Third, the new strategic ballistic missiles commissioned by the Strategic Missile Forces and the Navy will be equipped with advanced missile defense penetration systems and new highly-effective warheads. Fourth, I have instructed the Armed Forces to draw up measures for disabling missile defense system data and guidance systems if need be... Fifth, if the above measures prove insufficient, the Russian Federation will deploy modern offensive weapon systems in the west and south of the country, ensuring our ability to take out any part of the US missile defense system, in Europe. One step in this process will be to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad Region. Other measures to counter the European missile defense system will be drawn up and implemented as necessary. Furthermore, if the situation continues to develop not in Russia's favor we reserve the right to discontinue further disarmament and arms control measures. Besides, given the intrinsic link between strategic offensive and defensive arms, conditions for our withdrawal from the New START Treaty could also arise.
How blatant of a threat is this statement? They're saying "we're ready and willing to use our nukes", and nobody flinches an inch. If you ask me, we're getting close to the threat level that was present during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Never before during the Cold War was NATO influence such a threat to Russian interests, and now that Russia is being backed into a corner, they are showing their nuclear armed teeth.
Lately the US has taken steps to undermine Russia's strategic position, which has to do what it can to protect that, either by developing new nuclear weapons system more efficient in destruction or threatening to use the ones it currently has. It's pursuit of a missile defence shield in Europe greatly undermines global security, as can be seen in the Russian response it provoked, basically again reactivating the first strike doctrine. Claims of the defence shield being used to protect Europe against Iran are nonsense, as utilization of Russian radar stations would be a more viable and buffered defence option.
Let's not forget that the Middle East's most aggressive and rouge nation possesses the only and very large stockpile of nuclear arms. That nation is Israel. Israel has refused to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), thus refusing to reduce it's nuclear arms. There have been two times where Israel has almost launched nuclear weapons; nuclear armed F4 Phantoms and missile launchers were put on 24 hour alert in case Israeli ground forces were overrun, and in 1991 when Saddam Hussein launched SCUD missiles against Israel, it's mobile nuclear missile launchers were deployed and put on nuclear alert.
Claims of strikes against Iran are necessary in order to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapon material from Iran are unbalanced, for the greatest threat of this comes from a US ally: Pakistan. Jihadists have a permanent presence in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and have shown their ability to conduct operations almost freely within the country when they assassinated Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and occupied the Swat Valley in 2009. The risk here of terrorists capturing nuclear material or weapons and exporting them for use against US or NATO targets is the greatest in the world. A nuclear detonation in an American city would have disastrous consequences for the world, as the American military would be itching to pull push the launch button against anyone it could find to blame.
We must even question the fail safe systems for these weapons or their facilities. Human error is always a factor, and cannot be eliminated. How smart is it to gamble on these odds with weapons that could spell extinction for the entire Human race?
There is so much talk of the threat of nuclear weapons from Iran, but I counter that the biggest threat to the world by nuclear weapons comes from the United States. It's aggressive foreign policy stance to the rest of the world forces the development of nuclear weapons as a deterrent to it's hegemony. Threats of a no fly zone over Russia's ally, Syria, by the US have been responded to with threats by Russia:
"First, I am instructing the Defense Ministry to immediately put the missile attack early warning radar station in Kaliningrad on combat alert. Second, protective cover of Russia's strategic nuclear weapons, will be reinforced as a priority measure under the programme to develop out air and space defenses. Third, the new strategic ballistic missiles commissioned by the Strategic Missile Forces and the Navy will be equipped with advanced missile defense penetration systems and new highly-effective warheads. Fourth, I have instructed the Armed Forces to draw up measures for disabling missile defense system data and guidance systems if need be... Fifth, if the above measures prove insufficient, the Russian Federation will deploy modern offensive weapon systems in the west and south of the country, ensuring our ability to take out any part of the US missile defense system, in Europe. One step in this process will be to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad Region. Other measures to counter the European missile defense system will be drawn up and implemented as necessary. Furthermore, if the situation continues to develop not in Russia's favor we reserve the right to discontinue further disarmament and arms control measures. Besides, given the intrinsic link between strategic offensive and defensive arms, conditions for our withdrawal from the New START Treaty could also arise.
How blatant of a threat is this statement? They're saying "we're ready and willing to use our nukes", and nobody flinches an inch. If you ask me, we're getting close to the threat level that was present during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Never before during the Cold War was NATO influence such a threat to Russian interests, and now that Russia is being backed into a corner, they are showing their nuclear armed teeth.
Lately the US has taken steps to undermine Russia's strategic position, which has to do what it can to protect that, either by developing new nuclear weapons system more efficient in destruction or threatening to use the ones it currently has. It's pursuit of a missile defence shield in Europe greatly undermines global security, as can be seen in the Russian response it provoked, basically again reactivating the first strike doctrine. Claims of the defence shield being used to protect Europe against Iran are nonsense, as utilization of Russian radar stations would be a more viable and buffered defence option.
Let's not forget that the Middle East's most aggressive and rouge nation possesses the only and very large stockpile of nuclear arms. That nation is Israel. Israel has refused to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), thus refusing to reduce it's nuclear arms. There have been two times where Israel has almost launched nuclear weapons; nuclear armed F4 Phantoms and missile launchers were put on 24 hour alert in case Israeli ground forces were overrun, and in 1991 when Saddam Hussein launched SCUD missiles against Israel, it's mobile nuclear missile launchers were deployed and put on nuclear alert.
Claims of strikes against Iran are necessary in order to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapon material from Iran are unbalanced, for the greatest threat of this comes from a US ally: Pakistan. Jihadists have a permanent presence in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and have shown their ability to conduct operations almost freely within the country when they assassinated Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and occupied the Swat Valley in 2009. The risk here of terrorists capturing nuclear material or weapons and exporting them for use against US or NATO targets is the greatest in the world. A nuclear detonation in an American city would have disastrous consequences for the world, as the American military would be itching to pull push the launch button against anyone it could find to blame.
We must even question the fail safe systems for these weapons or their facilities. Human error is always a factor, and cannot be eliminated. How smart is it to gamble on these odds with weapons that could spell extinction for the entire Human race?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Dismal Future for the Greek People
Here are just a few of the conditions of the bailout of Greek debt[1]:
-A 22% reduction of the minimum wage
-Cuts in state pension plans
-Immediate job cuts for as many as 15,000 workers
I'm worried about this sparking a humanitarian crisis in Greece. With 50% of the young population unemployed, it is literally a lost generation. Homeless and poverty rates are sure to rise with these cuts. And as the tax base is slowly eroded, this can only get worse and take longer and longer to stabilize. A hiring freeze has been imposed on state employment, which includes the health care system. That means no more doctors being hired, possibly leading to a brain drain on the country as new graduates leave Greece in search for work abroad. The quality of health care can only decline as this happens.
We should also not forget the lessons of history here, especially that desperate times call for desperate measures, and these desperate conditions are exactly the kind that are susceptible to breeding totalitarian and oppressive regimes, ie Nazi Germany and the Pinochet Regime in Chile. With half of the youth unemployed and angry, with nothing to do but think and dissent, the prospects of this are dangerous.
-A 22% reduction of the minimum wage
-Cuts in state pension plans
-Immediate job cuts for as many as 15,000 workers
I'm worried about this sparking a humanitarian crisis in Greece. With 50% of the young population unemployed, it is literally a lost generation. Homeless and poverty rates are sure to rise with these cuts. And as the tax base is slowly eroded, this can only get worse and take longer and longer to stabilize. A hiring freeze has been imposed on state employment, which includes the health care system. That means no more doctors being hired, possibly leading to a brain drain on the country as new graduates leave Greece in search for work abroad. The quality of health care can only decline as this happens.
We should also not forget the lessons of history here, especially that desperate times call for desperate measures, and these desperate conditions are exactly the kind that are susceptible to breeding totalitarian and oppressive regimes, ie Nazi Germany and the Pinochet Regime in Chile. With half of the youth unemployed and angry, with nothing to do but think and dissent, the prospects of this are dangerous.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tipping
Another positive aspect I've noticed about Australian society is their attitude toward tipping. It's not expected, and hardly practised. I believe tipping is an inefficient system within society, and harmful to the average citizen. It's essentially a form of tax, an employer subsidy courtesy of the consumer. Instead of being paid a fair wage, the employee relies upon tips from patrons instead of their relatively low base wage. This is basically a robbery during times of economic hardship, when less business leads to less tips and thus less money in the pocket of the employee, who can't rely on an average industry hourly rate of $7.91-11.49[1] (unlike Australia, where service workers are paid close to $20 an hour) to survive, let alone support a family.
One could argue that tipping encourages better service and harder work, but I must ask, is it really worth how much we pay for gratuity? I believe more responsibility for compensation should be shifted to the employer, with mandatory wage rises for the services where tipping is common. This would leave money in the consumers pocket and provide more secure employment for people in the service industry.
One could argue that tipping encourages better service and harder work, but I must ask, is it really worth how much we pay for gratuity? I believe more responsibility for compensation should be shifted to the employer, with mandatory wage rises for the services where tipping is common. This would leave money in the consumers pocket and provide more secure employment for people in the service industry.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Greece Saved?
As reported by Zero Hedge, Greece is not as "saved" from it's debt crisis as everyone thinks. I don't see how this will save the Eurozone, as the same problems with Italy and Spain are not far down the road.
One piece of the article was particularly interesting to me:
Once growth did recover, fiscal policy achieved its target, and privatization picked up, the debt would begin to slowly decline.
I'm hoping this doesn't mean privatization of basic services such as utilities, which will undoubtedly lead to unfair pricing as they did after the privatization of the water supply in Bolivia in the 1990's, which effectively increased poverty and caused popular uprisings and was finally socialized again. This privatization was a requirement imposed on Bolivia by the World Bank in order to secure further state loans that were needed to "save" it's economy. Sounds familiar, doesn't it Greece???
One piece of the article was particularly interesting to me:
Once growth did recover, fiscal policy achieved its target, and privatization picked up, the debt would begin to slowly decline.
I'm hoping this doesn't mean privatization of basic services such as utilities, which will undoubtedly lead to unfair pricing as they did after the privatization of the water supply in Bolivia in the 1990's, which effectively increased poverty and caused popular uprisings and was finally socialized again. This privatization was a requirement imposed on Bolivia by the World Bank in order to secure further state loans that were needed to "save" it's economy. Sounds familiar, doesn't it Greece???
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Has the US Finally Come to It's Senses?
Al-Jazeera reported today that the US and UK are urging Israel not to strike Iran. Is this a sign of the US backing down, or is it simply an act of throwing the ball back in Iran's court, forcing them to make the next move towards "peace" or war? I'm sure we'll see in the next week when STRATFOR releases it's report on the location of US carriers.
Collateral Damage of a Sad State of Affairs
From the Telegraph:
With Greek morale at rock bottom, the national mood darkened yet further after armed thieves looted a museum on Friday in Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, and stole bronze and pottery artefacts - just weeks after the country's National Gallery was burgled.
One Greek newspaper suggested the state could no longer properly look after the nation's immense cultural heritage. "The Greek state has gone bankrupt, let's face it," the conservative daily Kathimerini said in an editorial.
"If the state cannot guard the country's great cultural heritage for financial or other reasons it must find other ways to do it."
This is truly a scourge on European history, past and present. To see cultural treasures of Ancient Greece pillaged with no remorse is both pathetic and regrettable. It is comparable to Nazi destruction of Italian historical sites in WWII. I however, blame Germany, the Eurozone countries and banks pushing for a bailout of Greece. They're demands of wage cuts, pension decreases and other strangulative measures on the Greek people shows the indifference to their treatment of those people, and how violent the consequences of these treatments are bound to become. As it looks now, no amount of molotov cocktails are going to stop this bailout from happening. It looks as the future of Greek sovereignty is a bleak one.
With Greek morale at rock bottom, the national mood darkened yet further after armed thieves looted a museum on Friday in Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, and stole bronze and pottery artefacts - just weeks after the country's National Gallery was burgled.
One Greek newspaper suggested the state could no longer properly look after the nation's immense cultural heritage. "The Greek state has gone bankrupt, let's face it," the conservative daily Kathimerini said in an editorial.
"If the state cannot guard the country's great cultural heritage for financial or other reasons it must find other ways to do it."
This is truly a scourge on European history, past and present. To see cultural treasures of Ancient Greece pillaged with no remorse is both pathetic and regrettable. It is comparable to Nazi destruction of Italian historical sites in WWII. I however, blame Germany, the Eurozone countries and banks pushing for a bailout of Greece. They're demands of wage cuts, pension decreases and other strangulative measures on the Greek people shows the indifference to their treatment of those people, and how violent the consequences of these treatments are bound to become. As it looks now, no amount of molotov cocktails are going to stop this bailout from happening. It looks as the future of Greek sovereignty is a bleak one.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Canadian - Chinese Trade
Last week Prime Minister Stephen Harper concluded a trade mission with China (here), which will open the way for more trade and investment between the two countries. I commend this act, simply because I like to see our trade diverted from US business and NAFTA, which is basically an agreement for American business to buy ours as well as reap and pillage our abundant natural resources, undermine our sovereignty, and strip us of our ability to manage resources by policy action.
I just hope that this doesn't turn into another Free Trade agreement that allows China to do the exact same thing as the US, although I am more comfortable with Chinese foreign policy than I am with that of the US.
I just hope that this doesn't turn into another Free Trade agreement that allows China to do the exact same thing as the US, although I am more comfortable with Chinese foreign policy than I am with that of the US.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Australian Working Man
During my stay in Australia, I have come to appreciate the work environment that the Australian workers have maintained for themselves. Compared to Canada, the workplace is very relaxed here, nobody seems in a rush to do much. While at home we would regard this as inefficient, is it really so? Most of the work force is employed and enjoys a high rate of pay, supported by a relatively high minimum wage of $15.51 per hour. Is not keeping everyone employed and well supported not an aim for the benefit of the people?
Unions here seem much stronger and better supported than in Canada. One example of this is the major strike actions and subsequent company actions between Qantas, the primary Australian airline, and it's unionised workers, which involved a grounding of it's fleet and a lockout of employees[1]. I believe in a business world where company profits a held as priority above all else, these strong unions will play an essential role in the protection and welfare of the employee.
Another very important thing to note is how the Australian government handles the labour market. It's really quite impressive, and I commend them for the job they've done. Instead of allowing labour to become casualised for it's citizens, as it has in the United States, it has instead implemented working holiday programs to utilize cheap labour provided by foreign tourists who don't mind working for no benefits and lower wage in less desirable positions. In this way they have created an incredibly dynamic workforce where the citizens can enjoy permanent employment with benefits, thus keeping the money and welfare in the citizen's hands.
Unions here seem much stronger and better supported than in Canada. One example of this is the major strike actions and subsequent company actions between Qantas, the primary Australian airline, and it's unionised workers, which involved a grounding of it's fleet and a lockout of employees[1]. I believe in a business world where company profits a held as priority above all else, these strong unions will play an essential role in the protection and welfare of the employee.
Another very important thing to note is how the Australian government handles the labour market. It's really quite impressive, and I commend them for the job they've done. Instead of allowing labour to become casualised for it's citizens, as it has in the United States, it has instead implemented working holiday programs to utilize cheap labour provided by foreign tourists who don't mind working for no benefits and lower wage in less desirable positions. In this way they have created an incredibly dynamic workforce where the citizens can enjoy permanent employment with benefits, thus keeping the money and welfare in the citizen's hands.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Iranian Threat
For the past year we have been bombarded by the media with reports about how much of a threat Iran and it's nuclear programme present to the world. While Iran claims it's nuclear ambitions are purely civil in nature, the west, and Israel, believes it is seeking to produce nuclear weapons. While this is most likely true, it is clearly meant to function as a deterrent to US regional ambitions and aggressions.
First, let's look at Iran's strategic position:
This map is the US Central Command area
It is sandwiched between an array of countries allied to the US, including two that have suffered recent US-led military invasions, one still ongoing. Here are US troop deployments in those countries as follows[1]:
Afghanistan: 109,200 personnel, not including coalition strength. Combat operations ongoing.
Azerbaijan: 11 personnel
Bahrain: 2142 personnel and the support base for the US 5th Fleet
Iraq: All US troops withdrawn 12/2011
Kuwait: I can't find anything on current US troop deployments here, but since Kuwait was the exit route for US forces from Iraq, I'm sure there are still a few there.
Qatar: 621 personnel
Oman: 33 personnel
Saudi Arabia: 274 personnel
Turkey: 1491 personnel
Turkmenistan: 5 personnel
United Arab Emirates: 151 personnel
Pakistan is a current ally of the War on Terror, and a channel for the supply of the US war in Afghanistan. It is effectively isolated, it's strategic position nothing short of precarious. It's easy to see that Iran is a threat to US domination in the Middle East, and control of the vast energy reserves, much of which resides in Iranian territory. Iran has the worlds third largest natural gas reserves and has the world's fourth largest oil reserves [2][3]. This country has been a thorn in the side of US policy ever since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the autocratic government installed by the US and British in 1953. The autocracy of Pahlavi had been installed in the US/British orchestrated coup of the democratically elected government in response to their nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which removed control of the vast oil reserves from the British Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Pahlavi ruled for 26 years and was responsible for many human rights violations, most of them committed by his secret police organization, SAVAK. Iranian support in Lebanon has also been a problem for Israel and it's regional ambitions.
Over the past year the US and Israel have openly threatened Iran with military action and committed many provocations, including airspace violation by US drones[4], US naval build up in the Straights of Hormuz[5], the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists[6], and violent sabotage against Iranian nuclear facilities[7], an oil embargo by the Eurozone, and sanctions imposed on financial institutions dealing with Iran's Central Bank[8].
Iranian has responded by conducting military exercises in the Straights of Hormuz, which it threatens to forcibly close if hostilities break out, and in result effectively skyrocketing world oil prices. There have recently been attacks on Israeli diplomats abroad[9], which include a possible link to an Iranian man who blew his legs off with a hand grenade in Bangkok. Through all of this Iran has still progressed with it's nuclear programme, defying Western interests. Just today they announced they had added three thousand centrifuges, bring up the total to nine thousand[10]
If Western accusations prove true and Iran does acquire a nuclear weapon, it would surely not be used in a first strike role. Launching a nuclear weapon in an act of aggression would spell suicide for the Iranian government, it's people, and it's country. A launch would polarize the world against Iran and would surely result in a massively supported war against the regime that would end up in the virtual destruction of the country. I believe that the threat to world peace as a result of this issue lies more with the US and Israel ambitions rather than the ambitions of Iran. I do fear the effects of a strike against Iran. It's easy to see that the increase in Islamic terrorism and the declining view of Arab's towards the US and it's allies after the 2003 invasion of Iraq would surely be the case after military action against Iran, serving to turn more and more people to violent action against the US to protect their homeland and countrymen, and possibly furthering movement towards Islamic extremism.
While I do not support the Islamic Fundamentalist regime, nor do I support actions taken by it against it's citizens or the world, I also understand it's position and do not support naked acts of aggression against it by the US-led West, and I believe that without these actions and the hostility displayed against Iran, there would be no need for nuclear deterrent.
First, let's look at Iran's strategic position:
This map is the US Central Command area
It is sandwiched between an array of countries allied to the US, including two that have suffered recent US-led military invasions, one still ongoing. Here are US troop deployments in those countries as follows[1]:
Afghanistan: 109,200 personnel, not including coalition strength. Combat operations ongoing.
Azerbaijan: 11 personnel
Bahrain: 2142 personnel and the support base for the US 5th Fleet
Iraq: All US troops withdrawn 12/2011
Kuwait: I can't find anything on current US troop deployments here, but since Kuwait was the exit route for US forces from Iraq, I'm sure there are still a few there.
Qatar: 621 personnel
Oman: 33 personnel
Saudi Arabia: 274 personnel
Turkey: 1491 personnel
Turkmenistan: 5 personnel
United Arab Emirates: 151 personnel
Pakistan is a current ally of the War on Terror, and a channel for the supply of the US war in Afghanistan. It is effectively isolated, it's strategic position nothing short of precarious. It's easy to see that Iran is a threat to US domination in the Middle East, and control of the vast energy reserves, much of which resides in Iranian territory. Iran has the worlds third largest natural gas reserves and has the world's fourth largest oil reserves [2][3]. This country has been a thorn in the side of US policy ever since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the autocratic government installed by the US and British in 1953. The autocracy of Pahlavi had been installed in the US/British orchestrated coup of the democratically elected government in response to their nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which removed control of the vast oil reserves from the British Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Pahlavi ruled for 26 years and was responsible for many human rights violations, most of them committed by his secret police organization, SAVAK. Iranian support in Lebanon has also been a problem for Israel and it's regional ambitions.
Over the past year the US and Israel have openly threatened Iran with military action and committed many provocations, including airspace violation by US drones[4], US naval build up in the Straights of Hormuz[5], the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists[6], and violent sabotage against Iranian nuclear facilities[7], an oil embargo by the Eurozone, and sanctions imposed on financial institutions dealing with Iran's Central Bank[8].
Iranian has responded by conducting military exercises in the Straights of Hormuz, which it threatens to forcibly close if hostilities break out, and in result effectively skyrocketing world oil prices. There have recently been attacks on Israeli diplomats abroad[9], which include a possible link to an Iranian man who blew his legs off with a hand grenade in Bangkok. Through all of this Iran has still progressed with it's nuclear programme, defying Western interests. Just today they announced they had added three thousand centrifuges, bring up the total to nine thousand[10]
If Western accusations prove true and Iran does acquire a nuclear weapon, it would surely not be used in a first strike role. Launching a nuclear weapon in an act of aggression would spell suicide for the Iranian government, it's people, and it's country. A launch would polarize the world against Iran and would surely result in a massively supported war against the regime that would end up in the virtual destruction of the country. I believe that the threat to world peace as a result of this issue lies more with the US and Israel ambitions rather than the ambitions of Iran. I do fear the effects of a strike against Iran. It's easy to see that the increase in Islamic terrorism and the declining view of Arab's towards the US and it's allies after the 2003 invasion of Iraq would surely be the case after military action against Iran, serving to turn more and more people to violent action against the US to protect their homeland and countrymen, and possibly furthering movement towards Islamic extremism.
While I do not support the Islamic Fundamentalist regime, nor do I support actions taken by it against it's citizens or the world, I also understand it's position and do not support naked acts of aggression against it by the US-led West, and I believe that without these actions and the hostility displayed against Iran, there would be no need for nuclear deterrent.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Opening Post
For years I have had an interest in politics and social issues. In high school, Social Studies was my strongest subject, and class that I enjoyed attending the most, probably the only class that I never skipped. In my adult years and my developing maturity I went through transformations in my political and social viewpoints, primarily having a conservative viewpoint until the 2008 financial crisis, where I became very interested in economics and started to favour socialisation, and now my viewpoint is definitely in the realm of libertarian socialism.
I now see that the world is far from true democratic freedom, mostly at the behest of the government of the United States of America, by for the world's leading superpower. While my native Canada is still far from the political atmosphere that dominates the USA, I do see it as being threatened to forcibly adopt policies that would threaten our freedoms, one example being through treaties such as NAFTA.
I have started this blog as an outlet for my frustrations at the world, and as an attempt to shed some light on what is really happening in it. While my intention is not to force my political viewpoints, I do intend to spread awareness, because I believe that awareness is the first step to instituting change, which is definitely in our power as citizens of a democratic society that is obligated to practice the policies it preaches.
I now see that the world is far from true democratic freedom, mostly at the behest of the government of the United States of America, by for the world's leading superpower. While my native Canada is still far from the political atmosphere that dominates the USA, I do see it as being threatened to forcibly adopt policies that would threaten our freedoms, one example being through treaties such as NAFTA.
I have started this blog as an outlet for my frustrations at the world, and as an attempt to shed some light on what is really happening in it. While my intention is not to force my political viewpoints, I do intend to spread awareness, because I believe that awareness is the first step to instituting change, which is definitely in our power as citizens of a democratic society that is obligated to practice the policies it preaches.
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