Taylor J. Smith
Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:29:06 -0700
Hi All, Now Mohamed ElBaradei follows in the footsteps of Admiral Fallon. Jack Smith Ed Storms wrote on 6-20-08: ``If you would like to understand the irrational thinking that drives the policy with respect to Iran and Israel, read this article.'' http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/06/iran-neocons-sa.html ``NEWS ARTICLE from The Los Angeles Times, 6-19-08, IRAN: Stop nukes by bombing oil wells, neocons suggest Why attack Iran's nuclear facilities when striking their oil infrastructure would be much more effective in the scope of a US-led preventive war? Sure, oil prices might skyrocket and the world economy might collapse. But, hey, that's the price you pay for security ...'' -------------- http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/nuclear-chief-warns-against-strike-on-iran/2008/06/22/1214073053820.html NEWS ARTICLE from The Sydney Morning Herald, 6-23-08, by Agence France Presse, Reuters ``Nuclear chief warns against strike on Iran DUBAI: The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog has warned that an attack on Iran over its nuclear program would turn the region into a fireball.. Mohamed ElBaradei also warned he would not be able to continue in his role as director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency if the Islamic republic were attacked. "A military strike [against Iran] would in my opinion be worse than anything else. It would transform the Middle East region into a ball of fire," he said in an interview with Al-Arabiya television. The New York Times on Friday quoted US officials as saying a big Israeli military exercise this month, involving more than 100 fighter jets in the Mediterranean, seemed to be a preparation for a potential strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. In Athens, an official with the Greek Air Force's central command confirmed the substance of the report, stating that Greek units had taken part in "joint training exercises" with Israel off the Mediterranean island of Crete ... Dr. ElBaradei said any attack would simply harden Iran's position in its row with the West over its nuclear program. "A military strike would spark the launch of an emergency program to make atomic weapons, with the support of all Iranians, including those living abroad," he said ...'' ------------------- http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-saudi23-2008jun23,0,4540236.story NEWS ARTICLE from The Los Angeles Times, 6-23-08, By Sebastian Abbot, The Associated Press ``Saudi Arabia makes vague pledge to boost oil output JIDDA, SAUDI ARABIA -- Facing strong U.S. pressure and global dismay over oil prices, Saudi Arabia said Sunday that it would produce more crude this year if the market needed it. The vague pledge fell far short of U.S. hopes for a specific increase and may do little to lower prices immediately. For now, the current "oil shock" leaves Western countries with little choice but to move toward nuclear power and change their energy-consumption habits, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned at a rare meeting of oil-producing and consuming nations. Saudi Arabia -- the world's top crude exporter -- called the gathering Sunday to send a message that it too is concerned by high oil prices inflicting economic pain worldwide. Instead, the meeting highlighted the sharp disagreement between producers such as Saudi Arabia and consuming countries such as Britain and the United States over the core factors driving steep price hikes. Oil closed near $135 a barrel Friday -- almost double the price a year ago. The cost of gasoline also has become a sore point in the U.S. presidential race, with President Bush and presumed Republican nominee John McCain calling on Congress to lift its long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has said such moves will do nothing to ease American consumers' pain short-term. The U.S. and other nations argue that oil production has not kept up with increasing demand, especially from China, India and the Middle East. But Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries say there is no shortage of oil and instead blame financial speculation and the falling U.S. dollar ...''