Iran

[willedoo]

Another Western Oiltanker seized today at Hormuz.. Nev

At this stage, it's unclear who owns it. The Iranian IRNA news agency says it's Iraqi, but the Iranian Oil Ministry says it's not. It was caught smuggling 700,000 litres of fuel out of Iran. Fuel smuggling is a big problem there because of the heavy government subsidies. Diesel is seven U.S. cents a litre, so it's gets smuggled to other countries for resale.

 

The other tanker they caught smuggling a few weeks ago is still being held, although most of the crew have been sent home. Both cases are unrelated to the impounding of the British tanker.

 

 

[willedoo]

Meanwhile back at the nut farm......

US wants us to blockade / protect oil shipments from Iran "aggression".

 

And to place med range missiles in NT.

 

Missiles banned by treaty.

The INF Treaty doesn't exist any more. The U.S. pulled out of it on August 2nd. and Russia did the same in response shortly afterwards. The U.S. is accusing Russia of breaching the treaty and using that as an excuse to leave the treaty to develop and deploy medium range missiles. The treaty banned all land based missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 klm. The Russians have developed a missile with a range of around 480-490 klm, and while not really in the spirit of the agreement, is perfectly legal under the terms of the treaty.

 

The main reason behind the American pull out seems to be the desire to deploy medium range missiles in the Asia/Pacific region. Up until now, China who is not a signatory to the INF, has been able to have medium range missiles and the U.S. has not because of their treaty with Russia. The Russians have been accusing the U.S. of breaching the treaty with their Aegis systems deployed in Romania and Poland. They say that, although conventional, the missiles can be adapted to carry nukes with very short notice.

 

 

[Yenn]

Never believe a word that the yanks say.

 

Never trust them to stick to their word.

 

If you have any sense never volounteer to fight their wars, no matter how much they ask for help.

 

 

[facthunter]

I think they are running out of friends fast, and it's no wonder. Unilaterally doing things and then expecting everyone to just fall in line with their moneymaking atrocities. or face isolation and punitive measures. Looks like a bully Boy's actions to me. The American President is ELECTED? to govern the USA, not the entire world. Nev

 

 

[Litespeed]

It always pisses me off when they call him " leader of free world ".

 

Such BS.

 

Leader of the radical right wing theftofcracy maybe.

 

 

[facthunter]

The new American Democrazy. Translates "they are ALL mad". Nev

 

 

[willedoo]

It always pisses me off when they call him " leader of free world ".

Not my leader. We have enough buffoons in our own country.

 

 

[willedoo]

Meanwhile back at the nut farm......

US wants us to blockade / protect oil shipments from Iran "aggression".

 

And to place med range missiles in NT.

 

Missiles banned by treaty.

It would be a good place for the RAN to stay away from for a while. Earlier this week, Russia and Iran formalized a military co-operation agreement. Part of the agreement is that the Iranian and Russian navies will start regular joint exercises in the Straights of Hormuz before the end of the year. That will get Bomber Bolton's moustache wiggling if he's still got a job by then.

 

With the U.S, the Brits and anyone else they can sucker into joining them there as well, it's going to be one overcrowded pond.

 

 

[Marty_d]

Bolton is a dead-set war monger. Ironic for a chinless wonder who deliberately avoided the draft in Vietnam.

 

Pompeo is another one. It's a dangerous combination, two gung-ho hawks and a brainless twat in the White House.

 

 

[willedoo]

Bolton is a dead-set war monger. Ironic for a chinless wonder who deliberately avoided the draft in Vietnam.Pompeo is another one. It's a dangerous combination, two gung-ho hawks and a brainless twat in the White House.

'chinless wonder' - haven't heard that one in a while. Good to see some classic old sayings being kept alive.

 

 

[Litespeed]

As per the usual method.

 

Happy to make war on any self created pretext.

 

But a coward at heart

 

 

[facthunter]

They are nearly all draft dodgers. Trump had something wrong with his foot.. Probably had teeth marks on it. Nev

 

 

[Yenn]

Leader of the free world? The Yanks cannot decide it he is the president or the commander in chief.

 

The only presidents that I can recall being often called Commander in Chief are the last two Republican ones,

 

and neither of them impressed me Hard to tell which was the worst, but the Donald is only part way into his first term, whereas Bush had 8 years to cement his place in stupidity..

 

 

[willedoo]

This Free World thing is BS. To be on the side of the so called free, you must kowtow. That's not free. Imagine how Turkey would be treated if they pulled out of NATO and threw their hand in with the other side. Once you're out of the a*se licking club, you are immediately branded an adversary.

 

 

[facthunter]

Erdogan is not too popular in Turkey. He locks up those who disagree with him. At least he had a go at the Saudi Prince while the Don sells him 50 billion dollars of arms. The dollar is GOD in the USA (and here now) .War makes money (for some) Give a GOd to those who have a GOd. Prophets for Profit.

 

 

[willedoo]

This is an interesting article covering the updated 25 year investment agreement between Iran and China. Another example of why America hates Iran. Missiles are the smoke screen, the real reason as always, is oil and the petrodollar. This is a big deal - 400 billion dollars equivalent with no U.S. dollars used. And also the option of bringing forward a lot of it in the first five years.

 

It will probably take many years for the U.S. dollar to lose it's gloss and power, but it will happen. Possibly, as more and more countries do bi-lateral deals and trade in their own currencies, it will eventually have a snowball effect and lead to several currencies being more desirable than the dollar. That will be a desperate situation for the U.S. and it's looking like that desperation is starting now to turn into action. Without the power of the dollar, their Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act will be useless. As it stands, it's mainly used to gain commercial advantage, but if sanctions don't bite, then Uncle Sam will be left out in the cold. I think with any heavily armed nation, if they're desperate, they're dangerous. That would include the other two as well, if they ever got into that situation. I guess there's only three options; things will get better, get worse, or stay the same. A better and safer world would be good, but wishful thinking perhaps.

 

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/09/04/605301/Iran-China-investment-oil-gas-railway-US-Russia

 

 

[facthunter]

The more you delve into the American World relationship/ domination psyche the more worried you should be. Having said that you would possibly be surprised how may thinking Australians believe we will be at war with China soon. I believe what US is doing is only making it more inevitable. War is madness. No one actually wins and the ordinary people lose the most. No one even has any idea what the place will look like after. Nev

 

 

[old man emu]

Clearly, a Sino-US war would only benefit Wall Street. As FH says, "the ordinary people lose the most". The USA is desperately trying to control the Global Economy for its own profit, and that's mainly to profit of the few. I wonder if those Americans who join us here are any different to us. We want food, shelter, employment and social interaction, and freedom from violence. Don't the residents of Anytown, USA want the same? Are these residents rolling in money? I doubt it. In fact, I would guess that our Anytown cousins would be astonished at what we take for granted in Australia.

 

 

[Yenn]

The reason the Yanks don't like Iran is because their man in Iran was thrown out. that is the Shah of Persia. The same thing has happened in many countries that the USA loves to hate. Viet Nam comes to mind and Cuba also.

 

If you don't to the line with USA you will be branded as a terrorist state or some such other thing and have every possible financial lever use d against you. 

 

 

[willedoo]

These videos by Kylie Flavell are interesting; she seems very impressed with Iran. Very recent, with the second one only a few days old. I gather she's still there, so looking forward to seeing the whole series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[willedoo]

The rabbit hole is getting deeper.

 

The Saudis are saying that they are still trying to determine where the drones and missiles came from. But also that regardless where they came from, Iran is no doubt behind it. In another breath, they are saying they were launched from South West Iran. Iranian press is saying that Iran is being blamed because it's the lesser embarrassment for the U.S., as they don't want to admit that the Houtis from Yemen have made a mockery of the billions of dollars worth of Patriot air defence systems stationed in Saudi Arabia.

 

It may be less embarrassing if it was an Iranian attack, but it still raises the issue that Saudi Arabia plus the U.S. bases in the region and the U.S. Carrier group parked up in the Gulf of Oman are highly vulnerable to Iran launching missiles. It's easy to understand why the Pentagon is advising the White House to proceed with caution and that any attack on Iran could expose U.S. forces to significant harm. Even the usual lap dogs are saying wait for the proof. Now Vladimir is saying the best decision the Saudis could make is to purchase Russian S-300 or S-400 systems like Turkey and Iran have.

 

It's not a good look for hopeful Patriot system sales in the Middle East. Vladimir Vladimirovich's order book might grow handsomely after this. It's also very easy to understand the gist of the U.S.'s 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act'. Recently the U.S. has threatened sanctions on any country, anywhere, who purchase any Russian military equipment. Is it because Russia is really, really bad, or because what they have for sale is really really good? It would be comical if it wasn't so serious.

 

 

[facthunter]

Good sales pitch Buy MY stuff or you get excommunicated or obliterated.  They are ALL stark raving MAD. Nev

 

 

[willedoo]

Yes, I think Dr. Strangelove wasn't so far fetched after all. It's looking like they really are that mad. The world seems to be a much crazier place than 20 years ago. But maybe it isn't. It might just seem that way because we have such a vast source of fast information these days. In times past, we only had the papers and the nightly 10 second news grabs on the telly. Now we have this pesky interwebby thing.

 

 

[Litespeed]

No its definitely getting really weird in all the bad ways.....

 

I can imagine Slim Pickens jumping a ride down on a Trump brand bomb any day now....

 

 

[facthunter]

The difference is this is not entertainment and meant to be funny or satire.  THIS is NOW happening . All we are doing now is inventing reasons to hate groups. demonise  vilify and bully them. Religion is often an element or profit which has become a religion or a big part of it, for many.. The weapons we are producing are able do extremely violent things without us even being near the ones injured and killed indiscriminately and totally isolated from it.. It's now just a nasty GAME for Power. Weapons SALES is big business and it doesn't matter who gets to buy them, really. We are involved in weapons sales,  thanks to Pyne. We also have blood on our hands going to wars based on a pack of lies . Nev