Comments on: JUST WHICH MAJOR POWER FACES “DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION”? http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:06:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alan http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3753 Alan Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:05:48 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3753 rfjk - interesting comments. The "moderate" Arab regimes fear their own people more than they fear Iran. Iranian hegemony is a non-starter, and nor is it sought. What the Iranians represent is an alternative form of governance that terrifies the dictatorships, particularly considering their primary domestic opposition is Islamist. The hilarious reality is that the real Iranian "threat" is their promotion of democracy in the region, while the real US "protection" is the prevention of democracy. This has been the downward spiral toward disaster throughout the Clinton and Bush eras. Obama has to break the cycle if he is to achieve anything. The key to it is Iran, because rapprochement with them changes the game completely. In particular, it boxes in the Israelis, and opens up all sorts of possibilities in moving the Palestine issue forward. But Iran must come first, and I get the impression Obama knows it. There are so many contradicting leaks and actions at the moment that one can only conclude that nothing is certain. rfjk – interesting comments.

The “moderate” Arab regimes fear their own people more than they fear Iran. Iranian hegemony is a non-starter, and nor is it sought. What the Iranians represent is an alternative form of governance that terrifies the dictatorships, particularly considering their primary domestic opposition is Islamist.

The hilarious reality is that the real Iranian “threat” is their promotion of democracy in the region, while the real US “protection” is the prevention of democracy.

This has been the downward spiral toward disaster throughout the Clinton and Bush eras. Obama has to break the cycle if he is to achieve anything. The key to it is Iran, because rapprochement with them changes the game completely. In particular, it boxes in the Israelis, and opens up all sorts of possibilities in moving the Palestine issue forward. But Iran must come first, and I get the impression Obama knows it.

There are so many contradicting leaks and actions at the moment that one can only conclude that nothing is certain.

]]> By: Jon Harrison http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3683 Jon Harrison Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:42:31 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3683 U.S. national bankruptcy an impossibility? I don't think so. Debt as a percentage of GDP has been at this level before, after the three major wars in our history (Civil War, WWI and WWII). But we had immense untapped resources and the world's greatest manufacturing base in those days; additionally we were not weighed down by enormous spending commitments to various political constituencies as we are today. In the past we could grow our way out of debt; I don't see that as a possibility in our current circumstances. Now, certainly, we could wind up with a situation like Latin America in the 1980s, where the creditors basically write down our debt to prevent an economic calamity. We could also depreciate our currency to the vanishing point. Either scenario requires the United States to accept a much lower standard of living and a diminished role in the world. Could happen, but I rather doubt it. A final possibility would be draconian reforms in federal spending, with elimination of programs and big cutbacks in both defense and entitlement programs. Even if we assume that the political will for this will someday exist, the likelihood is that it would produce social chaos. National bankruptcy is preferable to another civil war. U.S. national bankruptcy an impossibility? I don’t think so. Debt as a percentage of GDP has been at this level before, after the three major wars in our history (Civil War, WWI and WWII). But we had immense untapped resources and the world’s greatest manufacturing base in those days; additionally we were not weighed down by enormous spending commitments to various political constituencies as we are today. In the past we could grow our way out of debt; I don’t see that as a possibility in our current circumstances. Now, certainly, we could wind up with a situation like Latin America in the 1980s, where the creditors basically write down our debt to prevent an economic calamity. We could also depreciate our currency to the vanishing point. Either scenario requires the United States to accept a much lower standard of living and a diminished role in the world. Could happen, but I rather doubt it. A final possibility would be draconian reforms in federal spending, with elimination of programs and big cutbacks in both defense and entitlement programs. Even if we assume that the political will for this will someday exist, the likelihood is that it would produce social chaos. National bankruptcy is preferable to another civil war.

]]> By: rfjk http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3666 rfjk Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:32:07 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3666 People who believe in the inevitability of US bankruptcy is like succeeding at Iranian regime change or sanctions, it ain't gonna happen and they will be waiting a long, long, time. Ive heard that rhetoric all my life, long before I was born and people will be arguing and anguishing over it long after I'm gone. People who believe in the inevitability of US bankruptcy is like succeeding at Iranian regime change or sanctions, it ain’t gonna happen and they will be waiting a long, long, time. Ive heard that rhetoric all my life, long before I was born and people will be arguing and anguishing over it long after I’m gone.

]]> By: Dan cooper http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3626 Dan cooper Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:20:00 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3626 Fact Sheets of Iran-US Standoff: Twenty Reasons against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran. Please click on this link: http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/?q=node/2093 Fact Sheets of Iran-US Standoff: Twenty Reasons against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran.

Please click on this link:

http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/?q=node/2093

]]> By: kooshy http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3609 kooshy Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:52:50 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3609 It was obvious from the get go that current administration’s policy toward Iran will end up with a public threatening of China, as mentioned by Leverets and other posts, Iran can be relatively and easily connected to China’s energy grid via land, and in many way a lot less expensive then the sea routes and outside of any hemisphere of Russian or American of influence, so what would be China’s logic to let go of one of a few major Oil and Gas producers that can guarantee a land based energy security for its monstrous development. Hillary’s comments is more of sign of desperation rather then threatening what would come next from such a reckless policy eliminating 300 million in china like Mao said. May be Hillary can obliterate them too who knows, with this administrations smarter foreign policy we are clinching our hands for China now who is next? This was music for Iran’s ears It was obvious from the get go that current administration’s policy toward Iran will end up with a public threatening of China, as mentioned by Leverets and other posts, Iran can be relatively and easily connected to China’s energy grid via land, and in many way a lot less expensive then the sea routes and outside of any hemisphere of Russian or American of influence, so what would be China’s logic to let go of one of a few major Oil and Gas producers that can guarantee a land based energy security for its monstrous development. Hillary’s comments is more of sign of desperation rather then threatening what would come next from such a reckless policy eliminating 300 million in china like Mao said. May be Hillary can obliterate them too who knows, with this administrations smarter foreign policy we are clinching our hands for China now who is next? This was music for Iran’s ears

]]> By: Cyrus http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3605 Cyrus Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:26:54 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3605 You "toe" a line, not "tow" a line You “toe” a line, not “tow” a line

]]> By: Jon Harrison http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3603 Jon Harrison Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:12:20 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3603 Thanks for the clarifcation, Castiello. I was confused by your first post; now I understand. The comment of rfjk re "money" bears thinking about. I agree that all currencies today are nothing but paper. That's absolutely correct. However, even under such a global system, the nation that remains standing economically -- i.e., the nation that manufactures and lends as opposed to one that consumes and borrows to excess, will find that its currency has "backing" in global markets. Such a nation will find its currency welcome in exchange for raw materials and manufactured products, and it will have the ability to take on debt at favorable rates. The other economy, drowning in debt, will be forced either to declare bankruptcy or inflate its way out of trouble (i.e., let its currency lose most of its value). When we are taking a wheelbarrow of dollars down to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread, while the Chinese are buying every hard asset they care to -- well, clearly one side loses while the other wins. If the Chinese are smart they will get going on unwinding their U.S. debt positions. The U.S. is still 10 or so years away from a declarartion of national beankruptcy. Indeed, we would do better to declare bankruptcy now, and let the Chinese take a $6 trillion hit. A strategic bankruptcy might be the best thing that's happened to this country in decades. Thanks for the clarifcation, Castiello. I was confused by your first post; now I understand.

The comment of rfjk re “money” bears thinking about. I agree that all currencies today are nothing but paper. That’s absolutely correct. However, even under such a global system, the nation that remains standing economically — i.e., the nation that manufactures and lends as opposed to one that consumes and borrows to excess, will find that its currency has “backing” in global markets. Such a nation will find its currency welcome in exchange for raw materials and manufactured products, and it will have the ability to take on debt at favorable rates. The other economy, drowning in debt, will be forced either to declare bankruptcy or inflate its way out of trouble (i.e., let its currency lose most of its value). When we are taking a wheelbarrow of dollars down to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread, while the Chinese are buying every hard asset they care to — well, clearly one side loses while the other wins.

If the Chinese are smart they will get going on unwinding their U.S. debt positions. The U.S. is still 10 or so years away from a declarartion of national beankruptcy. Indeed, we would do better to declare bankruptcy now, and let the Chinese take a $6 trillion hit. A strategic bankruptcy might be the best thing that’s happened to this country in decades.

]]> By: Castellio http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3601 Castellio Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:45:14 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3601 To Winter, Pirouz and Jon Harrison, I apologize for misreading your comments. You are agreeing with the original article, not with rjjk's response, which assessment, I feel, traduces the reality. (One day, I will get used to the most recent comment on top.) To Winter, Pirouz and Jon Harrison, I apologize for misreading your comments. You are agreeing with the original article, not with rjjk’s response, which assessment, I feel, traduces the reality. (One day, I will get used to the most recent comment on top.)

]]> By: nahid http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3599 nahid Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:32:40 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3599 In Iraq_Iran war that Iran was in low point, (tanker_war) Rafsanjani said if we don't sell oil nobody could sell also, if china dosen't get oil so does USA, here we go... In Iraq_Iran war that Iran was in low point, (tanker_war) Rafsanjani said if we don’t sell oil nobody could sell also, if china dosen’t get oil so does USA, here we go…

]]> By: JohnH http://www.raceforiran.com/just-which-major-power-faces-%e2%80%9cdiplomatic-isolation%e2%80%9d#comment-3598 JohnH Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:57:51 +0000 http://www.raceforiran.com/?p=1801#comment-3598 Castellio states the arrogant attitude of the American side well. And it is exactly that attitude which disquiets me. Rather than recognize the realities of the world today, Washington prefers to act according to illusions of past grandeur. There a lots of reasons for Washington not to attack Iran. But, as was the case in Iraq, the real issue is whether illusions prevail over common sense. Castellio states the arrogant attitude of the American side well. And it is exactly that attitude which disquiets me. Rather than recognize the realities of the world today, Washington prefers to act according to illusions of past grandeur.

There a lots of reasons for Washington not to attack Iran. But, as was the case in Iraq, the real issue is whether illusions prevail over common sense.

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