Iran is about OIL & the EURO - PLEASE don't fall for the lies!

[meganmonkey]

I’m not one of DUs prolific researchers, so bear with me here. I will do my best to explain this and back it up.

Just like Iraq, the threats by the US against Iran are ultimately about oil. This is NOT about nuclear weapons, terrorists, human rights or anything else.

There are a few different ways the administration benefits from these wars. We know how Bushco (and much of Congress, for that matter) is tied up in war profiteering through weapons manufacturing, contracting companies, etc. But the biggest ties and profits in both Iraq and Iran are regarding OIL.

Specifically, oil traded in Euros rather than dollars.

From project censored:

In November 2000, Iraq became the first OPEC nation to begin selling its oil for Euros. Since then, the value of the Euro has increased 17%, and the dollar has begun to decline. One important reason for the invasion and installation of a U.S. dominated government in Iraq was to force the country back to the dollar. Another reason for the invasion is to dissuade further OPEC momentum toward the Euro, especially from Iran- the second largest OPEC producer, who was actively discussing a switch to Euros for its oil exports.
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2004/19.html

REGARDING IRAN:

Concerning Iran, recent articles have revealed active Pentagon planning for operations against its suspected nuclear facilities. While the publicly stated reasons for any such overt action will be premised as a consequence of Iran's nuclear ambitions, there are again unspoken macroeconomic drivers underlying the second stage of petrodollar warfare – Iran's upcoming oil bourse. (The word bourse refers to a stock exchange for securities trading, and is derived from the French stock exchange in Paris, the Federation Internationale des Bourses de Valeurs.)

In essence, Iran is about to commit a far greater “offense” than Saddam Hussein's conversion to the euro for Iraq’s oil exports in the fall of 2000. Beginning in March 2006, the Tehran government has plans to begin competing with New York's NYMEX and London's IPE with respect to international oil trades – using a euro-based international oil-trading mechanism.<7>

The proposed Iranian oil bourse signifies that without some sort of US intervention, the euro is going to establish a firm foothold in the international oil trade. Given U.S. debt levels and the stated neoconservative project of U.S. global domination, Tehran’s objective constitutes an obvious encroachment on dollar supremacy in the crucial international oil market.

http://www.energybulletin.net/7707.html

(all emphasis mine)

If you need other sources, just use google. There are tons out there, from corporate media to media watchdogs.

DON’T BUY INTO THE FEAR!!! Please. Look at this with open eyes. I am not saying Iran is our best friend, or that Ahmadinejad is a great guy, I am just asking everyone to look at the TRUTH and start from there.
There are NO good intentions about the well-being of Iran or the US itself on the part of Bushco. These are greedy, sociopath, power-hungry monsters playing with lives. And destroying hundreds of thousands of them.

Don’t fall for their lies. After all we have seen in the last 5 years, we all know better. Don’t get sucked in.


Fight against this war. Start now.

[EFerrari]

1. Of course, you're right.

:kick:

[redirish28]

2. the whole middle east is about oil, not just Iraq or Iran

[Oversea Visitor]

3. And when your Admins got the hot for it

IT IS CANNONFODDERS TIME.

Right peasants more cannonfodder need to storm the wall
Cant expect nobles to be sacrifice for such uuugh crude stuff.

[mom cat]

28. "crude stuff"

:spank:
Such puns deserve punishment.

[DemInDistress]

4. Your preaching to the choir here about Iran

its not just Iran's oilfields but I hear iran will soon (if not already) go on the EUROS,no more US.Dollar
and thats bad,bad bad...

[meganmonkey]

7. The Euro thing is exactly what I am talking about

Maybe I'll edit my title a little. Iraq started trading with Euros in 2000. And Iran is planning to start in March. From my post:

Beginning in March 2006, the Tehran government has plans to begin competing with New York's NYMEX and London's IPE with respect to international oil trades – using a euro-based international oil-trading mechanism.<7>
---------------

I know most people are in the choir already but there are a surprising number who are not, and who don't realize that Bushco is serious about this. I am just trying to get it out there...

[screembloodymurder]

11. You mean we're not going to "Nuke them for Democracy".

Next you'll be telling me that Cheney made the Bin Laden tape for his CNBC interview.

[DemInDistress]

69. megan.. good job good thread

the message is circulating. I knew of Saddam and the EURO just before the FAKE war started in Iraq. Saddam
was ousted because he thumbed his nose at the dollar. Look at the trouble Hugo Chavez had when he stopped trading oil for dollars, he was almost ousted himself. Its vital for the bushies to keep tight control on those countries trading oil. The Bush Crime Family scheme in coming undone and to our detriment.

thanks for the feedback..

[leftchick]

29. not really, there are a lot of "IRAN IS THREAT"!!

booga! booga! folks and posts around here. Sad isn't it?

[DemInDistress]

68. leftchick..

its depressingly sad that our some people (Dems) feel Iran is a threat because of their desire to have a nuclear program to generate energy and or a bomb (lol).Iran doesn't need a nuke to inflict misery on the USA. Going off the dollar is the nuke. Shame some people cant see that.
Thanks for the feedback.
:hi: :hi: :dem:

[G2099]

5. The Proposed Iranian Oil Bourse

The Iranian government has finally developed the ultimate "nuclear" weapon that can swiftly destroy the financial system underpinning the American Empire. That weapon is the Iranian Oil Bourse slated to open in March 2006. It will be based on a euro-oil-trading mechanism that naturally implies payment for oil in Euro. In economic terms, this represents a much greater threat to the hegemony of the dollar than Saddam's, because it will allow anyone willing either to buy or to sell oil for Euro to transact on the exchange, thus circumventing the U.S. dollar altogether. If so, then it is likely that almost everyone will eagerly adopt this euro oil system:


http://www.321gold.com/editorials/petrov/petrov011706.html

[truth2power]

56. As I've been saying, over and over and over, here

it's about the oil bourse. It's gotta get done by march.

All this talk about "imminent threat" coming from the Cabal. They can't even get new material.

[hopeisaplace]

6. I forget the exact number - the US uses/needs 25 million gallons a day?

anyone remember the figure...

oh my goodness...too bad alternative fuel sources weren't developed
a lot sooner!! Was oil and money such a factor that they (<--whoever "they" are)
would not start developing alternate fuel sources decades ago. I'm in such a fog
as to why this was not done? just money? come-on?? did
it just boil down to money??? shame on us if it did. I know oil is used in everyday
products, not just for fueling cars, so maybe this was the reason for not
funding alternative sources of fuel?

(I'm just not informed in this area..think I'll make this some required reading for
myself)

edit: typo

[Deja Q]

12. And how is that quantity divvied up?

Into britney spears cds, new hairbrushes, nascar races, gasoline to transport food across the country...

The 1970s fuel crisis should have taught us something. And by offshoring manufacturing, engineering. and intelligence-type jobs, our enemies learned something too - they're not stupid.

Had we kept the infrastructure here in America, we wouldn't have had those problems develop. Not so quickly.

The technology to replace oil didn't exist in the 1970s, hence the creation of projects (most of which dismantled in 1983 thanks to "obsolescence", how laughable is that? But hindsight is easy...)

I think the means are finally just becoming available, but will they be put to use?

[hopeisaplace]

18. is there such a thing as using synthetic oils in these products? or

a man-made "organic" oil, if you will? But I guess it's not about the
what replaces the oil so much as it is about who gets to produce such a beast
for the profits.

[IDemo]

52. About 24 million barrels daily, one barrel = 42 gallons n/t

[samhsarah]

8. thank you for this post!

i feel like i have been screaming about this lately, and it's falling on deaf ears (not here, but home, work, etc.) it's like iraq all over again. bullshit, bullshit, and more bullshit. but you said the most important thing - WE NEED TO START NOW!!!!! Not a week before the bombing starts. not after everybody has been brainwashed and we have to try and deprogram peoples minds. call them out on their agenda now. thank you for taking the time to put these facts together. i will bookmark this thread. oh yeah, and here's a k&r :yourock:

[meganmonkey]

21. Thanks!

You inspired me to do my first ever font size change :P

I know this stuff is obvious to a lot of people, but there are so many people, even here, who don't seem to remember that we JUST went through this, and the script hasn't changed.

[samhsarah]

27. the font size change rawks!!!

i think this is the first time i ever inspired anybody to do anything.:evilgrin:

and you're right about the deja vu. just looking through the comments on this thread alone, it's true that some people here don't even see it.:(

[Deja Q]

9. Russia has been actively helping Iran for YEARS; selling them weapons.

And it's been said on 60 Minutes and the ilk that Russia's ability to protect its nuke stores is, well, very limited.

Assuming there were no hush-hush details, of course... Indeed, Russia recently did a big 180 and started expressing concern. Now why would Russia of all countries have its knickers in a bunch? Maybe they sold Iran some things they shouldn't have and finally realized Russia is closer to Iran's borders than the US is?

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=215845&cat=World

I am very skeptical that it is "all about oil" this time.

[meganmonkey]

16. I'm not saying there aren't problems with the Iranian gov't

But for Bushco those things are just gravy. They are headlines. They are 'justifications'. But when you look at Iraq, is there ANYTHING that could justify what we have done there?

We aren't going to go into Iran, unseat their government and fix all the problems and potential problems in the Middle East. There are major issues with stability, oil, money, religion...Attacking Iran will NOT fix this. All it will do is continue to unleash violence and unrest in the region.

There are other ways to deal with this. I don't know what they are, but what we are about to do is NOT the answer. The whole world sees the problems with Iran and wants to deal with it. But the US is the only one (aside from maybe Israel) who want to blow everything up...

[Deja Q]

22. So when a bully threatens his neighbors, what do you do to the bully?

In my neighborhood, the bully was allowed to do what he wanted, carte blanche... and it didn't take long before he went beyond shouting obscenities to actual, physical, violence.

I have not heard the US or Israel say "We want ___ blown off the map." Iran said that.

So far, anyway, the US is the only one who wants to take action. This time I'm not sure I can blame them. Even Russia is now concerned about Iran's intent and that's what scares me the most.

And of course Israel wants Iran blown up. Sheesh, Iran openly said they want Israel blown off the map! How the hell would you feel if the bully, known for not listening to people, said he wanted you dead? Talk to him over crumpets and tea? I doubt it. Would you, in a state of fear induced by that bully, take the time to talk with that bully who is ranting all over the place about his petty emotions?

Also, "the region" has been in a violent and unrested state for HUNDREDS of years for the most ridiculous of reasons, and they're so consumed by their emotion that things will not change. Why haven't they sorted things out, and the only true democracies come from people who will sit and talk with each other? Too consumed by emotion.

I have to wonder how humans evolved at all...

[meganmonkey]

26. Honestly,

half of what you say about Iran as a bully could just as easily be said about the US.

Realistically, Iran is nowhere near getting nuclear weapons. It will likely be at LEAST 5 years, possibly more like 10. You think we need to blow up another whole country right now? You don't think that doing so will just inflame the region a million times worse?

I think military action against Iran right now is just about the WORST thing we can do in regards to the stability of the Middle East

And I share your sentiment:

I have to wonder how humans evolved at all...

[julianer]

43. Your post is proof that propaganda works

Ahmedinajad didn't say he 'wanted Israel blown off the map'. Find the quote and inform yourself before you continue spreading misinformation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4107270.stm

You could also try seeing things in context. It is decontextualising things (like Ahmedinajad's various comments) that provide 'justification' for aggression.

Using this approach you could justify attacking anyone, anytime.

[Behind the Aegis]

46. You are right.

Ahmedinajad, "the Iranian president for his call yesterday for Israel to be "wiped off the map"." source

So, you got it right, he didn't say "blown off the map," but "wiped off the map."

Good thing that is all cleared up.

[julianer]

48. You don't think detail is important?

I suppose not. I expect you would like to see Israel attack Iran. Am I right?

[Behind the Aegis]

64. Word parsing

"Blown off the map" and "wiped off the wipe" are basically the same thing, especially in American slang. You were not correct in your correction, nor your assumption.

[lectrobyte]

66. It seems to me they might want nukes after seeing what happened

to their neighbor when it couldn't defend itself. I can't blame them. If we are concerned about Iran's nukes, then why don't we have a problem with Israel's?

[bpilgrim]

35. lol

your skeptical, eh?

peace

[MrModerate]

10. Even though we've been intimately wrapped up in Iranian . .

oil politics for going on a hundred years, and the fact that they're sitting on a sea of oil is crucially important, and the Euro as a substitute for dollars scares economists shitless, don't downplay the danger of an Iranian nuclear device.

Ahmadinejad has been preparing his citizens for their elevation to the Nuclear Club, and getting them used to the idea of actually using such a device. He is laying the groundwork for nuking Israel; for selling nukes to freelancers (aka "terrorists"); and blackmailing the world generally.

He's happy to use the Euro, and maybe just as happy to use a nuke. He doesn't think we (or anyone else) will retaliate in kind -- because of the oil, I suppose.

This is a real danger.

Now, if we hadn't spent all our credibility, blood, and treasure needlessly invading Iraq, and had instead focused on Iran and North Korea in some grown-up, multilateralist way, maybe we wouldn't be where we are today.

But we are. Thanks, George, for something ELSE you've fucked up beyond recognition.

[Deja Q]

14. Bravo. But George didn't start the problem either...

If the US hadn't overused oil in the first place, we wouldn't have needed to make deals with antagonistic countries. The concept of which is nothing less than baffling.

[MrModerate]

19. True . . . the problem didn't start with George . . .

But he sure as hell did everything in his power to make the situation worse.

With regard to the overuse of oil, I think we're fighting human nature there. Until our faces are rubbed in the consequences of us being in hock to despots and crazies, we (and by "we" I mean the comfortable oil consumers of the world) aren't going to change.

History show that, as a species, we have to be hit by a 2 by 4 before we make any significant change in the way we live our lives.

[julianer]

44. Can you verify ANY of this 'information'?

Pure propaganda - in fact you go beyond what BushCo are willing to lie about at the moment.

Incredible. You're just making it up.

[oblivious]

51. 100 per cent pure propaganda. Might as well be from Cheney's mouth.

[MrModerate]

53. I guess you're referring to the statements below . . .

1) Ahmadinejad has been preparing his citizens for their elevation to the Nuclear Club, and getting them used to the idea of actually using such a device. -- read his speeches. The notion that they are seeking to develop a peaceful nuclear industry is, IMO, specious and understood by everybody in the region to be specious. There is no economic reason for Iran to develop nuclear power.

2) He is laying the groundwork for nuking Israel; for selling nukes to freelancers (aka "terrorists"); and blackmailing the world generally. -- My opinion. I see him as a zealot, with the traditional Iranian bee in his bonnet about Israel, and driving to leverage Iran's oil wealth to substantially increase Iran's influence over world affairs.

3) He's happy to use the Euro, and maybe just as happy to use a nuke. He doesn't think we (or anyone else) will retaliate in kind -- because of the oil, I suppose. -- My opinion. Maybe he's not AS happy to use a nuke as the Euro, but I don't think he's ruled it out. With regard to retaliation, no one but a madman would use a nuke unless they thought there would be no retaliation in kind.

----

Most of the above is my opinion based on news reports, Internet data, and my experience having worked in the region and spoken to regular people and officials there. Discount it as you see fit.

However, do you really believe that the Iranian nuclear program is genuinely for peaceful power generation and they have no ambition to own nuclear weapons? Because I most assuredly don't.

----

On edit: Here's a link to an article that pretty much summarizes my opinions above -- http://www.slate.com/id/2134497/

[julianer]

58. So you just repeat it

but more emphatically.

110% BushCo propaganda.

[MrModerate]

59. You didn't answer what I consider the crucial question . . .

Do you believe that Iran is NOT pursuing development of nuclear weapons?

[julianer]

60. The crucial question

is why you think you have the right to decide what Iranians do.

It's called imperial arrogance. You're suffering bad...

[MrModerate]

61. I never said we have the "right" to tell Iran what to do . . .

Sovereignty is sovereignty, after all. Consequently, that isn't the crucial question, from my point of view.

So let me ask you a variation on my question: Is it a major concern -- and by major concern, I mean something that requires a response from the rest of the world -- if Iran develops a homegrown nuclear bomb-making industry?

[tuvor]

13. All you need to know to conclude that this is about oil, not weapons.

Iraq didn't have 'em, they have oil. bush invaded.
Iran doesn't have 'em, they have oil. bush is rattling the sabres.
North Korea has 'em, doesn't have oil. bush gives not one tinker's damn.

Folks, if there's an apparent inconsistency in what bushco does, rest assured: There's NO inconsistency.

[sweetm2475]

15. well there you go. nt

[Deja Q]

17. N Korea lacks the ability to send weapons to the US... amusingly,

N Korea hasn't anything against Israel... which is apparently known as a big ally to the US for whatever reason.

Most importantly, any sane leader knows that when one country uses a nuke, others WILL follow. That's why they've never been used.

That's why Iran is a far graver threat - their leader is a raving lunatic (openly spouting gibber about blowing countries "off the map" is shocking to say the very least and damn well worthy of concern!).

Also note, the US is hardly alone in this: France, the UK, and Germany (as I recall reading) are trying to defuse the situation AND even Russia, Iran's best buddy in terms of weapons sales, gets concerned, one has to wonder big-time.

[bpilgrim]

36. how do you know?

you think bush or the feds are action heros and can prevent a nuke slipping across one of our borders?

remember 911?

but that is besides hte point... the US is the worlds greatest threat, today.

fyi: how much money have we given israel over the years will answer your other 'question'.


peace

[julianer]

45. Bang the drum! Bang that big old war drum! n/t

[meganmonkey]

20. YES - THey are using the SAME LIES!

Thank you for pointing that out.

Do they want nukes? Probably. For power, or weapons, or both...

But they are far from having them. And we aren't the only ones keeping an eye on it.

And seriously, why wouldn't they want them, considering what they are about to do in March, and knowing what we did to the last country that fucked them like this?

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. I absolutely agree. Here's one of my posts on this with some additional

links. It's from December 20, 2005:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5650584&mesg_id=5651316

We can't stop telling people about this. This is about oil and it is based on lies. Further, the Bushies have said repeatedly that they can attack another country pre-emptively without asking permission of Congress. And for many months the primary target for the saber-rattling has been Iran. Iran will have a Euro-based oil bourse and has influence on the US oil companies' holdings and power in the middle east.

Second verse, worse than the first...

[meganmonkey]

31. That is a very important point

regarding Bushco's abuse of power. Particularly in light of Alito's nomination, because we know he won't be limiting the power of the executive...They will do it with or without the blessing of Congress or the American people.

(btw, I was referring to folks like you when I mentioned DUs prolific researchers. Thanks for all the Truth you post, for always spreading the word :thumbsup: )

[samhsarah]

32. thanks for posting that link

you're right. they have started beating the war/lies drums. The peace/truth drums need to be louder than them this time.

[beyurslf]

24. Unfortunately, we are not the ones who fall for this obvious lie.

It is the 49 million idiots who voted for the warmonger who will believe anything he says.

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. I thought it was about euro dollars.

[bloom]

30. I think that - like Iraq - it is about multiple things

It may be that the Euro/dollar thing is what sets it over the edge - but that seems to be a new development and AIPAC has been working on this for years - as they spell it out on their website.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=187091&mesg_id=187091

Just like the neocons and the PNAC agenda was written before this came up. OR was the euro thing announced 14 years ago? :shrug: They didn't even have euros when this policy was being written about by Libby and whomever.


P.S. I'm not saying that we need to take the "nuclear threat" seriously - that seems obviously fabricated to me (though Israel may or may not be genuinely worried) - What I'm saying that there is more to the control issue than the Euro thing.

[bpilgrim]

38. and the main one is control of resources - same as it ever was

OIL is vital to our way of life and they believe the risks are worth it in the face of peak oil.

peace

[meganmonkey]

41. There are many aspects to it

You are right. But the timing is driven by the Euro, the immediacy of it, that is why the war drums have been beating, IMO.

This is definitely part of the PNAC big picture. And that is why we must believe that the admin is serious about starting this soon. I am really afraid it will happen.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

33. If it wasn't for oil, the ME would be an ignored backwater.

All the blather about "spreading democracy", "protecting our allies", wouldn't even exist. As always, follow the money.

[AndyTiedye]

34. Then Why Is The Euro Only Trading at $1.17?

Something doesn't add up.

[meganmonkey]

57. "Only" $1.17?

If you look at this 5 yr graph showing the Euro vs. Dollar since 2000, it is clear that it has gone up, overall, rather consistently. IT's had ups and downs, of course, but the overall picture is up :shrug:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=EURUSD=X&t=5y

[KamaAina]

67. It was at about 85 cents when it was first introduced

I'd take that kind of appreciation, thank you very much.

[meganmonkey]

70. Seriously!

My meager IRA sure is taking its time appreciating!

:)

[muriel_volestrangler]

71. The Euro was introduced in 1999 as a fixed currency

(though the coins and notes weren't available then - but that was when the tradeable currency came into being, and all the constituent countries fixed their rates exactly against it). Back then the euro was worth about $1.18.

http://www.ecb.int/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html#firstdate

[Peace Patriot]

37. You are right on, MeganMonkey! But I think we have to fight it in two

ways, both by protesting more war against countries who have done NOTHING to us, and in which tens of thousands of innocent people will be killed, in any bombing or invasion. AND...

by throwing Diebold and ES&S election theft machines in to 'Boston Harbor'! Because, right now, we are deprived of the mechanism of our soverignty as a people: our right to vote.

58% of the American people opposed the Iraq war wa-a-a-a-a-a-a-ay back before the invasion, in Feb. '03--across the board in all polls. We didn't want this war in the Mideast then, and we don't want it now. But no one will listen to us. We don't count. Our elections are no longer transparent--but are controlled by Bushite corporations with 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code, with virtually no audit/recount controls. They don't NEED to listen to us.

We MUST restore our right to vote. That is the only way we can actually stop this war--by retrieving and then excercising our sovereignty as a people.

Some resources:

www.votersunite.org
www.verfiedvoting.org
www.UScountvotes.org
www.freepress.org
www.TruthIsAll.net
www.solarbus.org/election/index.shtml

Also of interest: (Bob Koehler)
www.tmsfeatures.com/tmsfeatures/subcategory.jsp?file=20051124ctnbk-a.txt&catid=1824&code=ctnbk

[meganmonkey]

39. You are correct

Thanks for posting this.

Election fraud is a huge factor in how we got here, and somehow the population is so complacent (even in the face of these horrors) that they don't even notice.

I'm reading Mark Crispin Miller's "Fooled Again" right now...

[Sydnie]

40. History is repeating - can we stop it this time?

I sure as hell hope so.

[welshTerrier2]

42. more research on this from an old post i made

here's an old post of mine that explains the oil bourse and "petrodollars"

Petrodollar Warfare: Neo-cons versus the rest of the world - a MUST READ

this article is really long and it's a little complicated ... DU'ers should invest the time to read it ...

but, for you headline readers out there, here are the basics:
1. neo-cons and big oil have maintained their global power by keeping the dollar as the currency standard for international oil transactions
2. Saddam "sealed his fate" in 2000 when he said he was going to move Iraq to euros
3. Iran plans to open a "bourse" (an oil trading market) that would likely "end the petrodollar's hegemonic status as the monopoly oil currency"
4. Cheney has threatened to nuke Iran ... the pretense of terrorism and Iran building nuclear weapons is a smoke screen for the need to help big oil maintain control of international oil markets
5. China has a massive interest in Iran and US attacks on Iran could bring about a confrontation with China
6. all of this is beyond the radar of most Americans because "five U.S. major media conglomerates control 90% of information flow in the U.S"
7. Peak oil is putting increasing pressure on the US and making it more difficult for the US to control "petrodollars"

that should be enough to peak your curiosity ... this stuff is truly mind boggling ... stick with the article even though it's really long ... it's worth it if you want to understand what's really going on ...

here's the link: http://world.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/17451

[Caretha]

62. Thanks for posting this

One of the most misunderstood and underestimated components in the Middle East Resource wars concerns the US dollar. Today America's economy is totally supported by the fact oil is traded in US dollars, hence the rest of the world supports our gargantuan wasteful consumer society.

We are no longer a nation that produces a positive Gross National Product, but a service based economy with a unsurpassed national debt that survives on the worldwide circulation of the fiat US dollar. In other words, the rest of the world supports America's extravagant wasteful lifestyle and the world's largest military industrial complex by trading oil, the world's most precious commodity in US dollars.

If the above scenario changes in regards to the oil currency, America's economic house of cards would come tumbling down. We would witness the most devastating economic collapse current history has known.

[Behind the Aegis]

47. You are very correct.

This is all about oil and the change in the exchange rate. as more and more countries change to exchange to the Euro, the dollar continues to plunge. With the failed Iraq invasion and the bounding oil prices, another oil rich country, not on our 'payroll,' would serve as a likely target for aggression. If it were about fear of nukes, we would have already acted on North Korea.

However, this has all the elements needed. It has "the ruler is a dictator" role, it has "the country is a rogue nation" role, and even better, the Bush group, can again, use Israel as a scapegoat, which will please the right-wing and further divide the left, because of all the Israeli-haters. It is a "win-win" in their book. They have "reason," "method," "international concern," and a "scapegoat."

Most nations, including Israel, know that weapon development is years off. Most are still pushing for negotiations.

[muriel_volestrangler]

49. Oil bourse not to use euros in Iran: TSM chief

LONDON, September 7 (IranMania) - Iran?s stock market chief dismissed reports that the proposed oil bourse will use the euro as official currency for petroleum transactions, stressing that the Stock Exchange Council has not made such a decision.

Heydar Mostakhdemin-Hosseini, who heads the board of directors of the council, told ISNA that the council has agreed in principle to the establishment of a petroleum exchange, stressing, however, that the details of the project have yet to be discussed.

?A consensus on the establishment of an oil bourse has to be reached before discussing the details of the project and the possible branches of the bourse,? he said in response to reports that the proposed petroleum exchange will have several branches across the country.

He said the Stock Exchange Council is required to determine what types of transactions can be conducted at oil bourse.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=35269&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

That article is dated after the energybulletin.net article you linked to, thought before the one from 321gold.com. However, I think this shows that we don't really know what the Iranian oil bourse is going to do. If anyone has actual facts from the Iranians, rather than speculation from the overseas commentators, it would be very useful.

[meganmonkey]

50. I just did a google news search, sorting by date

And the following article seems to have been posted today on several sites. It confirms Iran's plans.
http://mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=507537

On the other hand, this article seems to attempt to debunk the significance of moving to the Euro, although I am having a hard time figuring out where the author is coming from (I think it's too early in the morning, LOL):
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HA21Ak01.html

I guess we won't know for sure until they do it. Unless we start bombing - then we'll never know if they were going to...

[Heewack]

55. A switch the Euro is unlikey

Given that Iran has started to pull there money out of Europe.

Iran Moving Its Foreign Currency Reserves
Jan 20 9:03 AM US/Eastern

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press Writer


TEHRAN, Iran


Iran is moving its foreign currency reserves out of European banks as a pre-emptive measure against any possible U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program, the Central Bank Governor said Friday.

Ebrahim Sheibani told reporters that Iran has started transferring the foreign currency reserves from European banks to an undisclosed location, the semiofficial Iranian Students News Agency reported.

"We transfer the foreign exchange reserves to wherever we deem fit," Sheibani was quoted by ISNA as saying. "We have begun transferring. We are doing that."

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/01/20/D8F8ERL02.html

[newportdadde]

54. I've been saying this for awhile now.

Its all about the oil and it always will be because of how much we use and how important it currently is to our existance. The Euro based market which has been talked about for quite awhile is now coming into play and low and behold Iran is going to Nuke us any minute...

[anarch]

63. everything the Cheney administration does is about oil n/t

[IronLionZion]

65. Operation Iranian Liberation

Those poor people need to be liberated, maybe they have WMDS, maybe they attacked us on 9/11 too. So let's liberate them.

We'll call this mission "Operation Iranian Liberation" or O.I.L.

:sarcasm:

How many countries use the US dollar vs. how many use the Euro? Why can't they pick some neutral currency like gold?