A storm is coming

[ThatsRight]

Iraq-"In November 2000, Saddam Hussein switched the currency required to purchase Iraqi oil to the euro."
Libya-"Gadhafi’s Plan to quit selling Libyan oil in U.S. dollars — demanding payment instead in gold-backed “dinars”"

What are Gadhafi and Suddam up to now adays?

Iran-"In line with a policy of selling crude oil in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the sale of our country's oil in U.S. dollars has been completely eliminated," ISNA reported Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari as saying. As the Oil Bourse in Kish is developed through successive stages, the plan is to establish a Petrobourse as a fourth oil market, denominated by the Iranian rial, the euro and other major currencies. Iran sits on some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world"

I wouldn't do that if I were you....

Iran's currency has slid 20 percent against the dollar in the last week despite central bank intervention Following the latest US sanctions, the Iranian currency is now trading at 16,8000 riyals to the US dollar. One year ago, the currency was trading at 10,500 riyals to the greenback. That represents a slump of 60 per cent – caused by the foreign policy meddling of Western governments and Washington in particular.

In any rational calculation, this attack on the economy of a sovereign state by foreign powers can be rightfully seen as a threat to its vital interests – yet another act of war in a mounting list of deeply hostile acts, including a host of covert assassinations and abductions of Iranian scientists and military personnel, terrorist sabotage of infrastructure, and invasion of Iranian territory with US spy drones, as well as overt threats of imminent military attack on the country. The US sale of $60 billion of weapons to Saudi Arabia at the end of last month can also be seen as part of Washington’s campaign of aggression..

UK and US sanctions for freedom. Create internal economic instability for revolution.

“Iran will not repeat its warning … the enemy’s carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf. We are not in the habit of warning more than once” Salehi told IRNA.

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that a new aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea and that another was on its way to the region. The shift in the powerful U.S. naval assets comes at a moment of heightened tensions with Iran, which has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil shipping lane - if U.S. and EU sanctions over its nuclear program cut off its oil exports.

thousands of American troops and two advanced missile systems are being deployed to Israel

That's a lot of freedom being spread.

You see, we're a gracious empire. We don't want to occupy you and take direct ownership of your assets...that's too messy and leads to revolution...we just demand that our colonies give up their real resources for our little green peices of paper. But---this stunt you're playing....won't go without punishment. Remember the good old days when we were friends? Having your currency/economy destroyed and our military breathing down your neck can't be any fun! You know what needs to be done. Yours truely, Uncle Sam.




Meanwhile, on CNN and Fox News, those blasted Iranians continue to try and create nuclear weapons because they want to kill Americans. They're insane!

[ThatsRight]

Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.


.......voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.

After the United States gobbled up California and half of Mexico, and we were stripped down to nothing, territorial expansion suddenly becomes a crime. It's been going on for centuries, and it will still go on.

The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished the accused.

Hermann Göring---Nuremberg Trials

[sevEN]

You know what, in my humble opinion, i believe a storm is coming. just take a look at the facts...

Iraq-"In November 2000, Saddam Hussein switched the currency required to purchase Iraqi oil to the euro."
Libya-"Gadhafi’s Plan to quit selling Libyan oil in U.S. dollars — demanding payment instead in gold-backed “dinars”"

What are Gadhafi and Suddam up to now adays?

Iran-"In line with a policy of selling crude oil in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the sale of our country's oil in U.S. dollars has been completely eliminated," ISNA reported Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari as saying. As the Oil Bourse in Kish is developed through successive stages, the plan is to establish a Petrobourse as a fourth oil market, denominated by the Iranian rial, the euro and other major currencies. Iran sits on some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world"

I wouldn't do that if I were you....

Iran's currency has slid 20 percent against the dollar in the last week despite central bank intervention Following the latest US sanctions, the Iranian currency is now trading at 16,8000 riyals to the US dollar. One year ago, the currency was trading at 10,500 riyals to the greenback. That represents a slump of 60 per cent – caused by the foreign policy meddling of Western governments and Washington in particular.

In any rational calculation, this attack on the economy of a sovereign state by foreign powers can be rightfully seen as a threat to its vital interests – yet another act of war in a mounting list of deeply hostile acts, including a host of covert assassinations and abductions of Iranian scientists and military personnel, terrorist sabotage of infrastructure, and invasion of Iranian territory with US spy drones, as well as overt threats of imminent military attack on the country. The US sale of $60 billion of weapons to Saudi Arabia at the end of last month can also be seen as part of Washington’s campaign of aggression..

UK and US sanctions for freedom. Create internal economic instability for revolution.

“Iran will not repeat its warning … the enemy’s carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf. We are not in the habit of warning more than once” Salehi told IRNA.

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that a new aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea and that another was on its way to the region. The shift in the powerful U.S. naval assets comes at a moment of heightened tensions with Iran, which has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil shipping lane - if U.S. and EU sanctions over its nuclear program cut off its oil exports.

thousands of American troops and two advanced missile systems are being deployed to Israel

That's a lot of freedom being spread.

You see, we're a gracious empire. We don't want to occupy you and take direct ownership of your assets...that's too messy and leads to revolution...we just demand that our colonies give up their real resources for our little green peices of paper. But---this stunt you're playing....won't go without punishment. Remember the good old days when we were friends? Having your currency/economy destroyed and our military breathing down your neck can't be any fun! You know what needs to be done. Yours truely, Uncle Sam.




Meanwhile, on CNN and Fox News, those blasted Iranians continue to try and create nuclear weapons because they want to kill Americans. They're insane!

[Rob]

Let's get dullumis in on this.

[mg_]

Welp.

[kirk]

It's funny because just the other day I was explaining to my friend how:

Iraq-"In November 2000, Saddam Hussein switched the currency required to purchase Iraqi oil to the euro."
Libya-"Gadhafi’s Plan to quit selling Libyan oil in U.S. dollars — demanding payment instead in gold-backed “dinars”"

What are Gadhafi and Suddam up to now adays?

Iran-"In line with a policy of selling crude oil in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the sale of our country's oil in U.S. dollars has been completely eliminated," ISNA reported Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari as saying. As the Oil Bourse in Kish is developed through successive stages, the plan is to establish a Petrobourse as a fourth oil market, denominated by the Iranian rial, the euro and other major currencies. Iran sits on some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world"

I wouldn't do that if I were you....

Iran's currency has slid 20 percent against the dollar in the last week despite central bank intervention Following the latest US sanctions, the Iranian currency is now trading at 16,8000 riyals to the US dollar. One year ago, the currency was trading at 10,500 riyals to the greenback. That represents a slump of 60 per cent – caused by the foreign policy meddling of Western governments and Washington in particular.

In any rational calculation, this attack on the economy of a sovereign state by foreign powers can be rightfully seen as a threat to its vital interests – yet another act of war in a mounting list of deeply hostile acts, including a host of covert assassinations and abductions of Iranian scientists and military personnel, terrorist sabotage of infrastructure, and invasion of Iranian territory with US spy drones, as well as overt threats of imminent military attack on the country. The US sale of $60 billion of weapons to Saudi Arabia at the end of last month can also be seen as part of Washington’s campaign of aggression..

UK and US sanctions for freedom. Create internal economic instability for revolution.

“Iran will not repeat its warning … the enemy’s carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf. We are not in the habit of warning more than once” Salehi told IRNA.

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that a new aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea and that another was on its way to the region. The shift in the powerful U.S. naval assets comes at a moment of heightened tensions with Iran, which has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil shipping lane - if U.S. and EU sanctions over its nuclear program cut off its oil exports.

thousands of American troops and two advanced missile systems are being deployed to Israel

That's a lot of freedom being spread.

You see, we're a gracious empire. We don't want to occupy you and take direct ownership of your assets...that's too messy and leads to revolution...we just demand that our colonies give up their real resources for our little green peices of paper. But---this stunt you're playing....won't go without punishment. Remember the good old days when we were friends? Having your currency/economy destroyed and our military breathing down your neck can't be any fun! You know what needs to be done. Yours truely, Uncle Sam.

Meanwhile, on CNN and Fox News, those blasted Iranians continue to try and create nuclear weapons because they want to kill Americans. They're insane!

[Sears]

[youtube]5uswDmTjLog[/youtube]

[mg_]

Why can't you guys be real Americans and understand the brown people in this world hate America because its freedoms, and not how we meddle with their country's politics and instill dictators that buy our guns?

[ThatsRight]

It's funny because just the other day I was explaining to my friend how:

It's funny how you of all people would mock me.

Maybe you can explain to your friend that the reason everything is falling apart and the poor, little American can't afford healthcare or schooling is because a fourth war of aggression in less than a decade is at a tipping point.

It's classic public management by the Pentagon. Put the fleet in harms way and troops in Israel. ONEAmerican soldier or ship gets attacked in a mistake....or one Iranian captain gets a bad idea......or anything and they can rally the American public in support because they'll be demanding revenge.

The clueless public continues to let Washington play the world bully.
[youtube]wBAfpjf5z2U&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
3 fleets.

Let's get dullumis in on this.

Except what I'm saying isn't really a conspiracy. It's a well known system in policy circles. Just because you're clueless, doesn't mean something doesn't exsist.






Oh, and Russia just let it be known that it considers an attack on Tehran by Israel or the United States, an attack on Moscow.

The plot thickens.

[scorch-]

Correction, it's one strike group with other random ships. Not even close to 3 anything. There may be a full ARG but it's impossible to tell. But your conclusions based off a youtube video are laughable.

Pretty sure I saw every naval ship ever built in the US in that video. You likely couldn't see them all because they have stealth water paint. We're probably going to war in it, but we'll never know because it's a secret war covered up by the Pentagon.

[gwolf_]

Grab your tin foil hats!

[unpro]

theres only 1 carrier, thats just a fraction of our naval power.

not only that, it could very well be a mix of countries in that formation. RIMPAC isnt just a US thing, its a joint exercise.

[unpro]

More than 30 ships participating in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2010 are seen here in formation led by USS Ronald Reagan. Canadian ships participating in the exercise include Her Majesty's Canadian Ships Algonquin and Calgary.

and it is a mix.

[unpro]

also, moosh correct me if im wrong, but isnt every US fleet basically 1 super carrier and its support ships? except i think its the 4th fleet?

[unpro]

ah, i mixed up carrier group and fleet then. silly naval terminology.

[scorch-]

How hard is it to become captain of a tugboat? I'm thinking of a career change, but I've heard tugboating is wrought with nepotism.

[ThatsRight]

Correction, it's one strike group with other random ships. Not even close to 3 anything. There may be a full ARG but it's impossible to tell. But your conclusions based off a youtube video are laughable.

The ships I posted in that video isn't related to what's happening now. It was from last year in the Pacific and included a bunch of other nations. The point I was trying to convey is that a fleet is expensive and large in scope. The next time the OWS crowd complains about jobs, infrustructure or education falling apart, they should take a look at that little unchecked empire we're running.


However, in regards to Iran....From my understanding, the U.S has moved 2 carrier groups to the Arabian Sea and yet another is on the way. That's from the Pentagon source, not me.

Grab your tin foil hats!

Put your head in the sand and turn American Idol on. Bread and circuses.

Iran is taking on the petro dollar hegemony. The U.S and U.K are trying to destroy Iran's currency (it's down 20% in the last few weeks and 60% overall...) in retailiation with sanctions. For the first time, they may even specifically target their oil exports. Basically, "either sell your oil in dollars or you aren't selling any of it to anyone". So Iran threatened to shut down a large portion of the world's oil by closing the straight of Hormuz---sending gas prices high the last few weeks. They ran a drill in the straight with their fleet. An american fleet showed up to shadow them....they said that it would be attacked if it returned and that they don't warn twice....then we send even more naval assets to the gulf.

Iranian scientists are being blown away. They have claimed to have caught CIA agents and executed them recently, and took our spy plane. Both countries are already engaging in outright economic war against one another...and our navy is breathing down their neck amid high tensions.



What part is the "crazy" conspiracy? I think like a large percentage of the American population, you're just clueless to what's happening. Ignorance is bliss and the status quo continues unchecked.

[ThatsRight]

The Iranian government, which captured a U.S. stealth drone in December, has agreed to give the top-secret spy craft back, but with a catch.

Instead of the original RQ-170 Sentinel drone, the Islamic Republic said Tuesday that it will send President Obama a tiny toy replica of the plane.

Our act of war: espionage...met with a humorous response~

[mg_]

I have mad respect for Iran. There is a pretty good fact sheet out there that talks about the shit that goes on there.

In the entire Middle East and Anatolian peninsula, it's the only Muslim country that has a condom factory. It's not unhinged like the U.S. and Israeli lobby would want us to believe.

I really don't care if they have nukes. I think it is fine if they do. It's a fairly capable quasi-democratic government, and it certainly doesn't start aggressive foreign wars to "promote democracy and human rights." It's pretty weird how people hate Iran for revolting against the Shah, a U.S. chosen dictator and holding Americans accountable for that tomfoolery.

[Sears]

Fa sho, Tehran aint Baghdad.

[Swiss]

i thought this would be about alex's neg train.


disappointed.

[motive]

its like mafia . Rism has come back to us

[ThatsRight]

really don't care if they have nukes. I think it is fine if they do. It's a fairly capable quasi-democratic government, and it certainly doesn't start aggressive foreign wars to "promote democracy and human rights."

And that's the entire point. No country that has nukes has ever been invaded, and there really isn't a foreseeable scenario where it would happen outside of maybe Pakistan and India. The United States knows that if Iran gets nukes they can simply tell us to fuck off when we try and steal their real natural resources with paper.

Then again, one country does have a history of using nukes, threatening the world with nukes, and embarking on dozens of foreign invasions. If you wanted to look at it objectively, Iran getting nukes is actually defensive and in their best national interest...just like any other country that has acquired them.

Fa sho, Tehran aint Baghdad

Well, Baghdad had 2 American wars, long term American sanctions, and an American financed war with Iran working against it. Maybe in due time we can turn Tehran into a hell hole. We're already working on destroying their people's currency--essentially robbing their citizens of living standards and purchasing power.

[ThatsRight]

We've been to baghdad once.

Just because the American ground forces stopped short of pushing to Baghdad after repelling them from Kuwait, doesn't mean the aircraft didn't get there. Baghdad got pounded in the air war....so as I said, they were part of two American wars. I'm not really sure what you're getting at. Does that type of destruction just not count in your world...or?

At the end of the war, electricity production was at four percent of its pre-war levels. Bombs destroyed the utility of all major dams, most major pumping stations, and many sewage treatment plants, turning Iraq from one of the most advanced Arab countries into one of the most primitive.Telecommunications equipment, port facilities, oil refineries and distribution, railroads and bridges were also destroyed.

Then, UN sanctions economically bled them dry for a decade while they "recovered".....before another (read:second) air campaign and ground invasion.


Baghdad BECAME a shithole for a reason.

[mg_]

Iraq had a U.S. imposed no-fly zone over 2/3 of its geographical territory. Baghdad was also prone to being struck by cruise missiles and sorties by the U.S. government from the end of Desert Storm up through Operation: Iraqi Freedom.

[img]

I'm with 7th Fleet ^_^

Im pretty sure reh is the new dullumis


Hiiii FC2 Hendricks

[ThatsRight]

Understood. But we've still only been there once.

Great. Good thing I didn't say that we occupied it twice. I said it was part of 2 American wars (3 if you want to count the one against Iran where we funded and armed both sides).

Did you have a point?

I'm with 7th Fleet ^_^

Im pretty sure reh is the new dullumis

Uhh, what part was the conspiracy? What did I say that wasn't correct?

If there's any person brainwashed, it's most likely you. Constantly being told that you're a force for good, and god's gift to the world. You sit there with your hands in your ears saying "nah nah nah that's not how it's.". The rest of us will watch American policy and see it for what it is.

Chalmers Johnson said it best when he left his CIA service disgusted. He was convinced that America was always a force for the free world trying to fight communism and the like. However, when he saw how the U.s reacted after the collapse of the soviet union, he knew it was all a ruse. They continue to "create new enemies" to set up control around the world. We didn't scale back after winning the cold war, it only continued on--and in fact, accelerated into trying to make sure a new rival did not come about. It was always about building an empire.

If you think that's a conspiracy like one Dumbulus would create about controlled demo, well, quite frankly you aren't very smart. The evidence is stacked a mile high.

[ThatsRight]

No point, just showing you how it is to talk to a wall.

Are we brainwashed? My ship personally rescued the crew if the Magellan Star in 2010 with no casualties while I (ME) provided overwatch. Without us being a presence in the gulf of aden many more innocents would be killed by young desperate Somalians.

If i could only tell you what Iran and North Korea are up to, and even China, but you would just chalk it up to an evil regime convincing their soldiers they're in the right.

Of course our Navy also does good in the world. I'm well aware of many of the humanitarian or disaster relief missions that go on. But all that goodness comes with a motive, and much of the bad that has gone on is inexcusable.

[img]

No point, just showing you how it is to talk to a wall.

Are we brainwashed? My ship personally rescued the crew if the Magellan Star in 2010 with no casualties while I (ME) provided overwatch. Without us being a presence in the gulf of aden many more innocents would be killed by young desperate Somalians.

If i could only tell you what Iran and North Korea are up to, and even China, but you would just chalk it up to an evil regime convincing their soldiers they're in the right.

Of course our Navy also does good in the world. I'm well aware of many of the humanitarian or disaster relief missions that go on. But all that goodness comes with a motive, and much of the bad that has gone on is inexcusable.

My port in singapore got cut short cause of the flooding in thailand I did a humanitarian support onload from 12pm till 1am onloading food, water and other supplies we left singapore 3 days early to help thailand we rushed up there to get told they didnt need our help. there was no motive behind it other than providing support to a country that needed it

[ThatsRight]

My port in singapore got cut short cause of the flooding in thailand I did a humanitarian support onload from 12pm till 1am onloading food, water and other supplies we left singapore 3 days early to help thailand we rushed up there to get told they didnt need our help. there was no motive behind it other than providing support to a country that needed it

You can't be that naive. You just can't be.

Do you think the people at the Pentagon are stupid? I can assure you, they are not.

The U.s is making a dramatic shift of military assets to the Pacific. Increasing funding to pretty much all allies, not just Singapore. Trying to get more bases, trying to strengthen the dollar in international trade with our colonies, locking up resources.

The US' new emphasis on Asia and the containment of China is necessary, top officials insist, because the Asia-Pacific region now constitutes the "centre of gravity" of world economic activity.

For the first time since the end of World War II, Washington is no longer the dominant economic actor there. If the United States is to retain its title as the world's paramount power, it must, this thinking goes, restore its primacy in the region and roll back Chinese influence. In the coming decades, no foreign policy task will, it is claimed, be more important than this.

Just like the original great game, this is a battle on many fronts, being fought with aid, investment, politics and culture - from Pakistan (a long-time Chinese ally) to Nepal, and across South East Asia.

The U.s is increasing diplomatic and military ties with Singapore, Australia, India, Thailand and Vietnam - all countries surrounding China or overlooking key trade routes that China relies on for importing raw materials and exporting manufactured goods.

Whatever form that takes, one thing is certain: the leadership of the globe's number two economic power is not going to let itself appear weak and indecisive in the face of a US build-up on the periphery of its country.

Sowing the seeds of a new Cold War in Asia

I'm sure helping is good for morale of the soldiers, good for the folks at home to buy into "Navy: A global force for good", and some may even want to do it just because it's the right thing to do, but let's not pretend there isn't a motive. If the U.s was so interested in helping people, it would start shifting that 3/4 of a trillion dollar military budget into humanitarian aid on the domestic and foreign front. However, we know that's not going to happen. You personally may not have a motive, but in world politics or business, there's ALWAYS a motive.

Any expenditure to keep hegemony is acceptable...as long as it keeps hegemony in place. The Soviet Union lost to the United States because we locked them into a spending race....a spending race we couldn't lose as long as we are able to spend unlimited amounts of money to keep in in place.

[kirk]

Five years on the same ship and no amount of anything besides being home can raise my morale. Work 6 to 6 6 days a week and I still defend the navy's actions of having no ulterior motives. But if there are benefits to helping other countries they're all over it. But aide is truly the primary motive.

[kirk]

YES IM A MAD MAN.

666, bro. You mark of the devil bro? Damn you scary, bro.

[ThatsRight]

Moosh...Five years on the same ship and no amount of anything besides being home can raise my morale. Work 6 to 6 6 days a week and I still defend the navy's actions of having no ulterior motives. But if there are benefits to helping other countries they're all over it. But aide is truly the primary motive.

Hmmm. So where was the aid for Iraq in the 90's? Where's the aid for Iran right now as we destroy their currency, which obviously is designed to hit the people? Surely they should warrant our help just as much as the folks in Singapore, since aide is the primary motive.

The BBC article was reporting from a study of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, titled "Sanctions and childhood mortality in Iraq", that was published in the May 2000 Lancet medical journal.[52] The study concluded that in southern and central Iraq, infant mortality rate between 1994 and 1999 had risen to 108 per 1,000. Up from 47 per 1,000 live births between 1984 and 1989. This compares to approximately 7 per 1,000 in the UK.

Estimates of excess deaths during sanctions vary depending on the source.

Unicef: 500,000 children (including sanctions, collateral effects of war). "[As of 1999] [c]hildren under 5 years of age are dying at more than twice the rate they were ten years ago."

Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq Denis Halliday: "Two hundred thirty-nine thousand children 5 years old and under" as of 1998

Iraqi Baathist government: 1.5 million

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark: 1.5 million (includes sanctions, bombs and other weapons, depleted uranium poisonin

Iraqi Cultural Minister Hammadi: 1.7 million (includes sanctions, bombs and other weapons, depleted uranium poisoning

[ThatsRight]

How are we to provide aid when they don't want us in the Gulf? And threaten us with death if we go in?

THEY threaten US with death?

So let me get this straight. You think that they just have a hatred for Americans, so much so that they would turn down our aid. Do you think there's a reason that they would feel that strongly? Or....?

I mean do you see the problem with your reasoning?

[ThatsRight]

Have you ever been there? Have you ever had your ships chemical attack alarms go off at 2am? Ever been fired at by Iranian surface ships?

Given the history of the U.s with Iran and the U.s with Iraq (assuming you actually know ALL of it), what type of reaction would you expect?

I'm sorry but you're playing it off like the Navy ships that sailed half way across the world and got put in harms way for empire power projection are some sort of helpless victum.

WHy doesn't Canada get attacked by terrorists? Why are Canadian ships never attacked with chemical weapons?

I mean, I've never been bombed for 10 years, and starved with sanctions, but I'd imagine I wouldn't be very friendly either. How would you as a navy person react to a foreign power having their ships near America?

[ThatsRight]

Do you not understand we don't give a shit about the country of Iran? And that's why the don't get dick. Or do you just think we should treat every asshole country the same?

Ahhh, so those people within Iran deserve to die. I see. They don't count as people in your book?

So, if the mission is about helping innocent people, why do the innocent people in Iran not deserve aid? Then again, they wouldn't need aid if we weren't destroying their currency to force Iran to give us our way.