Iran Be Gone?

There is an interesting study by Roger Stern of Johns Hopkins University indicating that Iran's "oil weapon" is in serious decline. At present rates of Iranian oil production (slightly less than 4 million barrels per day), little reinvestment into aging oil fields, a U.S. campaign threatening financing of Iranian oil projects by international banks, and surging domestic demand within the country at very subsidized prices, the amount of oil left for export is declining by 10-15% per year. If that rate were to continue, by 2015 Iran would have no oil left for export, seriously diminishing its cash receipts and its role as a Persian Gulf threat and financier of global terrorism. The fresh thinking attributable to the study suggests that the Iranians are perhaps inflicting more harm on themselves (at least $20-30 billion annually is given away in the form of internal domestic subsidies just to keep restive elements placated) than the U.S. could ever do in a military campaign. A simple waiting action by the U.S. could inflict "paper tiger" status on Tehran.

In my book "The Gambit", the need for higher oil revenues by Tehran is depicted by their collaboration within a conspiracy to spike global oil prices via orchestrated terrorist events.

See: http://www.thegambitsite.com [Read the "Iran and Oil" theme page]

The Real Price of Oil

The price of oil coming out of the ground is not approximately $65 per barrel (as of this writing). Rather, it is over 3000 dead in Iraq, melting polar ice caps and rampant global warming in general, diminished species, illicitly funded terrorist organizations courtesy of petro-dollars and empowered and brazen leadership in Iran, Venezuela and Russia on top of the monetary costs. Even at that, the monetary costs aren't accurately stated; when one adds in the many billions spent in military budgets, environmental cleanups and related health care effects, the real economic costs related to oil are in the hundreds of dollars per barrel price range.

Time for a massive paradigm shift. Why not develop the ultimate weapon within our vast military budget? An automobile averaging over 100 miles per gallon.

See http://www.thegambitsite.com for additional views on the price of oil and how it may be manipulated.