Analyse this!

[RedSpawn]

I see I am more optimistic than other posters when it comes to the growth rate of nanotechnology innovation and how fast solar power and related issues such as storage and transmission will come down in cost and grab market share from carbon based energy sources.

 

=====================

On a somewhat related topic, not sure when we might have a carbon tax here in America but at least lets agree to raise the gasoline tax with oil prices so low here in America.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/12/us-taxpayers-subsidising-worlds-biggest-fossil-fuel-companies

 

If US taxpayers are subsidizing the world's biggest fossil fuels companies, we are already paying an "indirect" tax on the price of oil that is refined to make the gasoline we buy at the pump. I am sure barmar would agree that an increased add-on gasoline tax per gallon and "tax credits" for oil industries are the same tax in a different form.

 

Uncle Sam is a slick cat.

 

[RedSpawn]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/24/al-jazeera-the-qatar-broadcaster-at-centre-of-diplomatic-crisis

 

There is too much emphasis on destroying freedom of the press in Qatar. Governments who can't control the propaganda narrative through a complicit and compromised fourth estate will ask for the destruction of said media.

 

Why? Why? Tell them that its human nature....

[RedSpawn]

http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/the-13-demands-on-qatar-from-saudi-arabia-bahrain-the-uae-and-egypt

 

Are these reasonable demands of Qatar?

 

1. Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there. Expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard from Qatar and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran. Only trade and commerce with Iran that complies with US and international sanctions will be permitted.

 

2. Sever all ties to terrorist organisations, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIL, Al Qaeda, and Hizbollah. Formally declare those entities as terrorist groups.

 

3. Shut down Al Jazeera and its affiliate stations.

 

4. Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including Arabi21, Rassd, Al Araby Al Jadeed and Middle East Eye.

 

5. Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence currently in Qatar and end any joint military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar.

 

6. Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, the US and other countries.

 

7. Hand over terrorist figures and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin. Freeze their assets, and provide any desired information about their residency, movements and finances.

 

8. End interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs. Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where such citizenship violates those countries’ laws.

 

9. Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Hand over all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for those opposition groups.

 

10. Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years. The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.

 

11. Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries militarily, politically, socially and economically, as well as on economic matters, in line with an agreement reached with Saudi Arabia in 2014.

 

12. Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid. The document doesn’t specify what the countries will do if Qatar refuses to comply.

 

13. Consent to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once per quarter during the second year. For the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored annually for compliance.

[Zelandakh]

Are these reasonable demands of Qatar?

No less reasonable than Iran demanding from the USA:-

reparations from 1953 as well as other incursions in the Middle East

major changes in foreign policy

immediate withdrawal of all special forces training "undesirable" groups (undesirable defined by Iran naturally)

cessation of providing arms to Saudi Arabia and other "oppressive" regimes (oppressive similarly defined by Iran)

the shutting down of fake news sites such as Breitbart

termination of "illegal" actions against Iranian and other Muslim citizens within the USA and on its borders (guess who defines illegal)

agreement of all points within 10 days

consent to audits for compliance - monthly for the first year, once per quarter for the second and annually thereafter

 

I could certainly expand the 8 demands above to 13 if desired but I think this is enough to illustrate the point. #3, #5, #11, #12 and #13 are particularly unreasonable. My prediction is that Qatar will basically ignore this list unless the US backs it. And if the USA does back it as it stands, expect a lot of negative reaction from many different quarters - this would essentially be a complete divorce from the pretence of America acting as a neutral police force for freedom on the international stage.

[RedSpawn]

No less reasonable than Iran demanding from the USA:-

reparations from 1953 as well as other incursions in the Middle East

major changes in foreign policy

immediate withdrawal of all special forces training "undesirable" groups (undesirable defined by Iran naturally)

cessation of providing arms to Saudi Arabia and other "oppressive" regimes (oppressive similarly defined by Iran)

the shutting down of fake news sites such as Breitbart

termination of "illegal" actions against Iranian and other Muslim citizens within the USA and on its borders (guess who defines illegal)

agreement of all points within 10 days

consent to audits for compliance - monthly for the first year, once per quarter for the second and annually thereafter

 

I could certainly expand the 8 demands above to 13 if desired but I think this is enough to illustrate the point. #3, #5, #11, #12 and #13 are particularly unreasonable. My prediction is that Qatar will basically ignore this list unless the US backs it. And if the USA does back it as it stands, expect a lot of negative reaction from many different quarters - this would essentially be a complete divorce from the pretence of America acting as a neutral police force for freedom on the international stage.

 

Very well stated! Point taken.

[Wackojack]

Here is the "bloody dictator" Assad!! He sure looks like having less fear than democratic US presidents when walking among his own people!

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjo1rJSeF8w&feature=youtu.be

 

Looks like a carefully choreographed propaganda exercise to me, along with the sweet music.

 

To the main theme: Where is this news source coming from? I have seen Noam Chomsky, John Pilger and others I have seen giving roughly this thesis in the mainstream media. I would like to see your thesis given proper scrutiny, before any analysis.

[Al_U_Card]

Looks like a carefully choreographed propaganda exercise to me, along with the sweet music.

 

To the main theme: Where is this news source coming from? I have seen Noam Chomsky, John Pilger and others I have seen giving roughly this thesis in the mainstream media. I would like to see your thesis given proper scrutiny, before any analysis.

Back upthread I posted a Canadian journalist's on-site report and analysis. Assad, like Castro etc. appears to be preferred to other unknown or imagined rulers.

[RedSpawn]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-4666622/Qatar-responds-Arab-nations-demands-crisis-meeting.html

 

And the crisis continues...

[Zelandakh]

And the crisis continues...

This was simply the forced response to the opening gambit as already mentioned further up the thread. Perhaps we will find out with the next move what the real game is going to be.

[RedSpawn]

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/07/qatar-helium-production/532788/

 

Another financial angle I didn't consider at first glance....hmmmm. I didn't know the U.S. is largest supplier of helium and then followed by Qatar.

[RedSpawn]

https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2016/01/06/new-hillary-emails-reveal-true-motive-for-libya-intervention/

 

Gaddafi died over this?

[Al_U_Card]

https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2016/01/06/new-hillary-emails-reveal-true-motive-for-libya-intervention/

 

Gaddafi died over this?

That motive has been known for some time. The gold Dinar was a slap in the face of the Banksters so they "JFKayoed" Gaddafi.

[RedSpawn]

That motive has been known for some time. The gold Dinar was a slap in the face of the Banksters so they "JFKayoed" Gaddafi.

Sorry, but I am just waking up over here from all of the digital propaganda I was being spoon fed. I didn't know the rabbit hole was THIS deep!

 

Heck. I didn't even know this was potentially one of the precious jewel e-mails from the Clinton e-mail server scandal.

 

https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/12659 ===> WIKILEAKS puts Fake News to shame! I haven't seen them retract a news release yet.

 

Our news networks need to drop the fluff journalism and get on the case like Magnum P.I., FBI. . .looking for the man with the reason why!

 

[RedSpawn]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JkzJ4qLw5E/U6G_t6KObEI/AAAAAAAAA3E/uoY0vt64TW8/s1600/85448_Dollar-Hegemony-by-Luojie-China-Daily-China.jpg

 

A beautiful graphic of what you were saying about our monetary hegemony.

[RedSpawn]

Can someone fact-check this one. I know two of these captions to be true, but I am not as familiar with the other ones.

 

.

 

If Uncle Sam tells you it's not about the oil, always double check that narrative.

 

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8932197/Pearl-Harbour-memo-shows-US-warned-of-Japanese-attack.html

[Al_U_Card]

Don't forget the massive IMF loans that end up going to rich individuals and those responsible for infrastructure and rebuilding projects. Cui bono.

[RedSpawn]

This was simply the forced response to the opening gambit as already mentioned further up the thread. Perhaps we will find out with the next move what the real game is going to be.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-usa-exclusive-idUSKCN1AT0EW

 

Interesting carve-out.

[MrAce]

http://www.neonnettl...ons-in-minerals

 

Now this is an interesting claim

[Zelandakh]

http://www.neonnettl...ons-in-minerals

 

Now this is an interesting claim

Know your sources...

Source check #2

[RedSpawn]

This was simply the forced response to the opening gambit as already mentioned further up the thread. Perhaps we will find out with the next move what the real game is going to be.

Hmmm...never paid attention to the production of natural gas market angle of the story. Qatar was in the process of increasing its natural gas production by 30% and it is quite competitive with the United States.

 

Was Qatar moving in on our market dominance?

 

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2249rank.html

[RedSpawn]

Anyone who tries to compete with Iran and Russia in selling their natural gas with any method other than pipeline (Qatar), will lose the competition.

I know this relates to oil, but still.....

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/1/saudi-aramco-takes-full-ownership-of-largest-us-oi/

 

How did I miss this one and how do you think it fits into the larger picture? Anybody?

 

Also, I guess on some level we are offering Saudi Arabia world class investment expertise with their anticipated $2.1 trillion dollar IPO. Wall Street must be salivating over this opportunity. Thinking about it harder now, Saudi Arabia is having fiscal problems with oil sitting around $44.97 barrel. They have built their budget assumptions on oil prices remaining in the $80-$100 zone to adequately finance government operations and maintain their royal wealth.

 

Since the oil commodity market is glutted right now with low oil prices, Saudi Arabia has to examine other wealth creating opportunities such as buying oil interests in U.S. markets to quickly raise capital and hopefully monetize that equity in a newly formed multinational corporation.

 

Short-term and long term capital gains and petrodollar opportunities abound.

And WALL STREET AKA GOLDMAN SACHS is right there profiting from Saudi Arabia's strong desire to diversify its "wealth" from buying US Treasuries with its trade surplus to IPO's in our equities markets.

 

As predicted. . . and be on the lookout.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-goldman-sachs-saudi-idUSKCN1B00GP

 

Goldman Sachs gets approval for Saudi equities trading license

Tom Arnold and Katie Paul

 

DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N) received approval on Sunday to trade equities in Saudi Arabia, joining the growing band of western investment banks and fund managers expanding in the kingdom.

 

Western financial institutions have been looking to tap new opportunities in Saudi Arabia since the government unveiled plans for oil giant Saudi Aramco's $100 billion initial public offering and introduced reforms to attract foreign capital as part of moves to reduce the economy's dependence on oil.

 

Goldman, which has been operating in the kingdom since 2009 as an agent and underwriter, applied to the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) for a license to trade equities, sources told Reuters in June.

 

In a statement on Sunday, the regulator said it had approved a request by Goldman to amend its business in the kingdom and that the bank was now authorized for principal dealing, fund and portfolio management and advisory and custody activities.

 

A source familiar with the matter confirmed that the license was for the approval of equities trading.

 

Citigroup (C.N) obtained a Saudi investment banking license in April, which will allow it to return to the kingdom after more than 13 years, while Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) is seeking a Saudi license to build a fully-fledged onshore private banking business.

 

It is the second time in three years Goldman has changed its services in Saudi Arabia. In 2014 the CMA authorized it to arrange, advise and manage investment funds and portfolios, according to its website.

 

The Saudi stock exchange opened itself to direct investment by foreign institutions in mid-2015 and last year eased restrictions on foreign ownership in its stock market to improve the investment environment.

 

International firms such as BlackRock (BLK.N), Citigroup, HSBC (HSBA.L) and Ashmore Group have since been among those to join the list of institutional investors that can directly trade the market.

 

In an attempt to secure a role on Aramco's IPO, Goldman bought a portion of the oil company's $10 billion credit facility, Reuters reported this month, citing sources.

[RedSpawn]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-moves-to-restrict-venezuelan-access-to-us-financial-system/2017/08/25/18b22a5e-89ad-11e7-a50f-e0d4e6ec070a_story.html

Trump tightens Venezuela’s access to U.S. financial system

 

President Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 25, to restrict Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's access to the U.S. economy. National security adviser H.R. McMaster said the action strongly punishes Maduro's "illegitimate dictatorship." (Reuters)

By Anne Gearan and Anthony Faiola August 25 at 7:45 PM

President Trump moved Friday to restrict the Venezuelan government’s access to the U.S. financial system and squeeze the oil-based economy that sustains President Nicolás Maduro, but he stopped short of imposing a full oil embargo.

 

Trump signed an executive order barring dealings in new bonds and stocks issued by the government and the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, the parent of Citgo. Banks also cannot engage in new lending with the government or the oil giant.

Follow that oil and petrodollar hegemony and you will find our foreign policy at work!

 

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2244rank.html

 

http://www.mintpressnews.com/u-s-destabilizes-venezuela-syria-to-retain-hegemony-in-global-oil-gas-markets/227831/ ===> REAL journalism, not that fluff cotton candy journalism we have come to expect

 

http://links.org.au/node/1346 ===> imperialism and hegemony at work

[RedSpawn]

https://www.mintpressnews.com/saudi-arabia-asks-us-court-dismiss-911-lawsuits/230451/

 

Hmmmm.

[RedSpawn]

http://time.com/5016727/corruption-crackdowns-can-bring-political-advantages/?xid=homepage&pcd=hp-magmod

 

Interesting discussion about Saudi Arabia's need to transition from a petro-state to a diversified economy (and how to do it).