Military

When I first saw the film "Three Kings" years ago, it occurred to me that it was one of the clearest explanations of American foreign policy I had ever seen. I am certain, however, that this was not the intention of the filmmaker. But let's see how the story illuminates our foreign policy.

- EU prepares unprecedented attack on Iranian economy
- Barrelling towards fuel shortages
- An Iran war is brewing from mutual ignorance and chronic miscalculation

Some economists have claimed that the U.S. economy is less vulnerable to oil price shocks than it used to be. Close down the Strait of Hormuz, and you'll get a good test of that theory.

- Oil Climbs From Four-Week Low as Iran Warns of Hormuz Supply Disruption
- India to pay for Iran crude in rupees
- Juan Cole: Iran Hype undermined by Obama Administration Admissions
- Iran playing war games, but not in video arcades

- U.S. Sends Top Iranian Leader a Warning on Strait Threat
- Who is responsible for the Iran nuclear scientists attacks?
- Russia Warns of US Strike on Iran
- Tom Hayden: Preventing the Coming War with Iran

- Foreign Affairs: Globalization and the Threat to the West (an elite change in direction?)
- Republican Climate Hawks Sighted in New Hampshire (video)
- Matt Taibbi: Iowa: The Meaningless Sideshow Begins
- Obama's Pentagon Strategy: A Leaner, More Efficient Empire
- Harder for Americans to Rise From Lower Rungs

- Exxon 'loses' Venezuela nationalisation case
- Western Oil Firms Remain as US Exits Iraq
- The US-Iran Economic War
- Japan to Express Concerns to U.S. Over Possible Iranian Oil Ban

- NYT: Oil Price Would Skyrocket if Iran Closed the Strait of Hormuz
- RT: Crude Plan: Iran war & double recession? (video)
- Iran could be bluffing in the strait of Hormuz – but can US risk calling it?

- EU agrees Iran oil embargo
- Iran's Real Weapon Of Mass Destruction Is Oil Prices
- Iran prepares bill to bar foreign warships from Persian Gulf
- Obama Seeks to Distance U.S. from Israeli Attack (Iran)
- Iran's new show of force
- Tehran Times: U.S. presence in Persian Gulf is damaging: Iran defense minister
- Nuclear Fuel Test Won't Hasten Iran Bomb: Experts

- NYT: Iran Warns the United States Over Aircraft Carrier
- Oil up 3 percent on Iran warning and U.S., China data
- Iran risk accounts for up to $10-15 of oil price: Reuters' Kemp (video)
- Crude Oil Prices Could Rise This Year, But Prices Could Be Very Volatile
- Conflict in Straits of Hormuz? $200 a Barrel Oil?

In this third and final article in this series, we will discuss seven new ways of living which we can adopt as economic growth fails. They are not revolutionary (revolutions never achieve their utopian visions because of something called "human nature"). Rather, they may allow us to "muddle through" the best we can right now with what we already know how to do. We will do these things because they will work -- and we certainly need to stop doing things that don't work, and find new ways that will work.

We cannot "set things right" in the sense of restoring things to the way they once were, but we must begin now to adapt to the new realities if we are to reduce suffering and continue an advanced culture. Today's article, "Out With the Old", discusses ending seven unsustainable practices.

OPEC head Abdullah El-Badri warned European leaders on Wednesday against imposing sanctions on Iranian oil, stating that the 865,000 barrels a day which goes mostly to Southern Europe would be difficult to replace. Global supply is already tight and oil prices remain stubbornly high despite the chronic Euro-crisis...

Does Thursday's announcement that the EU is considering to ban oil imports from Iran epitomise the draining of power from west to east? The big winners here will be China and India, who do not fear rising Iranian influence and who will gladly soak up any additional oil exports they may have to offer. However, ending this small dependency upon Iranian oil imports in Europe does clear the way for military action without the need to ponder the immediate consequences on oil imports.

Even a small interruption of the daily oil supply impacts our nation’s economic engine, but a sustained disruption would alter every aspect of our lives -- from food costs and distribution to what or if we eat, to manufacturing goods and services to freedom of movement.

A new CNA analysis finds if America reduces its current rate of oil consumption by 30 percent, and diversifies its fuel sources, the U.S. economy would be insulated from the impact of such disruptions -- even in the event of a complete shutdown of a strategic chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz, the international passageway for 33 percent of the world’s seaborne oil shipments.

Members contributing to the report include some of our nation’s highest-ranking retired military leaders with 400 years of collective military experience.