Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

Michael Harold

Published Letters: 498
Editor's Choice: 3

Sunday, July 15, 2007 06:37 PM

No, actually it's Saudi Arabia

The White House claims that Iran, whose influence in the Middle East has increased significantly over the last six years, is intent on building a nuclear weapon and is arming insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2127115,00.html

Actually it's Saudi Arabia that has acquired nuclear weapons (It's shake and bake and I helped -- Pakistan)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/031022-pakistan_saudi-arabia.htm

one more

In 2003, members of the government stated that due to the worsening relations with the U.S., Saudi Arabia was being forced to consider the development of nuclear weapons; however, so far they have denied that they are making any attempt to produce them. It has been rumoured that Pakistan has transferred several nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia, but this is unconfirmed. In March 2006, the German magazine Cicero reported that Saudi Arabia had since 2003 received assistance from Pakistan to acquire nuclear missiles and warheads. Satellite photos allegedly reveal an underground city and nuclear silos with Ghauri rockets in Al-Sulaiyil, south of the capital Riyadh. Pakistan has denied aiding Saudi Arabia in any nuclear ambitions. Furthermore, the Persian Gulf Arab states plan to start their own nuclear program, which has raised fears of proliferation. In March 2007, foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council met in Saudi Arabia to discuss progress in plans agreed in December 2006, for a joint atomic program.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons

and arming insurgents in Iraq.

About 45% of all foreign militants targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia; 15% are from Syria and Lebanon; and 10% are from North Africa, according to official U.S. military figures made available to The Times by the senior officer. Nearly half of the 135 foreigners in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudis, he said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-saudi15jul15,0,3132262.story?coll=la-home-center

That's why we're invading Iran.

We're going to attack Iran so the petrodollar won't collapse.

Iran is planning to open a commodity exchange, variously referred to as the Iran Petroleum Exchange, International Oil Bourse or Iranian Oil Bourse. The acronym IOB has been used as it can be interpreted as either "International Oil Bourse" or "Iranian Oil Bourse", but it has no official status. It would be a Petrobourse for petroleum, petrochemicals and gas in various non-dollar currencies, primarily the euro. If successful, it would establish a euro-based pricing mechanism for oil trading, or oil marker as it is called by traders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Oil_Bourse

And although they want a bourse, Iran will let Japan pay in Yen for now.

Iran asked Japanese refiners to switch to the yen to pay for all crude oil purchases, after Iran's central bank said it is reducing holdings of the U.S. dollar.
Iran wants yen-based transactions ``for any/all of your forthcoming Iranian crude oil liftings,'' according to a letter sent to Japanese refiners that was signed by Ali A. Arshi, general manager of crude oil marketing and exports in Tehran at the National Iranian Oil Co. The request is for all shipments ``effective immediately,'' according to the letter, dated July 10 and obtained by Bloomberg News.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=awYHprN5i52c&refer=home

At least until we attack them. Of course we are going to attack Iran. We already gave Bush and Cheney permission (special thanks to Lieberman and Levin):

that “the murder of members of the United States Armed Forces by a foreign government or its agents is an intolerable act of hostility against the United States,” and demands the government of Iran “take immediate action” to end all forms of support it is providing to Iraqi militias and insurgents. The amendment also mandates a regular report on Iran’s anti-coalition activity in Iraq.

http://letters.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/07/11/various_items/permalink/8dab56bb2e476a7668f203626647acfb.html

Sunday, July 15, 2007 07:10 PM

@Nebuchadnezzar re: There's no need to compartmentalize the problems.

I've got a better idea:

Is the Bush Administration Planning a Nuclear Holocaust?

Will the US launch "Mini-nukes" against Iran in Retaliation for Tehran's "Non-compliance"?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20060222&articleId=2032

We know what that looks like:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0800141709.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

You seem to have adopted the online persona of a nihilist. That is certainly a well-established historical tradition. Nietzsche was a nihilist too. He had a wit to match his nihilism. You don't.

But hey, I understand. It's tough all over.

Most Active Letters Threads

475

The Weekly Standard's ACLU smear indicts only itself

Neoconservative contempt for the Constitution is not only un-American; it is al-Qaida's greatest ally
436

The Washington establishment suffers a serious defeat

Approval of the Paul/Grayson bill to audit the Fed is both rare and important in several ways
415

The administration guts its own argument for 9/11 trials

If some detainees get military commissions or indefinite detention, how can 9/11 trials be justified?
231

Palin-Beck 2012? Sarah says maybe

She'll never be U.S. president, but her star power ought to scare the hell out of her charisma-free GOP rivals
226

A letter to readers

On my current condition: Definitely treatable, definitely uncertain

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon