Thor’s Hall

I read a lot of other blogs around the web.  Most often I extract what I think are interesting perspectives and opinions of others.  I give you some of my superficial thoughts on the topic and ask you to go read the whole post.  Sometimes, I make it a bit easier for you and include the whole piece.

In the past I have referred you over to Chuck Z, and his site.  Chuck has a unique perspective, and personal interest in what happens in the middle east having left bits of himself there after he was wounded.  He has been at the pointy end, defending our freedoms and for that alone he deserves our respect and thanks.  But Chuck has gone beyond that and contributed to those who have returned wounded from our efforts in Mesopotamia.  In all cases he brings a candid and pointed perspective to our world, and he shares that through his blog.  Once in a while he writes something this is a slap in the face wake up call.  Today, he has done that again, with his post IED Maker.

The guy who detonated the IED that crippled me is dead. We caught him, tried him in an Iraqi court, and they stretched his neck.

I dunno if we ever caught the guy who made the IED.

Regardless, an IED maker is a terrorist. If I catch an IED maker, whether he made the IED yesterday or 40 years ago, I’d be very conflicted as to whether to bring him to justice, or to exact instant justice–taking a knife, vise grips, and a blowtorch and replicating my wounds, injury for injury.

You NEED to read the rest, it has a profound implication on your actions November 4, 2008.  GO READ IT, watch the video clip – then make a decision.  Where do you stand?

I have made no bone about my opinions of the threat that is posed to the United States by Iran.  I have pretty clearly stated my opinion that Iran has been a huge supporter of terrorism across the globe since 1979, and perhaps earlier.

An interesting point about the impact of the falling price of oil on our friends in Iran was made over at Threatwatch.org.  Even more interesting is the delta between the tipping points for each country referenced.

The price of crude oil has hit an 8 month low, dipping to just under $90 a barrel. The decrease in price is being attributed to the global financial slowdown, which analysts believe will lead to a reduction in the consumption of gas. The decline in price should come as some relief to the average American and the numerous industries that are struggling to cope with the ripple effects of high energy costs.

Iranian leadership, however, view the decline in the price of oil with great concern. Speaking at the Second International Gas Conference in Tehran, a gathering that includes leading oil and gas producers, Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari called on OPEC members to stabilize prices at over $100 a barrel. “A price of US$100 and below is not suitable for anybody, neither oil producers nor oil consumers… OPEC members need to respect their output quota to avoid a worsening of the oversupply.”

At this point, Iran stands alone in its concern over the current price level for oil. But what is there motive? Is it simple greed – the higher the price of oil, the greater the revenues? To an extent, greed does play a role. However, there seems to be real fiscal concerns at hand for the Islamic Republic. Mohsin Khan, Director of Middle East and Central Asia at the International Monetary Fund, argues,

Iran’s break-even price is $90 a barrel, and that is a big issue in Iran right now. … If prices dip below $90 a barrel, and we have seen it touch $89 earlier this week, then they would have to tighten their public expenditure policy, and probably cut subsidies, which would be an issue for the government there – the public would not be content.

Go read the entire article here.