It looks like a well calculated move.
The three biggest oil producers are USA (12 million barrels per day), Russia (11) and Saudi Arabia (around 10). Oil price rising by $10 means billions of dollars gained by these without disrupting the world order. Note - oil price didn't cross $70.
USA needs the threat of Iran to ensure that the Gulf nations subscribe to its security umbrella and sustain its arms industry. By provoking Iran, it reinforces the threat as Iran retaliates.
Now Iran and its allies like Syria, Lebanon and Jordan will buy arms from Russia to counter. Russia is happy counting Roubles. Note the conspicuous silence of Russia.
China faces a double whammy. Higher oil prices hurt but if it gets into the conflict, USA will raise tariffs and it loses a $500 billion American market. So China is quiet too.
Iran is sabre rattling, but can't get into a conventional conflict with USA. So it will go for asymmetric warfare by
(a) funding terrorist groups in the region which will keep the regional pot boiling and
(b) going nuclear, which will justify sanctions against Iran.
Earlier, Iraq and Libya were getting too defiant. Saddam and Gadaffi had to be hunted. These were the strongest economies in the region - now in shambles!
Now Iran remains the only strong nation defiant against US. As screws get tightened through sanctions, its economy is crumbling. As it gets into asymmetric warfare, the entire region will get engulfed in conflict - suits US. As Iran goes nuclear, it will get more belligerent. Suits US. As Iran goes nuclear, it will get further isolated like North Korea. Suits US.
There is method in this madness. US has no interest in resolving conflict in Moddle East - in fact, the reverse. Any power that is against US and grows too big needs to be trimmed to size - without being decimated - so that each country in the region has a strong enemy to contend with; and seek arms from the US or Russia.
Both US and Russia are oil surplus nations. Oil at $70 suits both of them, besides the arms sales. The loser in this game is Iran as it faces attrition on its economy and gets further isolated by belligerence forced upon it.
PS.
Iran has retaliated by launching missiles on US military bases in Iraq viz. Al-Assad and Erbil. The extent of damages is being assessed. Only hope that the situation doesn't spiral out of control that could lead to a devastation whose magnitude cannot be imagined.
Tailpiece.
Had got up by 6 and there was a deathly silence around thanks to the all-India strike called by the trade unions that had commenced at midnight and will continue till this midnight. By a half past 7, Ramesh, with his assistant, had fetched up to knock off the two worrying hornets' nests which was accomplished without wasting any time. Also, the broken flower pots were replaced with new ones on Lekha's instructions.
Bina, our maid, had arrived for work earlier than usual as her son-in-law had dropped her.
The three biggest oil producers are USA (12 million barrels per day), Russia (11) and Saudi Arabia (around 10). Oil price rising by $10 means billions of dollars gained by these without disrupting the world order. Note - oil price didn't cross $70.
USA needs the threat of Iran to ensure that the Gulf nations subscribe to its security umbrella and sustain its arms industry. By provoking Iran, it reinforces the threat as Iran retaliates.
Now Iran and its allies like Syria, Lebanon and Jordan will buy arms from Russia to counter. Russia is happy counting Roubles. Note the conspicuous silence of Russia.
China faces a double whammy. Higher oil prices hurt but if it gets into the conflict, USA will raise tariffs and it loses a $500 billion American market. So China is quiet too.
Iran is sabre rattling, but can't get into a conventional conflict with USA. So it will go for asymmetric warfare by
(a) funding terrorist groups in the region which will keep the regional pot boiling and
(b) going nuclear, which will justify sanctions against Iran.
Earlier, Iraq and Libya were getting too defiant. Saddam and Gadaffi had to be hunted. These were the strongest economies in the region - now in shambles!
Now Iran remains the only strong nation defiant against US. As screws get tightened through sanctions, its economy is crumbling. As it gets into asymmetric warfare, the entire region will get engulfed in conflict - suits US. As Iran goes nuclear, it will get more belligerent. Suits US. As Iran goes nuclear, it will get further isolated like North Korea. Suits US.
There is method in this madness. US has no interest in resolving conflict in Moddle East - in fact, the reverse. Any power that is against US and grows too big needs to be trimmed to size - without being decimated - so that each country in the region has a strong enemy to contend with; and seek arms from the US or Russia.
Both US and Russia are oil surplus nations. Oil at $70 suits both of them, besides the arms sales. The loser in this game is Iran as it faces attrition on its economy and gets further isolated by belligerence forced upon it.
PS.
Iran has retaliated by launching missiles on US military bases in Iraq viz. Al-Assad and Erbil. The extent of damages is being assessed. Only hope that the situation doesn't spiral out of control that could lead to a devastation whose magnitude cannot be imagined.
Tailpiece.
Had got up by 6 and there was a deathly silence around thanks to the all-India strike called by the trade unions that had commenced at midnight and will continue till this midnight. By a half past 7, Ramesh, with his assistant, had fetched up to knock off the two worrying hornets' nests which was accomplished without wasting any time. Also, the broken flower pots were replaced with new ones on Lekha's instructions.
Bina, our maid, had arrived for work earlier than usual as her son-in-law had dropped her.
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