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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Bombing Iran is now out

This is a great move for the parties involved and a horrid mistake by the US. The Iranians get significant political cover including a possible security council veto on sanctions and military strikes, and the Chinese get below market oil an gas. Playing bully was playing this situation all wrong.
SHANGHAI, Feb. 17 -- China is hastening to complete a deal worth as much as $100 billion that would allow a Chinese state-owned energy firm to take a leading role in developing a vast oil field in Iran, complicating the Bush administration's efforts to isolate the Middle Eastern nation and roll back its nuclear development plans, according to published reports. ....

But the speed with which China and Iran are moving to conclude their agreement and begin development appears to signal Beijing's intent to limit the United States-led drive for sanctions against Iran to curb what the Washington describes as Tehran's rogue effort to develop nuclear weapons.

2 Comments:

  • I hope you are right but I'm afraid they just might go ahead and bomb Iran anyway, even without the Security Council.

    By Blogger gary, at 6:29 PM  

  • It's really just a calculation on China. Will the US strike a backroom deal to guarantee China oil? The Russians have made clear their hand by shipping weapons and Sam missiles to Iran and Syria, support but no direct intervention.

    What is the calculation on China? They can go at the US a number of ways economically through the value of their currency, trade policies or threats to stop financing our debt. They have been cautious in dealing with the US up to now, but they have some pretty big cards they can play.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 9:34 PM  

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