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Iranian riot police move in as protesters set garbage on fire near the old main bazaar in the center of Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday.
Riot police clashed with demonstrators and foreign exchange dealers in Tehran on Wednesday over the collapse of the Iranian currency, which has lost 40 percent of its value against the dollar in a week, witnesses told Reuters.
Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators angered by the plunge in the value of the rial. The protesters shouted slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying his economic policies had fueled the economic crisis, Reuters reported.
Iranian: 'Our money is becoming more and more worthless every day'
The rial has hit record lows against the U.S. dollar almost daily as Western economic sanctions imposed over Iran's disputed nuclear program have slashed the country's export earnings from oil, undermining the central bank's ability to support the currency.
Panicking Iranians have scrambled to buy hard currencies, pushing down the rial. With Iran's official inflation rate at around 25 percent, the currency's weakness is hurting living standards and threatening jobs.
The Iranian economy is in free-fall with its currency, the rial, hitting a record low. NBC's Ali Arouzi reports.
The government blames speculators for the rial's collapse and ordered the security services to take action against them.
NBC News correspondent Ali Arouzi – one of the few Western journalists allowed in Tehran – said the protests were "unusual" but "not likely to spread into wider disorder."
He said: "Authorities here respond very quickly to prevent public disorder. The currency situation here is very difficult for everyone but at the moment this seems to be a dispute between angry currency dealers and the authorities in one part of Tehran.
"People take their savings to these currency dealers to get them converted into more stable U.S. dollars, which has been one of the factors in the weakening of the rial. The dealers are unhappy that their businesses have been shuttered."
More Iran coverage from NBCNews.com
BBC journalist Mehrzad Kohanrouz posted on Twitter a link to a video clip that appeared to be of demonstrations in Tehran, while a U.K.-based human rights activist posting on Twitter as "Zealous Iranian" published two pictures that he told NBC News were taken by witnesses at the scene of the disturbances. None of the social media material could be independently verified by NBC News.
Tehran's main bazaar, whose merchants played a major role in Iran's revolution in 1979, was closed on Wednesday, witnesses told Reuters. A shopkeeper who sells household goods there told Reuters that the instability of the rial was preventing merchants from quoting accurate prices.
YouTube clip purportedly shows closed shops in #Iran capital Tehran in protest at dollar price - youtube.com/watch?feature=�
— Mehrzad Kohanrouz (@Mehrzadbbc) October 3, 2012
The protests centered around the bazaar and spread, according to the opposition website Kaleme, to Imam Khomeini Square and Ferdowsi Avenue – the scene of bloody protests against Ahmadinejad's re-election in 2009.
Protesters shouted slogans like "Mahmoud the traitor – you've ruined the country" and "Don't fear, don't fear – we are all together," the website said.
Currency at record low
The national currency dove to a record low on Tuesday to 37,500 to the U.S. dollar in the free market, from about 34,200 at the close of business on Monday, foreign exchange traders in Tehran said. On Monday last week, it traded at around 24,600.
NBC's Ali Arouzi answers reader questions from Iran
Ahmadinejad on Tuesday blamed the crisis on the U.S.-led economic sanctions on Iran and insisted the country could ride out the crisis. He urged Iranians not to change their money for dollars and said security forces should act against 22 "ringleaders" in the currency market.
Picture from today in Tehran near Grand Bazar. Protests over currency, heavy security presence. #Iran twitter.com/Zealous_Irania…
— Zealous_Iranian (@Zealous_Iranian) October 3, 2012
Picture from Saadi Street, Tehran today. Protests over fallen currency. #Iran twitter.com/Zealous_Irania…
— Zealous_Iranian (@Zealous_Iranian) October 3, 2012
The rial's slide suggested the Western sanctions were having a serious impact. On Sunday, Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Iran's economy was "on the verge of collapse."
The rial has lost about two-thirds of its value since June 2011. Its losses accelerated in the past week after the government launched an "exchange center" to supply dollars to importers of basic goods; businessmen say the center failed to meet demand for dollars.
Iranians feel the pain of sanctions: 'Everything has doubled in price'
At the Dubai Creek, a crowded waterway from which motorized dhows ship goods to Iran, merchants said Iranian business had fallen off dramatically in the last two weeks.
"Everyone is losing; traders from Iran are losing because of the depreciating rial, and we're losing here because Iranians can't afford to buy our products anymore," said Ahmed Mohammed Amin, 53, an Iranian trader who has lived in Dubai for 40 years.
Reuters and NBC News' Ali Arouzi and Alastair Jamieson contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
- From war zones, photographer brings scars and searing images
- Images: Inside Syria with Ann Curry
- NBC's Lester Holt answers your questions about Afghanistan
- After 7 rhinos slaughtered, India looks to one from same fate
- Colonial sins return to haunt former world powers
- Death threats force Afghan actress into hiding
- In Iran, sanctions bite and currency collapses
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Leave a Comment:
Gee, speculators cause issues with currency value, say it isn't so! Post 9/11, the speculator almost strangled USA to death.
That whole region is like a tenderbox, question is, who will be dumb enough to strike the match?
How's that Muslim Spring working out for ya now?
Since there's nothing of real value behind fiat currency, ALL currency transactions are speculation.
Tracy,
It is a matter of time isrealis start protesting and burning cars in the streets...
I do not think US will give a dime to isreal anymore.. And isolated in the world, most isrealis will go hungry and emigrate to arab kingdoms to find work.....
It is a matter of time isrealis start protesting and burning cars in the streets...
I do not think US will give a dime to isreal anymore.. And isolated in the world, most isrealis will go hungry and emigrate to arab kingdoms to find work.....
sorry for stuttering....
Why would Israel protest over Iran falling apart? Israel's economy and poverty level is pretty low and the country is stable with only minor domestic disputes. Cant say the same for the Countries that are Muslim
Take the revolution to their homes, not the streets. The Green Revolution Lives !
I think Abdallah Abdallah meant Iran and not Israel.
Abdallah Abdallah is either a paid Iran propaganda poster, or very anti-Semitic. The guy is always pro-Islamic anti-American Cycledude.
I wondered WTF AA was talking about
Sounds like sanctions are having more and more of an effect every day. The question is, what will the Iranian govt be driven to do? Capitulate to Western demands or spark a war in hopes it will backfire on us?
The best outcome would be for the Iranians themselves to overthrow their religious tyranny and reclaim their country, but the Iranian armed forces are probably too strong for that.
AG99
Best thing Iran could do, start a war with the US, then surrender, then we would throw at least 5 to 10 billion for their Quick Start towards Democracy.
Tinto, seems to be how it works alright
Tinto De Verano, ever see the movie called "The Mouse That Roared" with Woody Allen from the mid 60's? It is a hilarious movie in which Iran is the mouse with a similar scenario taking place. Little tiny country in Europe declares war on U.S., then surrenders after a day or two. This followed immediately by a request for U.S. aid dollars to help rebuild it's economy.
Come on dude.. Isrealis will do the same what iranians are doing now IN ISREAL...
When US cuts the aid, isrealis will suffer and turn their attention to dikheads running the government...
neither iran lover, nor anti semi.
I might be pro-muslim but I love US, much more than the jews living here.. For me , USA first...
I knew that you would figure it out eventually....Einstein...
Johngis, if Iran's economy is suffering it's because the West is putting economic pressure on it. So the West and Israel are responsible. That should concern everyone because if Iran becomes unstable or chaos follows you could have the rise of Islamic fanatics who don't just talk about violence but who can de-stabilize the entire region. Ahmadwhatever may make speeches about Irael but he and the powers that be in Iran would not be so stupid as to start a war. (Mind you I'm not talking about the stupid games of assasinations that both sides are playing). If extreme fanatics take over then it might really hit the fan. That could even make Israel feel sentimental about the current Iranian leadership. Remember the adage, be careful what you wish for.
Well iran dump your extremists leaders and their nuc weapon program. Elect a moderate government and sanctions would go away. Have your leaders keep religion out of government and treat people the way they would like to be treated. Otherwise this mess will get worse and your country will fall a part.
Dump your leaders, but keep your program. A program in which the majorityof Iranians support. Settle for deal that will allow for the transfer of missile technology. All you is enough to overwhelm their "Golden Dome" missile defense, just in case.
Don't you mean give up your sovereignty and cow tow to the west? How is it that we have a problem with the ME countries that DON'T have nuclear weapons but when it comes to the ones that do, what ever goes on in your country is ok with us? Does the word bully come to mind?
The sanctions against Iran were designed to stop the sale of Iran gas to India, so that the Israelis could get the sale, through the TAPI pipeline. Most intelligence agencies know Iran is not working on nuclear weapons. The sanctions are all passed on bills written by Zionist Congressmen and women in our government. Here is info on the TAPI gas pipeline.
Iran has done nothing to warrant the sanctions. They have followed the rules which applied when they signed the NPT to the letter.
MOSCOW — A
plan to build a regional natural gas pipeline
across war-ravaged southern Afghanistan, long thought to be
impractical given the dismal security there, moved a step closer to becoming
a reality on Saturday.
The leaders
of Turkmenistan, Pakistan and
Afghanistan and India’s energy minister signed a preliminary agreement in
Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, to proceed with plans for the American-backed
pipeline, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass and other regional media reported.
United States officials hope that the line, called TAPI, will not only bolster
Afghanistan’s economy by generating transit fees but will strengthen ties
between the archrivals India and Pakistan.
The
pipeline, which would be about 1,080 miles long, would carry gas from
Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan and into India.
The
agreement signed on Saturday, however, is just an early step in the pipeline
project. The government backers of the plan have yet to secure financing for
construction or to agree on commercial terms for the sales, according to news
reports from Russia and Central Asia. The project’s cost estimates range from
$3 billion to $10 billion.
The
agreement also does not address how the pipeline would be protected in
Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kandahar Provinces, which have been Taliban
strongholds. The Afghan government has said the pipeline would be buried and
local communities would be paid to protect it.
India and
Pakistan now import energy, while Turkmenistan has the world’s fourth-largest
reserves of natural gas. Users of the trans-Afghan pipeline would pay fees to
the countries that it passes through, with Afghanistan being the largest
beneficiary.
Under the terms of the pact, Afghanistan could also benefit by withdrawing some of the
gas as cheap fuel for electrical stations and heating.
The project,
as with so many other energy infrastructure works in the region, is deeply
entwined with politics. The United States is backing the line as an alternative
to the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India, or IPI, pipeline that would tap Iran’s
large South Pars gas field.
The United
States deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Asia, Susan Elliott,
told an energy conference in Turkmenistan last month that the TAPI pipe “would
provide revenue and jobs for Afghanistan at a critical time in its economic
development,” while helping to stabilize the wider region.
Oil companies proposed the pipeline in 1995, but
it dropped off their agenda after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan the
following year. The plan was revived after the United States-led invasion of
Afghanistan in 2001, and received backing from the Asian Development Bank,
which financed feasibility studies.
Iran can
sell gas to India at a third the price of Turkmenistan. This is the ENTIRE
issue. In Turkmenistan Israel holds the lease rights to sell this gas and US
companies are building the pipeline called TAPI. This has gotten Iran upset and
that is what the whole reason for petroleum sanctions. We have US military
holding the Taliban at bay in the North all the while prince and his private
paramilitary mercenary forces are executing pipeline security privately in the
South to lend some sort of propriety to this whole sham of a war. Americans
should demand presidential head on a platter for this fraud. Deni-ability is
everything.
www.rense.com/general15/game.htm
On December 11, a
preliminary agreement was signed in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, by
representatives of the four countries to proceed with plans for the American
and Israeli-backed pipeline. Here are the basic points about the TAPI pipeline:
Construction of pipeline will be completed by 2014
1,680 kilometer gas
pipeline will supply 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (much of
this gas will come from Israeli/Mossad-owned gas fields in Turkmenistan,
meaning immense profits for the Mossadniks who pulled of 9/11)............►The Obama
administration, elected on the promise to withdraw U.S. troops by July 2011,
now says the U.S. will maintain combat troops in Afghanistan until December
2014. On December 17, the House passed a defense authorization bill (by a
341-48 vote) that authorizes the Pentagon to spend more than $160 billion on
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2011 without major restrictions on the
conduct of operations. Why are U.S. (and NATO) troops being kept in Afghanistan
for another 4 years? What's really going on there? What is the cost and who is
involved in this game??
The real
reason for the U.S. invasion and occupation of Afghanistan is to build and
secure a 1,080-mile long gas pipeline designed to carry trillions of dollars of
Israeli-owned gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India. You could ask how
come Turkmenistans gas could be Israeli-owned, here is the answer:
Following the
break-up of the Soviet Union, Israeli agents sought to gain control of the
strategic assets of the newly independent Soviet republics. In mineral-rich
Turkmenistan, a Mossad agent named Yosef A. Maiman was very successful in
gaining control of the republic's immense resources of natural gas. Yosef
Maiman, born in Germany in 1946, grew up in Peru and studied in the United
States before becoming an Israeli citizen in 1971. As an agent of Israeli
intelligence, Maiman heads a network of Mossad-controlled companies that serve
Israeli interests. As the chief executive of the Merhav Group, Maiman has
controlled the development of Turmenistan's gas resources. Maiman's key
colleagues at Merhav are the former head of the Mossad, Shabtai Shavit, and
Nimrod Novik, chief adviser to Shimon Peres, the current president of Israel.
Maiman was described
as "a leading miner" of Central Asian gas fields by the Jerusalem
Post in 2004. Given their control of the immense gas resources of Turkmenistan,
Maiman, Merhav, and the "Mossad" would all profit if and when the
U.S.-led coalition were able to "pacify" and control Afghanistan so
that the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline could be
built allowing the gas of Turkmenistan to be sold to energy-hungry India . The TAPI pipeline
project would bring billions of dollars into "Mossad" coffers every
year. This is the real reason for the war in Afghanistan and why the
Zionist-controlled Obama administration has increased the war effort in Central
Asia. It has nothing to do with terrorism or 9-11.
Now you
can easily understand why there was need for the "justification" of
this war, which was planned before the 9/11
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1550366.stm). The false-flag terror
attacks of 9/11 were part of a strategic Israeli operation to bring the U.S.
military into Afghanistan on a long-term mission on behalf of Israel’s Turkmen
gas enterprise. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline is
the real reason that U.S. soldiers are killing and dying in the southwestern
Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. 9/11 was just the cover story for
this pre-planned war of aggression - and it is nothing but a complete hoax.
Does the work physco government with a nuke come to mind.
The Iatola and cleric council in Iran will never go quietly into the night.. They will hang on till the last fool dies for them and their cult of Islam way of life.. The people were sold a bill of goods in 1979 and ended up with a dictatorship based on religious extremism.. Most hate it but the fear of the secrete police and Islamic guard keeps them at bay.. The citizens know who is to blame and it seems as though the pot is getting ready to boil over.. Cross your fingers and hope it is swift and painless for the people of Iran because they don't hate us they hate their masters.. Wonder if Pakistan will take them in when they flee??
Get real that pipeline is peanuts.. Israel is not the mastermind of some global conspiracy that's Islamic propaganda.. Since the Jews are not constantly threatening Armageddon in the name of their religion there economy is fairly stable and supported.. Will they be happy when one of the 2 big instigators of trouble gets wiped out, YES.. Then that will leave Pakistan unless another radical country blooms..
I wish we could get off the oil and come up with a powerful, cheep and clean energy source and put all of big oil out of business..
Iran is in a corner. China and Russia are backing the sanctions. Everyone knows Iran is crazy. Good people to have nucleur weapons (sarcasm). Ahmadinejad used to be tied with Gaddafi for world's biggest lunatic. Now he is the world's reigning champion. The Iranians repudiate everything western- that's why they are stocking up on U.S. dollars.
ok there ralphy boy, whatever you think.
@Salvia, I still think Gaddafi was up there but still way less nutty that than the now dead psycho in N Korea. Ah men ee jihad has a very serious case of little man's disease and falls somewhere in between the two IMHO. But it is of no matter now, since two of the three are dead, that crowns #3 and the biggest psycho left.
@Jackson,
I got enough cash in my pocket to buy you a one way ticket to Iran so you can be with those people that are so bullied, or syria, since I am sure you find them to be abused by everyone too. Playing pipe organ monkey to folks who want you dead even if you are one of theirs, but from different tribe, usually winds up bad. But by all means I can send you there with a prepaid cellular so you can report to everyone how its going.
I see the Zionists collapsed my post 2.3. It is apparent they do not want Americans to know the truth. 9/11 was a Israeli false flag attack, used as a reason for the war in Afghanistan, to eliminate the Taliban, which was in the way of the Israeli TAPI gas pipeline.
http://www.thornwalker.com/ditch/snieg_conc1.htm
http://www.thornwalker.com/ditch/snieg_conc2.htm
Ralph, no offense but it was most likely collapsed because most people probably fell asleep halfway through it. Next time try not being so long winded. It keeps people's interest more if you're short and to the point.
Not Zionists RalphH, loyal Americans who aren't buying your inflammatory Jihadist pro-Islamic rhetoric.
Take your western ways hating self back to the land of death and hate; Iran.
You seem to post for about 14 hours a day. They must pay you well.
Hey out of woods- Can you disprove any portion of my post? Bet you cannot. The truth is the TAPI pipeline is the real reason for 9/11, the invasion of Afganistan and the reason we will be maintaining a troop presence there for years.
Got to protect Israel's monetary interests, even if it means America going bankrupt and more American soldiers getting killed and wounded. Israel will make trillions on the sale of gas to India, trillions that should go to Iran.
Zionist
warmongers like Ken Adelman and the Zionist Washington Post pushed the war in
an editorial titled, “Cakewalk in Iraq.” Jewish supremacists Richard Perle and
Paul Wolfowitz told you that Iraq would “Welcome us as liberators.” Iraq became
the longest war in American history. Here is a report from USA Today: “Pentagon
officials estimated for the first time Wednesday that up to 360,000 Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans may have suffered traumatic brain injuries.” Now that’s
not counting tens of thousands who have suffered maiming, amputations, or death
in this war based on lies.
Those soldiers suffering maiming injuries, have done it all for Israeli greed.
For all those posting here that adamantly state with certainty that Iran is not trying to develop and/or acquire nuclear weapons, it would be interesting (and funny) to be a fly on the wall and hear their responses when informed of that they were and did detonate such a device! What do you think the responses on Newsvine would be then? I am not stating here one way or the other that they are or are not, but it would still be interesting to hear what people have to say, if they say anything at all that is.
All this for Nuclear material for lol "peaceful reasons"
Iranian protestors..don´t stop with this currency crisis!.Put millions on the streets and hang all the leaders of the Islamic Revolution 33 years of brutal tryanny must end. 33 years of holding the world hostage with continuous terrorist attacks all over the world must end. 33 years of crimes against the peace and crimes against humanity must end .If you ,the Iranian people can´t end this demon regime,the rest of the world will.And with massive military actions that will not only destroy all the nuke sites but will devastate much of the country.Be brave Iranians and do what the Rumanians did with their dictators!.Citizens trials and then put them aganst the wall or hang them! Most of the world is supporting you!!
just grow things. stop with all the modernization. their is no stability in things.
Nothing beats a stabilized region. Oh I thought you meant stabilized this way, not stabilized that way. I feel like I am getting a mixed message here. I agree that Iran should not have nuc. weapons. We need to get a clear message across to the people that if they drop the nuc. wep. programs things will be ducky and oil will flow like manna from heaven, or something like that.
I see storm clouds gathering on the Geo Political horizon. The economic sanctions and oil embargo that is being imposed on Iran is sowing the seeds of revolution. Revolutions evolve into civil wars and than into world wars. After the currency collapse of post world war 1 Germany a few people benefited from the hyper-inflation, inparticular those bankers, currency speculators industrialist who were able to deal in foreign currency and real estate, however for the vast majority the hyper-inflation meant at equally spectacular slide into poverty. History repeats it's self. Those who forget the past will be condemned to relive it into the future. Santa Anna the Mexican War General. World wide economic crisis that progress into depressions are usually followed by world wars. The austerity measures by the IMF a subsidarary of the World Bank that are being imposed on PIIGS which are part of the EU, especially Spain and Greece is also causing protestors in those countries to riot. The sum, just in interest on the debt that International Finance is demanding is a sum that is impossible to pay because the debt is growing due to compound interest. Any financial and economic system that is based on fraud and extortion eventually collapse. When this debt bubble burst the depression that follows will be world wide and I said in the above statement, it will be followed by World War 111.
James M. Nunes--so, I'm not quite sure what you are saying. The situation in Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland, etc. has NOT happened because of 'speculators in the currency' but because for DECADES Europeans have been sold a 'bill of goods' that if they vote for SOCIALIST governments, ALL of their 'needs' will be taken care of from cradle to grave. Whether or not the individual works hard, or sluffs off, they will all get the same?
You know, the Pilgrims initally tried a 'communist' (not political, but economic) system where EVERYONE got an 'equal share'of everything, no matter WHAT their contribution, and they quickly discovered that A) some people are lazy, and B) the people who could BE self-sustaining, or who HAD a particular skill, (such as hunting game,) or work ethic, RESENTED those in (A) getting just as much as the ones who did NOT.
And eventually, those who HAD a particular skill set quit working as hard, since they knew most of it would be TAKEN from them and given to someone else.
EVERY economy that has attempted to be purely socialist has failed for the same basic reason. EVENTUALLY you run out of 'other people's money.'
We have the beginnings of that in the US, with our Social Security system (which, despite it being unpopular to say) IS a giant 'ponzi' scheme, which takes money from the young worker to pay for the retirement of the older generation. But as the life expectancy of the older generation goes up, and they live longer after retirement, the BURDEN on the younger generation becomes greater, and they get resentful. PARTICULARLY when the younger ones can SEE that SS will NOT be there for THEM when they get older.
Actually there is a lot here that is crap but I'll zero in on the Social Security system. No, not a ponzi scheme. But, more importantly, the money that my parents are getting means that the money they have will last much longer and in fact I'll inherit much of it. So, the money that I'm putting into Social Security is helping my parents, not some banksters. And, some of it will come to me. Plus, when I retire, my money will last longer and go to my heirs.
It also means that most kids don't have to worry about supporting their folks, since Social Security makes sure that they won't go hungry.
Neither pure Communism nor pure Capitalism works. A mix is best. We work for ourselves, but we help out those needing the help. Let's slash the defense budget, which is equal to the rest of the world combined. That way we'll even have enough money to fix our roads. War, after all, is mostly for the benefit of the 1%, not common folks. I have no problem with Iran. They, however, have a certain right to be angry at our 1% policies that put the Shah into power for decades. We overthrew their democratic government and put in a dictator because their democratic government threatened the profits of the 1%. And they have every right to defend themselves from us.
Thanks Dave Says, I'll point out also that without Social Security people worked until the day they died...unless they were rich enough not to...or their family could support them. Getting sick could be a death sentence. Let's not return to the old ways.
When you back a mad dog into a corner, that dog will do what it has to, to get out.
The world has done what it thought was best to make sure Iran does not make nuclear trouble.
It is never as easy as just placing sanctions. It was the only option left to the free world, but doing it is not going to be without consequences.
The trouble with that is; When a mad dog is backed into a corner, well, it never ends well. You can't tame a mad dog with sanctions.
They have already put out a "hit list" of counties they are going to take revenge on and Israel is going to be the first because they are the easiest to reach. We will be second.
That I understand and do not blame on iranians.
I do not think iran will mess with US.. It is the isrealis whom iranians should jump on and beat the craap out of them...
Isreal could kick Irans arse if they wanted to. Also when the time is right they will do it
Abdallah: If Iran does jump on Israel, you can bet the rest of the world will jump on Iran. It won't be a pretty site. Israel has just as much of a right to exist as Iran.
I really doubt it...US is the only one who would step in to keep isreal being whacked completely..
You may want to check isreal's status with other nations..
See, isreal is seen a s a jerk in the eyes of many, if not all of the countries. Perhaps its different in banana republic. If you are a jerk, you will be treated like one..
I suugest you read some publications outside isreal , instead of listening to isreli cabinet dikheads..
Abdallah, and I suggest YOU read some publications outside ARAB/Muslim propaganda, since they TOO are biased.
The world loves an underdog, but not one that only blames others for their own failures. And in 55 years, Israel has taken a region that was little beyond STONE AGE and turned it into an oasis for modern life. And while the Israelis may 'slug it out' in the Knesset and the ballot box, you don't see THEM killing each other over 'who should have succeeded Mohammed'.
Abdallah, sorry, you are the dickhead here.
Abdallah Oinkdallah I suggest a western education and focus on spelling!
you don't see THEM killing each other over 'who should have succeeded Mohammed'
That is pretty crazy. I thought all you cats were brothers who preached nothing but lovin one another.
Apparently not if you belong to another sect. Other religions don't do that or at least haven't for a few hundred years. Of course that excludes nazis. They hated and killed everyone not like them. Sound familiar? What's up with that?
Correction: Nazism wasn't a religion, they only thought it was.
steve100
Make sure you have a loaded .45 Auto when you corner a mad dog, and the U.S. does.
And God will take care of the Israelites, read the Book.
Abdallah: Why should Iran jump on Israel? While I agree they are jerks, they aren't the cause of Iran's current difficulties and jumping on them only invites US intervention. That's hardly in Iran's best interest.
Just wait a while, when things get s*itty in isreal; People are homeless, starving etc.. Then we will see how much bond isrealis have..
You might say, "how things get s*itty in isreal?". Well, when isreal attacks iran, you will see how it does. Plus US will cut aid to isreal...
LOL.. You spelled it wrong.
Merci... You terrible.. You say, "Fu*k us on spagetti"? You kinky! I cannot do that....
I look at it this way.
If isreal did not bitch about so fiercely, iran would not be subjected to verbal and financial assault they are facing now.
I am 100% sure ALL arabs in the region would line up behind US to enforce interruption of nuke weapon development, including attacking iran...
But, isreal, itself having nukes and bitching about a fellow muslim country's "PERCEIVED" ambitions is absolutely unacceptable..
If isreal was not in the picture, iran would have caved in to US pressure, or, they probably would not need to think about nukes..
Moral of the story: As long as isreal has nukes, so will all arabs over there.
See pakis have it, hindus have it.. they are living peacefully, knowing the consequences.
Abdallah: Israel's politics do complicate things, but given we're where we are now, Iran attacking them would be suicidal. I don't see any good outcome for Iran should it do so.
And I'm not so convinced 100% of all Arabs would line up behind the West on anything, even coming down on Iran, just on general principle. They're used to see us as the cause of every single thing that's ever gone wrong in their lives.
Oh, so sanctions are working......
And yes, the other problem : the speculators. Thats the reason for our high up and down oil/gas prices
(out of control of this or any president-even Bush)
didn't we beat the heck out of wall street protesters here in America? why is it a big news when it happens there?
This is exactly where the US Dollar is headed if we do not control our spending.
So sanctions can have an effect. Iran is may be beginning to show signs of changing their policies. They have to realize they can't continue on this course. The only way to affect change in the world according to Republicans is to use military force. Romney would be helping Israel bomb Iran and have ground troops there by now. Off budget of course.
logig_al: Sanctions may be working a little bit except Iran is still selling it's crude to China and others through private brokers. Your statement is NOT true. I don't know which Republicans you've heard this from but it sounds like a Democrat statement about Republicans. Romney has stated over and over again that military force is the LAST resort and diplomacy is first.
Logic Al--sorry, but I do believe the SANCTIONS against Iran in response to their nuke program BEGAN under SHRUB, and have, until fairly recently, not received much attention from the CURRENT admin.
And Romney is absolutely right to state that we cannot take 'military force' off the table.
And you DO know that for the ENTIRE length of the Iraq war and the Afghan war, the DEMS have never once presented a bill to raise taxes specifically to PAY for those. And from 2006-2010, they had the power to do so. And since 2008, WHEN have the DEMS presented a budget that required that we PAY for anything without borrowing MORE to do so, or even that would force the shut down of two unfunded wars UNTIL such a tax increase could be passed?
Sorry, I KNOW it is Dem Talking points to paint Romney as a war monger, but just remember that Obama promised to get us OUT of 2 unfunded wars --to be "not like Bush" and instead has gotten us out of Iraq almost exactly on Bush's time table, and plans to get us out of Afghanistan on Bush's time table.
1/3 of the time we have been a presence in Iraq has come under Obama's leadership, and as of NOW, 1/2 of the CASUALTIES in Afghanstan have happened under his watch.
So stop pretending those are 'Bush's' war's only.
As for 'troops on the ground' in Iran? Obama declined to put US 'troops on the ground' in Libya, Egypt, et al during the "Arab Spring'' and now we have ambassadors tortured and murdered, US consulates invaded and destroyed, and protesters burning American flags and rioting against US. So--how's THAT policy working out for us?
You are right logig.
heaven forbid we have president such as sara palin, michelle bachman, newt gangren or some s*it like that, we would be in wars in every f*cking corner of the world!
We are powerful enough to f*ck any country anytime we want, but thats not what we want...
But isreali dikheads want US to jump on iran and do all the dirty work, while freaking isrealis sit back and enjoy themselves.....
Let Israel fight it's own war if they want one so bad.
Abdallah--nope, don't want Palin (who by the way, has NEVER been a candidate for Pres.), Bachman, or Newt as president. I voted for Obama last time, but more as a vote for what he promised, rather than any record of actions he had. I will NOT be repeating that!
And NO, we do NOT want to 'firetruck' any country any time we want. However, Iran DOES have a history of 'Firetrucking' with US in the not so distant past.
And Israeli 'dikheads' do NOT want the US to 'jump on Iran and do all the dirty work'--they just want our support if THEY do so so that OTHER countries don't butt in.
IF the Israelis WERE to decide they had no choice but to drop a nuke on Iran's Nuclear development sites, THE would be 'down wind', so do NOT think the Israelis are 'enjoying themselves'. They DO, however, recognize that being 'down wind' is survivable, while being GROUND ZERO is not.
And Iran has made NO bones over their intention to destroy Israel completely.
And Iran has made NO bones over their intention to destroy Israel completely.
That right there is Israel's main point. Nuke or be nuked. Sounds like an easy dissuasion to me.
Let us remember the Jews are God's chosen people.
"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee(Gen. 12:3):"
Israel will make it, not the Iranians!!! or any other people who mess with Israel.
have a good day.
It's true that Israel could pull us into their war if they pre-emptively bomb Iran[ as done in Iraq ], bt Iran keeps threatening a country so small, two to three nukes could render it almost unlivable. It may enhance Iran's status in the ME but at what cost to everyone? The question is, will Iran's people rally around their government if Israel bombs the nuke facilities as done in Saddam's Iraq, and Iran responds through it's proxies and in the Persian Gulf. Americans are tired of conflict and would like to bring home the troops, but if Iran closes the Gulf, the response will be automatic with long term implications. Better Iran works it out for the reactors offered than assert it's right to the bomb. Improving the economy would pacify Iran's populace better than a conflict they can't afford or win.
@Logig
LOL, you are funny. You want to throw that our there, when it was actually the current VP that said we needed boots there, not Romney. Romney stated that his policy on Iran was much the same as the course the current admin was taking.
That would be the end of isreal and perhaps all jews in the world..
Actually, it may not be a bad idea.. Sure, many muslims may die, but, it will give everybody in the world a good reason to make sure the world is free of jews forever.
All I hope for is Pakis drop one in isreal as a start.. and 2-3 nukes on isreal should do it..
And who was it that said santions don't eventually take a toll?
I don't know who said it?
....and the centerfuges keep spinning.....
Dave - The centrifuges are monitored by the IAEA. Iran can not make a nuclear weapon. In fact, Iran has already given indications that they will cease enriching to beyond 5%. The negotiations are in limbo until after the elections. What will the Jews use as an excuse for war if that happens?
The sanctions are immoral and illegal, as Iran has conformed with it's obligations under the NPT.
"It's all America's fault!!! We want to nuke them and their allies, but they won't buy our stuff!!! Waaaahh!!"
Get a clue, Iranian Government. You do things against our interests, we will do things against yours. You want to kill us, we want to stop you. How tough is this to understand? Hell, you only spent the last 33 years screaming "Death to America!!" You're upset cause we don't want to buy your PRODUCTS?? Deal with it.
I'm sorry the Iranian people have to deal with this crap, who are for the most part generous, open, and want nothing to do with extremism. They aren't our enemy any more than we are theirs. Extremists suck, no matter what flag they are wrapped in. But being sorry for the harm caused to the Iranian people for sanctions is a helluva lot better than a bunch of silence from all the dead people on both sides if the extremism continues.
IRAN's ECONOMY ON VERGE OF COLLAPSE. This is a good thing. Iran will now have to poop or get off the pot.
Don't stop at the currency, throw religious overlords and crazy hateful people out of your government and you'll be just fine.
They're just men, not gods and men are fallible and they certainly have a record of it.
What do people think will happen to Iran now? Will there be more protests in Iran and the people will demand change so that the rest of the world sanctions are lifted. They will not be able to survive with them losing currency value like the way its looking. I think it was them hacking the US lately because of there dollar value loss. I think they might do some attacks, to force people to need there oil and exports. I think they will be leaving Israel alone for now and will be focusing on how to stay afloat.
JamesPupp--your last sentence--that is what a LOGICAL country would do.
Iran has not been 'logical' since they became theocracy.
With this happening...I'm certain they have stopped trying to develop nukes!! LOL
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
If an Islamic Republic is Allah's will, then so is the devaluation of Iran's currency.
Protesting is clearly blasphemy.
"Ahmadinejad on Tuesday blamed the crisis on U.S.-led sanctions"....the Obama administration has responded saying that it is George Bush's fault!
The government blames speculators for the rial's collapse and ordered the security services to take action against them.
rofl lol
no it wouldnt be the fact that iran could end all their problems if they gave up making nuclear weapons, and anyone believing they are not making weapons are idiots
iran cares only for their elites just like usa!!!
and are on the path of misserable failier because of their stuborness to have someone oversee their tricks and trades and no i will never trust russia , they proved very well they are liars and killers anything for a buck country, ask the polish people russia tryd to snuff out
ya what a team russia and iran its like a package of death waiting to come to a head and pop
Take away their money and replace it with nuclear arms. Good call Iran. You got it all figured out.