Article

2007-05-15 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Preparing for War and Heading Towards an Economic Crisis

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Posted by Sleack Snoque5018 2007-05-15 18:28|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 A pretty good article on Iran's economic problems.

Posted by phil_b 2007-05-15 21:29|| 2007-05-15 21:29|| Front Page Top

#2 Some of the money quotes:

Rajai believed that if Iran was incapable of building something itself it had better wait until it could do so at a later date. And that included oil refiners. With most Iranian technicians and engineers fleeing from the Khomeinist revolution in 1980 and 1981, there were few Iranians who knew how to build refineries. Thus pre-revolution plans to build 25 new oil refineries between 1980 and 2000 had to be shelved. The Khomeinist leadership would not allow the infidel to come and build refineries.

The Islamic Republic imports almost half of all food it consumes and has managed to prevent large scale starvation thanks to heavily subsidized prices. If subsidies were removed, the price of bread, for example, would more than double. Most Iranians are still able to consume sugar because the state picks up a third of the real bill for imports.

For the first time, ever, the Islamic republic may soon find out that at least some of its enemies are prepared to pay it in its own currency, that is to say try and wage low intensity war against it. The United Nations Security Council has already passed two punitive resolutions against the Islamic Republic. A third resolution looks likely later this month when the ultimatum fixed by the council for the Islamic Republic ends.

Ahmadinejads high-risk strategy may soon force the Islamic Republic to fight on two fronts: inside the country against a growingly restive population, and outside against a coalition of determined enemies that will not be content with limited fire-works as imagined by him.

Iran is on a one-way slide into economic ruin. We need to grease the skids for them.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-05-15 22:34|| 2007-05-15 22:34|| Front Page Top

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