US soon to overtake Russia as top oil producer thanks to expensive shale oil:

 US soon to overtake Russia as top oil producer: The United States will become the world's largest oil producer next year - overtaking Russia - thanks to its shale oil boom which has transformed the global energy landscape, the West's energy watchdog said on Friday.

 

The prediction comes only days after estimates by the U.S. government showed the United States, the world's largest oil consumer, has ceded its ranking as top global oil importer to China, thanks to the shale revolution cutting import needs. "The United States' place in the driver's seat of growth is also a throwback to decades past," the International Energy Agency said in its monthly report.

I was a bit surprised to find out the following on Shale oil! 

A headline on an old newspaper reads: Oil Shale Development Imminent,". That edition of the defunct Grand Junction News, was published at the dawn of the 20th century.

More than a hundred years later, instability is roiling world oil markets, and Americans are paying $3.48 a gallon for gas. And oil shale fever is again rising in the geologic region known as the Piceance Basin, part of the Green River Formation that stretches across the rugged plains of northwestern Colorado and parts of Wyoming and Utah.

There is no dispute that a thousand feet below the isolated ranch country here on Colorado's western slope lie almost unimaginable oil riches. It's locked in sedimentary rock -- essentially immature oil that given a few million years under heat and pressure would produce pools of oil easy to extract.

The Energy Department and private industry estimate that a trillion barrels are here in Colorado -- about the same amount as the entire world's known reserves of conventional oil. The entire Green River Formation might hold as much as 2 trillion barrels.

supposedly secretly Pushed by the Bush administration and legislation from Congress , and spurred by oil prices above $70 a barrel, the energy industry is mobilizing to unlock the secret of oil shale. As it has before, oil shale holds out the hope of a USA no longer dependent on foreign oil. Shell Oil is engaged in a multiyear test of a new technology for extracting the oil. Previous efforts that were uneconomical and environmentally destructive entailed mining the rock, crushing it and heating it above ground to release the oil.
 
Shell's new process involves sinking heaters deep underground, cooking the rock at 700 degrees and recovering the oil and natural gas with conventional drilling.

For a decade, Shell had been ramping up its research on private property here. It is also one of a handful of companies vying for research and development leases on larger tracts of federal land nearby. That could lead to full-scale development across 1,200 square miles of western Colorado.

Back in 2008: early results are promising, says Terry O'Connor, a vice president in the oil giant's unconventional resource division. But, he admits, "no one has been able to develop oil shale on a commercially sustainable basis. That is $3.50 to $4 fuel that is here now, then I hear this a while back and more started making sense!

Gas prices have been going up whether something bad or good happens or fore nothing at all and we have been stymied as to why. Worse, they will never go down where they use to be again.

My question is have the oil companies purposely been driving up the prices in order to justify retrieving this huge reserves at our expense? Also at the expense of the environment and alternative fuel sources! Shale oil and oil sand. The future does not look good to me.

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Mass executions on the rise in Iraq as total breakdown approaches

 Iraq executes 42 'terrorists', including woman, as violence worsens:  The U.N. mission in the country said it was concerned about the executions, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and repeated its call for Baghdad to suspend the death penalty.Rights groups say executions have been on the rise in recent years.

Sixty-eight death sentences were carried out in 2011, according to Amnesty International. The 42 hanged this week amounted to almost a third of the total number the campaign group said were executed in all of 2012. More than 6,000 people have been killed in attacks across Iraq so far this year, as Sunni Islamist insurgents including al Qaeda regain momentum.

Kurdistan peace broken, Sunni violence against Shiite spreads as Bush's "success" in Iraq spreads

Kurdistan Attacks Shatter Calm in Iraq's Only Peaceful Oasis:  

 Car bombs kill 54 in Shi'ite districts of Baghdad:  The deadliest single attack took place in Sadr City, where a man parked a white car packed with explosives near a place where day laborers had gathered. The vehicle blew up soon afterwards, killing at least seven people, including two soldiers.

Altogether 14 car bombs exploded across the Iraqi capital in apparently coordinated attacks. It was not clear who was behind them, but hardline Sunni Muslim militants who view Shi'ites as non-believers have been intensifying their insurgency this year.
  
UN says nearly 1000 Iraqis killed in September
 
It does not take a damn military or political expert. We and Bush knew it would erupt into total civil war before he ignored all good advice to the contrary and attacked Iraq to get back into the middle east to help Iran and look for a reason to go after Syria, Iran, and others. Well you see how that is going.

Bush started this civil war he knew would be the result of his illegal attack on Iraq so he could get back in to the middle east to help Israel. 

It will not be stopped and before Bush's illegal attack he was warned of this. He as you know ignored all good advice.

Bush still swears this was a success and history will vindicate him. Iraq's breakdown that he guaranteed with his illegal attack will spread throughout the middle east. Now it will be aided by Syria's breakdown spreading throughout the middle east. Turkey is already preparing to go into Syria after Turkish, Iraqi, and Syrian Kurds forming up and attacking from Syria. The total middle east breakdown we have seen coming and talked about from day one is fast approaching.

The breakdown Sunni against Shiite against Kurd was guaranteed the day Bush ignored all good advice to the contrary and attacked Iraq. It was guaranteed as soon as we left whether we left today or were stupid enough to hang around longer as Republican nominees are wrongly criticizing Obama for not doing. From Iraq it will spread throughout the entire middle east compliments of Bush not Obama.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, in a report titled "Iraq: No Let-up in the Humanitarian Crisis," writes, "Despite limited improvements in security in some areas, armed violence is still having a disastrous impact. Civilians continue to be killed in the hostilities. "The injured often do not receive adequate medical care. Nothing has changed people except in some cases to get worse.

Millions of people have been forced to rely on insufficient supplies of poor-quality water as water and sewage systems suffer from a lack of maintenance and a shortage of engineers." "Nothing has changed people but we are leaving them to their own demise and it will spread through the entire middle east."

Both Amnesty and the Red Cross slam the Iraqi government for failing to grapple with the critical needs of their populations.

The two reports cited a litany of concerns that will not be corrected, including severe widespread poverty, a lack of food and water, and broken families left to scrounge for whatever they can find to get by. Both reports described a situation that shows no sign of clear improvement. Many women "have been forced to wear Islamic dress or targeted for abduction, rape or killing. That is not to speak of the more than 2 million permanent nomads because of Bush's and Obama's.

If Bush had stayed in Afghanistan as he should have instead of diverting from the war on terror to attack Iraq so he could start implementing his new middle east order, Iraq may still have a Dictator but they would have security, electricity, water, fuel, and a lot more than they have now or will have in the future. We will never be able to bring services anywhere close to the level they were at when Saddam was in power. It is laughable to think that anyone thought they would be better post Saddam.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

North Korea puts army on alert, warns U.S. of 'horrible disaster, all out war: again!

North Korea puts army on alert, warns U.S. of 'horrible disaster':  South Korea's defence ministry said the U.S. ships were taking part in a joint routine maritime search and rescue exercise with the South's navy and said any criticism by North Korea was "wrong". The North has defied international warnings not to build nuclear and long-range missiles and is believed to have enough fissile material to build up to 10 nuclear bombs.

Most intelligence analysis says it has yet to master the technology to deploy such weapons. The United States, which has 28,500 troops stationed in the South, regularly engages in drills with its ally, and has said the aircraft carrier USS George Washington was leading a group of ships to visit South Korea in a routine port call.



North Korea warns of all-out war

What appears to be suicidal actions on North Korea's part made me rethink and remember what has been setting up here and years in the making. This is long in the works and North Korea is not alone. Many have for years been calling for our demise. In fact Vladimir Putin got himself re-elected to lead the fight against US hegemony.  Putin re-elected to take on US hegemony

  Remember The emerging Axis of Iran and Venezuela

Hugo Chávez deepens petroleum and military ties with Russia With Chavez's death there is no change in Venezuela's stand.

Remember we were talking about a story line that was front and center because of President Bush's Bullying and war mongering, He was personally responsible for strengthening relations between Iran and Venezuela as well as with everyone else that was uniting and ramping up to take on Bush. Believe it or not this was 6 years ago and it included North Korea who Bush removed from the original axis of evil because they changed: Yeah right!

The United States will soon lose its place as leader of the world, and the United Nations is a broken organization that is beyond repair, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said . "The United States empire is on its way down and it will be finished in the near future, inshallah," Chavez told reporters, ending the statement with the Arabic phrase for "God willing."

Chavez said that the United Nations is a "deceased" organization because it was formed to bridge the differences between the United States and Russia, and a brand new international organization would have to be formed to replace it.Earlier, Chavez initiated a verbal assault on President Bush, calling him "the devil" during an insult-riddled address to world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly. Remember like North Korea he was part of the NAM and predicting the demise of the United States.

"The devil came here yesterday," Chavez said, gesturing to where Bush had stood during his speech. "He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world." He later said he was referring to President Bush when he spoke of the devil. Chavez held up a book by American leftist writer Noam Chomsky "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance" and recommended it to everyone in the General Assembly.

Chavez talked too much! I am afraid though that I agree with this though! Sounds to me like the non aligned Nations plan on taking over with many eager helpers! What do you think? The BBC reported that the meeting of non aligned Nations now consists of 118 countries, mostly from the developing world. The delegates representing almost two-thirds of all the countries in the world gave their approval to a document which spells out the points they agree on. There is strong condemnation of Israel's intervention in Lebanon, a call for the United Nations to be more representative of smaller nations, support for Iran's nuclear energy plans and implicit criticism of much of US foreign policy.

Several of the more than 50 heads of state and government attending the meeting are known for their strong criticism of the United States. Many of the world leaders attending the summit used their seven allocated minutes at the podium to vent their anger at the Bush administration.

The senior North Korean delegate said that American threats had forced his country to arm itself with nuclear weapons. The most significant agreement occurred at the summit sidelines - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan announced that they would re-start stalled peace talks and co-operate in the fight against terrorism.

Even Kofi said the Nam was important. You have to wonder what is going on with that and the anti U.S. movement. It can't be ignored any longer. This is not good! Bush better start paying attention to the growing section of the world calling for America's demise and an end to Bush's and America's imperialism! On top of that of course, we have the many enemies he is making in prosecuting his new middle east order!

From 9/11 he has been following a plan. Fighting terrorism was not it. It was just the reason he needed to attack Iraq and start to implement his new middle east and world order. Please read the following and you will understand everything. 9/11 was Bush's pearl harbor. Problem is, Bush is no FDR and has squirreled away any sympathy the world had for us.

As you may remember, Bush was looking for something to happen that would put the country and the world behind what he already had plans to do. 9/11 gave him that something. He had plans right from the beginning to establish a new societal, middle east, and world order. That is why it was important to him to whip up a media and public fury which of course, he did.

He then used the excuse of 9/11 to attack Iraq and unsettle the middle east guaranteeing the loss of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the entire middle east. He did all this so he could further his idea of a new middle east and world order. Of course lying all the while and whipping up as much support and frenzy as he could in the media and minds he controls.

We were all shamelessly being used so Bush could follow his plan for new societal, middle east, and world order. With the middle east failing thanks to Bush's meddling, Iraq and Afghanistan already lost thanks to Bush attacking Iraq diverting forces from the real goal and destabilizing the already fragile middle east! With the anti American and Britain Nations growing and now including 2/3 of the World, on top of the enemies he has made for us in his Middle East tampering. We had better do something ourselves.

I think I ended up reciting all that because things are happening under Obama that is being credited to his Presidency and as this too showed that this axis was in the making for 50 years but Bush pushed the entire world together against us and despite Obama the unifier the division continues!

The elephant in the room as you know is China. They do not want us at their door and NK acting up to a certain level has always kept us away.

The danger and fear is with the boy being controlled by angry Generals will go too far. China can stop all this by being the one to help NK but they are not interested in it.
China is moving forces to the NK border but? In the end I will never understand starving your people for nukes.
If we were just talking North Korea I'd have to be very curious as to why they are committing suicide. However Look back and put this mess together. There are many Nations who want to see us fall off our pedastle but when all is said and done will they help?



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Kerry Says P5+1 Awaiting Iran’s No in Response to Nuclear Offer

Bagfuls of Cash Show Iran Currency Squeeze Behind Nuclear Thaw

Awaiting Iran’s Response to Nuclear Offer:  Kerry saidthe powers negotiating with Iran -- the U.S., the U.K., France,Germany, China and Russia -- “put a proposal on the table” inFebruary of this year in Almaty, Kazakhstan, “and I don’tbelieve that as of yet that Iran has fully responded.”

“We’re waiting” for their response, and to see a“difference in their approach” under Iran’s new government,Kerry said.Since he was inaugurated two months ago, Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, 64, has reached out to the U.S. and the world, expressing a desire to end Iran’s isolation and see a lifting of the most stringent financial and oil sanctions, which have crippled Iran’s economy.

Iran is not going to stop enriching Uranium, it is their God given right and they need to do it for certain medical situations. We are not going to relieve sanctions until they do. So?


I reiterate there will never be peace in the Middle East, period! Only the UN wants it, Israel wants it her way and Iran/Syria want Israel obliterated, period. Israel and Iran have long been in preparation for this confrontation. As you know, when asked by a journalist how he felt upon returning to Iran in 1979 after 15 years in exile. Khomeini’s curt, one-word reply was “nothing” Whoa! From day one of his return to Iran Khomeini expressed no love for Iran only a love of the atom bomb. The drive even then was to possess a nuclear weapon though that desire is still denied until Iran can get their hands on one.

I have tried to give Iran the benefit of the doubt when they say their nuclear desires are peaceful knowing they could use nuclear power as an energy source for their growing population. I have always asserted that perceived need could be cover for the real goal of developing a nuclear weapon.

The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program.[1] The support, encouragement and participation of the United States and Western European governments in Iran's nuclear program continued until the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the Shah of Iran. We are so concerned about Pakistan and Iran today in regard to nuclear abilities and nuclear weapons and security. I was blown away to find out that we built the first nuclear Reactors in both Iran and Pakistan. Nuclear program of Iran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia atoms for peace

I would have to assume this was after we overthrew the democratically elected President of Iran Mohammad Mosaddeq to install our ruthless puppet the Shah of Iran. We built and supplied Iran's first reactor because we thought we were in control. What the hell is wrong with us? That makes us personally responsible for the 1979 Revolution in Iran, the capture of our hostages, the disaster in the desert after a failed attempt to rescue them, the rise of the Revolutionary Guard, the protesters dilemma, the nuclear issue in Iran today, everything!

You know, I have long said that Iran’s civilian nuclear program is a cover for their nuclear weapons program. Now I see that Arab leaders feel the same way. They fear a nuclear arms race and I can only conclude that knowing how far along Iran is and how they feel that they are hedging their bets and it is already under way clandestinely.

On the other side there is Israel! I realized a long time ago that Israel is the world's chief war monger and we seem to do their bidding and fighting. If they get into a war with Iran we will end up coming to their rescue regardless of what they do or what Hillary says and that is sad! We should in fact take care of Jewish American's and American's and our interests in Israel and otherwise tell them in no uncertain terms they are on their own if they continue to instigate war not peace and expecting us to come to their rescue.

There is a US law that prohibits the support of countries that break the treaty in question. Vanunu's information led foreign experts to conclude that Israel had produced fissile material for as many as 200 atomic warheads thus warning other Nation's of Israel's military might. It was okay for Israel why the hypocrisy? Remember Mordechai Vanunu whistle blower of Israel's clandestine nuclear program? Uzi Eilam former head of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission said Mordechai Vanunu did Israel a favor after revealing information about an illegal nuclear program at Israel's Dimona reactor. His information proved that Israel had broken the 1968 treaty on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

There is a US law that prohibits the support of countries that break the treaty in question. Vanunu's information led foreign experts to conclude that Israel had produced fissile material for as many as 200 atomic warheads thus warning other Nation's of Israel's military might. It was okay for Israel why the hypocrisy? Remember this discussion? The US will pay the price for Israel and US nuclear lies and hypocrisy after Israel attacks!

I must admit Israel's hypocrisy and lies are a plan I have discussed often and I have to disagree with Eliam's final assertion. He says an attack on Iran's nuclear program would be counter productive. I beg to differ! The General hit the nail on the head though and does not know it. I have long asserted that Israel would attack Iran's nuclear interests and we would come to her rescue.

That is a fact that is why I find his final statement troubling and prophetic. He correctly said One strike is not practical. In order to delay the Iranian program for three to four years one needs an armada of aircraft, which only a super-power can provide. Only America can do it. Bingo! You know from numerous discussions here that Iran is involved in every Middle Eastern country not just Yemen, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia where they have corrupted elections for Shiite interests in Iraq, backing rebels in Yemen, and instigating attacks on Saudi oil fields. Bush freed Iran to instigate far and wide and they are.

Israel is not going to back down. When all is said and done they know the US will be there for them. It is time for Iran to put up or shut up! I am sure the US plans to come to Israel's rescue and do it largely from the Gulf with numerous carrier fighter groups and they are finished with their 30000 pound bunker buster behemoth to take out underground facilities. Both sides are locked and loaded and Syria is happening at the same time. That is no accident, all we can hope for at this time is to minimize these disasters as much as possible and keep them from turning into WW3.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Part3: Putin ratchet's up his and Russia's power grab

 

The latest: Putin said the Russian military has been restoring a Soviet-era military base on the New Siberian Islands that was shut down after the Soviet collapse. He added that the facility is key for protecting shipping routes that link Europe with the Pacific region across the Arctic Ocean.

 

Last month, a Russian navy squadron led by the flagship of Russia's Northern Fleet, nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, visited the archipelago, which occupies a strategic position on the Arctic shipping route. Putin said that the military has already re-established a permanent garrison there and will restore an airfield and other facilities.

Just recently we stated: 

Putin approves sweeping new law as iron curtain descends on the heads of Russians

Since Putin's re-election, preceded by the largest protests in his 12 years in power, parliament has rushed through laws tightening controls on the Internet, increasing the penalties for defamation and expanding the definition of high treason. These laws are aimed at silencing his growing number of critics.

 

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law redefining treason in Russia amid fears it may be used to stifle dissent. Now not only Russians working for foreign intelligence can be convicted but also citizens who pass state secrets to any foreign organization. It is enough for defendants to provide consultancy or "other assistance" to a foreign state or international body "directed against Russia's security". 

 

 The maximum punishment for high treason remains 20 years in prison but under the changes, Russians can now be jailed for up to four years if they have obtained state secrets - even if they have not shared them. They can be jailed for up to eight years if they obtain them with the help of special surveillance equipment. Human rights campaigners believe the aim of the legislation is to scare Russians into cutting links with Western non-governmental organizations.

"There is an effort to recreate an old sense of fear," Denber said, adding that the new legislation was apparently aimed at discouraging Russians from joining protests. "One of the aims is surely to never have that happen again and to demonize any ... people or organization that might be associated with that." It is part and parcel a slide towards the fear felt by the people during the USSR.

One of the laws passed this summer required non-governmental organizations in Russia that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity to register as "foreign agents," which aims to destroy their credibility among Russians.In October, Moscow ended the U.S. Agency for International Development's two decades of work in Russia, saying the agency was using its money to influence Russian elections — a claim the U.S. denied.

As of November10, licenses held by companies who are at least 48 percent foreign-owned is forbidden. Liberty, known locally as Radio Svoboda, receives funding from US Congress and was set up to cater for countries where there are restrictions on information. “The aim is to inform people, because there’s no free access to information, there’s no freedom of speech. Everything is controlled by the Kremlin.

 

Radio Liberty will now concentrate on digital platforms, causing job losses for more than 40 people and, according to some, muffling criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Political Winter Descends on Russia  Putin seems to be taking a big political step back to the Soviet Union. For now, these conservative new laws seem to be having a chilling effect.  Lipman and others say the goal is to return Russia to the apolitical days during the boom years of the 2000s. 

 

During this decade, Russians largely traded their political freedoms for the freedom to travel, to buy, and to make more money. Oleg Kashin, a radio analyst for the Russian daily Kommersant, says get used to it. President Putin, he says, is taking Russia down the road of neighboring Belarus, a nation run for 18 years by Alexander Lukashenko, often called "the last dictator of Europe."

Russian's have much to fear but so doesn't the world. With the return of Putin to the Russian Presidency I am again very concerned and see an end to a partner country whose leaders words and actions we can trust and a return to a confrontational relationship with Russia. I do not like the man, I do not trust the man, and I am very concerned as to which direction Russia and the United States are headed now and at a time when China is surging militarily.

We must maintain a balance as we try to move progressively and successfully through the 21st century! Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling.
We need Russia on our side. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. 

 

The time when man and the planet could handle war is over, period or else! Be very concerned for our future! Not just Russia but the world is headed to a very violent future and hopefully not a very violent end.


James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Part 2: Putin ramps up the world's fight for the Arctic

Putin said the Russian military has been restoring a Soviet-era military base on the New Siberian Islands that was shut down after the Soviet collapse. He added that the facility is key for protecting shipping routes that link Europe with the Pacific region across the Arctic Ocean.

 

Last month, a Russian navy squadron led by the flagship of Russia's Northern Fleet, nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, visited the archipelago, which occupies a strategic position on the Arctic shipping route. Putin said that the military has already re-established a permanent garrison there and will restore an airfield and other facilities.China granted observer status in Arctic Council: The meeting also witnessed the signing of Kiruna Declearation, which recognized "the importance of maintaining peace, stability and constructive cooperation in the Arctic," and "the importance of the sustainable use of resources, economic development and environmental protection."

U.S.'s Arctic plans may serve as a wake-up call for Canada and the world as they scramble for the resources as the Arctic thaws.

 

The Cold War for Arctic resources is not just heating up – it’s leading to a growing militarization in the remote North.

That’s the conclusion a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which claims that Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway are all developing their military interests there. Also, more countries are seeking access to the region’s important natural resources and transport routes, such as “outsiders” like China, India and Brazil.

U.S.'s Arctic plans may serve as a wake-up call for Canada: The Pentagon wants to know what’s happening in the Arctic; there’s an app for that. Well not yet, but Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency wants one in a hurry. In a call for proposals this week, it said it plans to pick, deploy and test two systems this summer. “Remote sensing may offer affordable advantages over traditional methods of monitoring the region – aircraft, satellites or manned ships and submarines – due to the great distances in the Arctic,” the agency said in a call for bids. 

The U.S. military wants “new technologies to monitor the Arctic both above and below the ice, providing year-round situational awareness without the need for forward-basing or human presence.” Nothing nefarious about that. Except that slicing up the Arctic as retreating ice heralds a 21st-century resources rush and shipping boom at the top of the world is shaping up as a race for riches and control.Do you think it will matter?
I have been covering this for 6 years now, remember: The scramble for the Arctic: Russia to station 2 military Brigades in the Arctic: Vladimir Putin said Russia would strongly defend its interests and Putin is back.

Russia's defense minister has said he plans to create two specialist army brigades to be based in the Arctic.The announcement comes days after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would strongly defend its interests in the region.

Denmark to lay claim to North Pole: DENMARK which already counts Greenland and the Faroe Islands as its Arctic territories, is planning to lay claim to the North Pole. This will put Denmark on a collision course with Russia, the US, Canada and Norway but they all better make a share deal and avoid conflict over this.

I wanted to discuss that in 2007 when Russia declared that it had successfully planted their flag at the bottom of the Arctic claiming it as Russian territory Russia was disturbed that Canada the US and others dismissed it as a joke saying that is worthless in the 21st Century. Myself I wasn't as sure as it seems like a scary ratcheting up of the race for future resources and world domination. Well attitudes are changing when recent events are taken into account. I am sure Denmark's joining this venture will simply be dismissed.

It has been noted that Russian nostalgia for past greatness has been seen stretching from the North Pole to the Mediterranean via the Caucasus. First the Russians planted a flag on the bottom of the Arctic. Then they promised to return to the Mediterranean. .

Russia's Mediterranean plans pale in comparison with its audacious foray into the Arctic where they collected soil samples and planted the Russian flag two and a half miles below the sea. The official purpose of this first-ever manned mission was "to prove that the North Pole is an extension of the Russian coastal shelf." Geologists say the region could have big oil, gas and mineral reserves. Massive oil reserves is more like it!

Knowing that the Arctic features prominently in Russian Imperial mythology and the rising desire for Russia to regain prominence as a world power you have to be very concerned about this and Canada now is. Canada's prime minister went on a three-day trip to the Arctic in an effort to assert sovereignty over the region a week after Russia symbolically staked a claim to the North Pole by sending submarines.

Five countries -- Canada, Russia, the United States, Norway and Denmark -- are competing to secure subsurface rights to the Arctic seabed. One study by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the Arctic has as much as 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas. PM Harper, who has pledged to spend billions defending Canada's sovereignty over the Arctic, is said "Economic development -- unleashing the resource-based potential of the North, environmental protection -- protecting the unique Northern environment, national sovereignty -- protecting our land, airspace and territorial waters were his priorities.

" In response to the building interest in the shelf Canada's PM Harper announced that six to eight new patrol ships would be built to guard the Northwest Passage sea route in the Arctic, which the United States insists does not belong to Canada. Canadian PM vowed in 2007 to defend Arctic

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins had criticized Harper's promise to defend the Arctic, calling the Northwest Passage "neutral waters." This is all very troubling as we watch the ratcheting up of tensions around the world as we try to move into the future. The increased militarism around the world is tenuous but throw all the recent developments in with what is shaping up to be a fight over the Arctic and its resources which will only serve to ecologically destroy another very important part of the Ocean's and world's ecosystem in what is increasingly appearing in trouble.

Denmark's interest and claim is also old. The scramble for the Arctic also gathered pace in 2007 as Denmark prepared to challenge Russia's bid for the North Pole and Canada vowed to defend its "sovereignty" over the region's frozen waters. Boy are they getting desperate! Over the next month they searched for evidence that the Lomonosov Ridge, a 1,200-mile, underwater mountain range running close to the Pole, is a geographical extension of Greenland, a Danish possession. 

 

The mission it was felt would strain relations between Denmark and Russia, which claims to have found evidence linking the ridge to Siberia. Both countries will seek adjudication from a United Nations commission in the next few years that could award a large swathe of Arctic territory to the country with the most compelling case. The scramble for the arctic The time is coming closer!

With the ice melting all of a sudden everyone has a claim to the land below and we are racing to destroy the Arctic. It sickens me to hear lies like China, India, and the rest of them saying they just want a faster route of travel and want to protect peace and the environment. Russia and Canada are not the only ones who have long voiced the willingness to fight for what they believe is theirs. That Arctic Council is a joke and will stop none of the impending destruct but merely enlarge the amount of Countries allowed to do it.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Part1: Putin angrily says the Arctic has been unalienable part of the Russian Federation for centuries

Putin said the Russian military has been restoring a Soviet-era military base on the New Siberian Islands that was shut down after the Soviet collapse. He added that the facility is key for protecting shipping routes that link Europe with the Pacific region across the Arctic Ocean.

Last month, a Russian navy squadron led by the flagship of Russia's Northern Fleet, nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, visited the archipelago, which occupies a strategic position on the Arctic shipping route. Putin said that the military has already re-established a permanent garrison there and will restore an airfield and other facilities.

I just heard the statue of Stalin who ruthlessly murdered millions of fellow Russians is being put back up in his home town of Gori Georgia.

We have not learned a god damn thing from the embarrassment we put Putin and Russia through in his first term or the fact that he stole a second Presidency to be at the helm during the ending of U.S. Hegemony. I mean look at the damn facts. 

Remember when Putin was rallying and uniting the world to take on Bush and his drive to dominate the world? Absolutely as the world's mayhem ensues amidst its drive to dominate as we move through the 21st century is Putin's only agenda. It is an old thought. I remember when term limits made him have to leave last time. There was immediate speculation as to him taking back the Presidency.

This is another sobering shock. Putin's party has been intimidating and gaming the system for years in his effort to get his fascist hands on Russia again. This is proof positive of Russians' increasing suspicions of Putin's authoritarianism, ingrained corruption and falling living standards. Putin is not to be trusted and Russians have felt his grubby little hands around their necks for 12 years as he intimidates and tries to control Russia's future for his party.

Be scared be very scared! The USSR's Mikhail Gorbachev has warned that Russia risks six lost years when Vladimir Putin returns to the presidency, echoing rumblings of dissent over his Kremlin comeback. I always find myself agreeing with Gorbachev but that is putting it mildly. This is bad news for the US and the world!

This is very concerning. I remember back in 2008 when Putin was going to try and be President for life. He was not alone. Leaders aligned with Russia were all trying to get permanent leadership so they could be at the helm of their prospective countries to take on then President Bush when his war mongering hit the point where Russia, the 135 non aligned Nations, Iran, and others were prepared to join forces and take him and our allies on.

I remember when Bush first met Putin and he said he shook his hand and looked him in the eye and saw a man of compassion, a man who was true to his word, and a man he could work with. I shuttered at Bush's stupidity. I looked at Putin and saw a man deceitful to the core who was not to be trusted period.

We were too pompous then and were pushing the world towards WW3 with our take it or leave it, my way or the highway, interference around the world. Putin was determined to head us off, to directly confront us when we were on Russia's front door trying to instigate war by installing the so called missile shield in Czechoslovakia and Poland, and return Russia to the role of a world leader.

Personally we blew it when Russia broke up and the Berlin wall came down. We were the world leader and had the perfect opportunity to be humble, show we were the leader, and bring the world together to proceed successfully through the 21st century.We egged on the likes of Vladimir Putin who understandably chaffed under our we are the boss do what we say take it or leave it, it your face tactics of Bush and Cheney.

With the return of Putin to the Russian Presidency I am again concerned as we have returned to a confrontational relationship with Russia.Under Putin we have a re-surging Russia who is suppressing his people and Democracy. His goal hopefully with the aid of China and Iran is to put an end to US hegemony. I do not like the man, I do not trust the man, and I am very concerned as to which direction Russia and the United States are headed now and at a time when China is surging militarily.

We must maintain a balance as we try to move progressively and successfully through the 21st century! Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling it and so it China and Russia.

Watching what is happening in Syria and Iran at this point it looks like Russia and China are going to unite to take on the United States and our allies and that bodes ill for the prospect of future war or the well being of us the world and the planet.

We need Russia on our side. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war is over, period or else! Be very concerned for our future!


James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Netanyahu will never trust Iran: This will only end in war period

        We can not trust Iran and must physically control everything they do

The backing from the assembly, controlled by political factions deeply loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a further sign that Rouhani has the support of the Iranian establishment, though there are some rumblings from hard liners. Khamenei, the most powerful figure in Iran, has yet to comment publicly on Rouhani's trip.
Rouhani briefed parliamentarians on his trip, including discussions on Iran's nuclear dispute with the West and regional relations, the student news agency ISNA said. A group of 230 parliamentarians, out of the total of 290, signed a statement expressing their support of Rouhani for presenting the image of a "powerful and peace-seeking Iran which seeks talks and interaction for the settlement of regional and international issues", Fars news agency said. I happen to think Rouhani is making a difference.

 Iran's Revolutionary Guard no longer at the helm as Iran’s Leader Reduces Posts of Military Elite IRGC

Iran’s Leader Reduces Posts of Military Elite IRGC:Mr. Rouhani’s cabinet appointments in recent days have marked a sharp reversal from a nearly decade long trend in which IRGC personnel increasingly have dominated many branches of Iran’s government, and their companies have taken over key industries in the national economy.

The IRGC is the country’s most powerful military, economic and security force, and has led the decision-making on Tehran’s role in the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and the Palestinian territories, according to Iranian and Arab officials. Its nation-wide paramilitary organization, the Basij, was the lead force in the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in 2009.

IRG Ahmadinejad, the stolen election, the killing and imprisonment of the children of the Revolution, the violent crushing of all opposition, the clandestine nuclear program,  How will this end?  The IRGC which gained tremendous power and control under Ahmadinejad is now being reigned in under Rouhani or so we are led to believe.

Rouhani is Iran's Obama. He is a kinder gentler version of more of the same so I do not see any real change coming here. Taking a few IRGC from their posts is not going to relinquish them of their power and control.

As this ratchets up instigated by the Basiji and the IRGC another reminder! You know how I feel about Iran's Revolutionary Guard Command, As you know, the IRGC was set up to protect the ruling authority after 1979 and are supposed to be controlled By Ayatollah Khamenei the final authority.

I know Ahmadinejad and 2/3 of his first 21 member cabinet were ex IRGC members and that simply reinforces that I was increasingly led to think the IRGC had become the final authority not the Supreme leader. Maybe this can be changed but I do not think so.

The IRGC is in control of furthering Shiite demands around the Middle East! You know by now what they are doing in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and everywhere they can in the Middle East. I now believe Khamenei is the power behind the crackdown but he is unknowingly enforcing a lie!

 Iran will not give up her nuclear weapons designs and will never give up power or efforts to dominate the Middle East. Ahmadinejad and the IRGC are the driving force and will not relent. Increasing sanctions will only work to defeat all the opposition has done. It does not matter who is President any more. Sound familiar?

You know, I have long said that Iran’s civilian nuclear program is a cover for their nuclear weapons program. You know that Arab leaders feel the same way. They fear a nuclear arms race and I can only conclude that knowing how far along Iran is and how they feel that they are hedging their bets and it is already under way clandestinely.

The Gulf Corporation Council “Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman. And the United Arab Emirates, who are all incidentally armed by us with advanced conventional weapons and technology and missile defence batteries all want the Middle East to be declared a nuclear safe zone. That as you know is DOA as neither Israel or the US will never agree to that.

 The centuries of acrimony and convoluted Relationships throughout the Middle East though I knew of it is mind boggling and worse than I thought so I invite you to read the report it is eye opening. ! Why Arab leaders worry about Iran's nuclear program | Bulletin of ...I really wish the era of nuclear weapons was over but I am afraid that era will not be over until it is over!



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma 

http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com