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Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Some Curious Things
Posted by Michael Earl Patton
Long-time readers of The Cincinnati Beacon will know that I have been concerned for some time that there may a U.S. or Israeli strike against Iran. There are three items which I want to mention that strike me as curious, maybe even worrisome. None or even all of them together necessarily mean an attack is imminent, but they are noteworthy.
First, the U.S. Senate today (October 1) voted to authorize another $150 billion in funding for the continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by 92-3. So much for pulling our troops out anytime soon. What is noteworthy is the extreme lopsidedness of the vote.
Second, a website that is strongly pro-Israeli (http://www.debka.com) bases an article on an Iranian underground paper report that the Russians building the Iranian nuclear reactor at Bushehr suddenly left a few days ago. There has been no confirmation from other sources, but the website has given it top billing. They wonder if the Russians were tipped off to leave before an attack.
Third, and this originates wholly with me, but considering the record high price of crude oil, isn’t the price of gasoline oddly low? Here’s what I mean: the price of crude is a little above $80 per barrel and one barrel is 42 gallons. That means that each gallon of crude costs about $1.90 per gallon. Add to that the Ohio (28 cents) and federal taxes (18.4 cents) and one comes up with $2.34 per gallon. And that does not include the price of refining the crude, nor the fact that only about half the crude can be refined into gasoline (the rest goes into other products), nor the cost of the station, nor the cost of getting the gasoline from the refinery to the station. Yet it sells for $2.59 for a gallon of regular. That’s not much margin.
Although I may be the only one who is worrying that the price of gasoline is TOO low, I am not the only one who has noted the fact that the price of crude oil is going up while the price of gasoline is going down. See this article in the Tulsa World. They know something about oil down there. There are two charts in the upper left-hand corner which show the price trends of gasoline and of crude.
I don’t know how these all tie together. The Senate vote could be interpreted as a signal to Bush that the Democrats support him. The Russians leaving Bushehr could mean an impending attack but is such a tenuous report that it may be completely wrong. The low gasoline price may be poorly understood market forces or it could mean that the market is being artificially manipulated to help the economy ride out a possible backlash following an attack.
I find these items curious. My concerns may just be due to diplomatic rhetoric from government officials and may be completely unfounded. But if a surprise attack were to be launched, there certainly would not be an official press release until after the fact.
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03 Oct 2007 at 05:57 am | #
Great, the attack was supposed to be a surprise, and now you’ve let the cat out of the bag. The lives of our jet pilots are on you MEP. The gas companies are probably going to raise gas prices now that you’ve tipped them off too., thanks for nothing.
03 Oct 2007 at 08:04 am | #
As always, thank you JFD for finding this deep insight and meaning where none other dare go!
Keep up your courageous efforts to expose MEP, the Dean, Justin, guest columnists like Portune, Pepper, DeWine, Smitherman, Livingston, Brendan, et al. Lo, all are tools of Satan come to Earth!*
Melachalochamachalachalynvydramadyn! (Speaking in tongues mixed with Welsh.)
* Oops, I forgot Fritsch. The Demon doth take many malignant forms!
03 Oct 2007 at 07:54 pm | #
We know Cheney, Bush, Lieberman, McCain, and others of their ilk are itching to nuke Iran. We can only hope that people like Bush I, and Scowcroft are also whispering into Dubya’s ear: “Look at the hole you’ve already dug, and what do you have to show for it? A hole!”
Remember how Bush I was imitated on Saturday Nite Live always saying, “Wouldn’t be prudent.”?
Did Dubya inherit absolutely zero “prudent” genes?
03 Oct 2007 at 09:55 pm | #
So now MEP is a military & foriegn policy expert?
Why don’t we keep it local folks, and leave the big international issues to Huffington Post, Raw Story, Crooks & Liars, Atrios & the truly great Glenn Greenwald. Let’s not forget Sy Hersh, who is one of the last true investigative journalists out there. His latest piece is a must read.
03 Oct 2007 at 10:57 pm | #
.
The price of gasoline ? It is election season. Don’t you remember how the price of fuel drooped days before and especially on election day ? Then when it did not produce the results they wanted and Dem’s took the majority the price of fuel jumped the day after election.
03 Oct 2007 at 10:58 pm | #
I don’t think I’ve exposed Pepper, Portune or Fritsch, but thanks for noticing the others. What do you think about sending all our misdemeanor criminals over to fight a war with Iran? Maybe you think that is a better way to ease overcrowding, instead of building a new jail.
04 Oct 2007 at 11:42 am | #
I found it interesting that the president of Iran (I’m not even going to try spelling his name) stated that he didn’t think the US had any intention of attacking Iran.
04 Oct 2007 at 06:45 pm | #
CincyCoward, MEP is certainly more thoughtful than you and he can actually talk about a number of issues. He got it right on the war in Iraq. Did you and your party?
Or are you just a hired gun that will be a hack for the highest bidder from any corporate party?
04 Oct 2007 at 08:41 pm | #
The current administration act like a bunch of schoolyard punks and only prey on the weak. Afg. and Iraq both had no military and had endured economic sanctions imposed by the banksters for years. Iran, on the other hand, has some strength.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t put Israel up to the deed. The politicians are middle management, including jr., and get their marching orders from above.
04 Oct 2007 at 10:12 pm | #
Justin,
The ability to spout off about a number of issues qualifies as thoughtful? I thought the entire post was pulled out of his ass. Actually the word I’m looking for is; speculation.
BTW, the price of gas hinges on the price paid per barrel prior to production, not the current cost per barrel. Apparently the word thoughtful for you equates to baseless speculation.
04 Oct 2007 at 11:28 pm | #
MEP certainly spouts off his whiny mouth about a variety of issues. Too bad he doesn’t actually have any answers or solution to anything. He just complains, bitches and moans. On and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Just like you, boyband boy. All talk, no action. You are going to lose the election just like you lost today in court. Big time.
I was at a fundraiser for two actual viable candidates for council today; there were over two hundred people there, and unlike your motley coalition of 6 slackers, they were all average home-owning citizens of the City, who came with had cash in hand to support candidates who can get business dome in the City, whether it was $20 or $100, they gave till it hurt. We are going to kick your ass, boy.
BTW, how much money ave you and Patton raised? Can you afford TV or radio? Do you have the guts to tell us?
05 Oct 2007 at 07:26 pm | #
Anybody here ever trade commodities?
I was preaching to the Little Woman just the other day that it seems like a good time to do a “crush” spread: Short crude. Go long gasoline.
It would also be a good time to buy a few long way out of the money puts on a variety of commodities.
07 Oct 2007 at 02:23 pm | #
How come when it comes to saving social security, gay rights and a woman’s right to choose, you say that your opinion on national issues isn’t relevant because you’re running for a local office? So I think you’re right. Stick to local issues.