Iran not so sure about their president

#1

Ahmadinejad is failing to deliver for the poor and losing support, but he could yet survive because of the international threat

Ali Ansari
Tuesday January 30, 2007
The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... 03,00.html

-------------

The big thing is he even got his hand slapped by the Ayatollah for shrugging off UN Sanctions.

I really think if they get close to throwing this man out, he will try and take Iran with him by doing something stupid. He has gotten less popular, but has far too many people willing to die for him to just lose an election and give up power. Moral of the story; In any election in the world; You can't help but vote for a crook, but NEVER vote for a madman.

#2

Is it true that Iran has to import over 60% of their fossil fuel products because they can not afford to refine the stuff they are pulling out of the ground themselves? I heard they were the 2nd largest importer of fossil fuel products, and that perhaps Saudia Arabia was letting the $$/barrel drop a little to perhaps induce a little MORE instability to Iran so the United States would be less likely to line them up in their sites as the next "evildoers" and launch another military campaign in that region.

I did not really believe it at first, and I thought if anyone could set me straight it would be Dr. Raum.

#3

QUOTE(emanon @ Jan 30 2007, 03:14 PM) Is it true that Iran has to import over 60% of their fossil fuel products because they can not afford to refine the stuff they are pulling out of the ground themselves? I heard they were the 2nd largest importer of fossil fuel products, and that perhaps Saudia Arabia was letting the $$/barrel drop a little to perhaps induce a little MORE instability to Iran so the United States would be less likely to line them up in their sites as the next "evildoers" and launch another military campaign in that region.

I did not really believe it at first, and I thought if anyone could set me straight it would be Dr. Raum.

Yes, it is true. Iran has serious energy issues, mainly regarding Oil refinement. They have no government regulation on dumping either, which has left many of their waters unihabitable to fish. Others have thus been overfished, and then exploited by industrial disposal methods that people would get crucified in America for.

But Iran's biggest problems are refining light materials (gasoline and by products). They often burn it all as heating fuel, straight out the barrell when they can't afford to pay to have it refined. And for some reason, they are not building refineries. No, they need nuclear energy; people who can't dispose of liquid propane properly... anyone want to explain to me how nuclear energy helps refine pertroleum for cleaner auto fuel?