In a speech covered apparently only by the Tehran Times, Iranian Army Commander Major General Ataollah Salehi asserted that Iran would not respond to military or economic pressure, and that the Islamic Republic is safe from any threat the West could possibly bring.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post picks up a Reuters story discussing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's desire to discuss intervention in Iran. Olmert said last month Israel would not be reconciled to a nuclear Iran and "all options are on the table."
In other words, Iran is posturing, but no one is paying attention. For a country that already struggles with feeling ignored and unimportant, Western media snubs cannot be pleasant.
Also, based only on the last few weeks of observation, it seems that most of the Post's stories on Iran come from Reuters...
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Oil and Petrotyrants
Two news items from the oil world while I was "out" this week:
1.) Exxon moves to bring Venezuela to court for breech of contract. Big Oil Strikes Back at Petrotyrants. This move pushes against the trend of petrotyrants nationalizing their crude reserves, setting a trend to encourage further development in instable and oil-rich countries like Chad and Angola.
2.) Nigeria demanded that oil companies return to the delta. Oil Firms Ordered to Niger Delta. Many companies fled the area due to increased violence and kidnappings, and the Nigerian government's demonstrated inability to control local insurgents. The government claims it will kick countries out of the country if they refuse to do business in the most dangerous parts. Here we have the inverse of the previous event, with the government attempting to control the investments of international firms.
Overall, it is interesting to note the interaction between governments and corporations, and how they engage in a power struggle as near equals. Where do corporations fit into the Clausewitzian trinity? People? Or is the model of the trinity fundamentally unable to incorporate international business?
1.) Exxon moves to bring Venezuela to court for breech of contract. Big Oil Strikes Back at Petrotyrants. This move pushes against the trend of petrotyrants nationalizing their crude reserves, setting a trend to encourage further development in instable and oil-rich countries like Chad and Angola.
2.) Nigeria demanded that oil companies return to the delta. Oil Firms Ordered to Niger Delta. Many companies fled the area due to increased violence and kidnappings, and the Nigerian government's demonstrated inability to control local insurgents. The government claims it will kick countries out of the country if they refuse to do business in the most dangerous parts. Here we have the inverse of the previous event, with the government attempting to control the investments of international firms.
Overall, it is interesting to note the interaction between governments and corporations, and how they engage in a power struggle as near equals. Where do corporations fit into the Clausewitzian trinity? People? Or is the model of the trinity fundamentally unable to incorporate international business?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
I can find the cafeteria, I'm oriented enough
No class for me this week, as I've been in orientation for my new awesome job which has nothing to do with oil, the Washington Post, or the Tehran Times.
Except it when it does.
Except it when it does.
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