This and talk of nuclear bomb detonation tests? If both are not just some hot air to spook the markets and make Bush look bad going into the election it sure strengthens that argument that the stand against the U.S will be made in Iran not in Iraq.
The establishment of an Asian Bank which can effectively back-up energy projects among oil producing and consuming countries will rob Bush of an important tool used in the control of poorer countries.
Reference: John Perkins, a former respected member of the international banking community, in his book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man describes how as a highly paid professional, he helped the U.S. cheat poor countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars by lending them more money than they could possibly repay and then take over their economies.
AMY GOODMAN: How closely did you work with the World Bank?
JOHN PERKINS: Very, very closely with the World Bank. The World Bank provides most of the money that’s used by economic hit men, it and the I.M.F. But when 9/11 struck, I had a change of heart. I knew the story had to be told because what happened at 9/11 is a direct result of what the economic hit men are doing. And the only way that we're going to feel secure in this country again and that we're going to feel good about ourselves is if we use these systems we’ve put into place to create positive change around the world. I really believe we can do that. I believe the World Bank and other institutions can be turned around and do what they were originally intended to do, which is help reconstruct devastated parts of the world. Help -- genuinely help poor people. There are twenty-four thousand people starving to death every day. We can change that. #msg-4948785
LONDON, Jan 7 (IranMania) - Iran advocated the establishment of financial institutions like an Asian Bank for Energy Development, which can effectively back-up energy projects among oil producing and consuming countries.
Speaking at "The Round table of Asian Ministers on Regional cooperation in the Oil Economy" in New Delhi yesterday, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said, creating a win-win structure is naturally one of the pre-conditions for a long term and sustainable cooperation.
The structure should be devised in such a way that the price of energy supplies from Asian producers -that are mainly in the Persian Gulf region- for Asian consumers, will be lower than the price charged by other producers. At the same time, it should encourage Asian producers to produce their oil and gas for Asian consumer destinations, as an economic priority, he added.
According to IRNA, Iran's Oil Minister, Bijan Zanganeh said in his inaugural speech that, the importance of energy security in international debates has grown considerably in recent years. Energy supply security is defined as accessibility of energy carriers, at acceptable prices and with proper observation of environmental considerations.
The minister further added that the presence of major Asian oil producers and major Asian Consumers in this round table in New Delhi is and indication of the growing importance attached to the need for exchange of views on the critical issue of energy security and stability.
In his view, the issue has become vitally important for the rapidly growing economic of Asia that are aiming at the improvement of the living standards of billions of Asians in the coming years.
The consumers` concern for energy supply security, however, should also include the producers` concern for the security of demand, he said.
According to him, enhanced investment, especially in the upstream sector, has been the top agenda item in global energy programs and policies. The current oil production capacity shortfall, resulting from a lack of adequate long term investments in the past, is the result of challenges that still persist in the oil market.
In addition, the minister said political stability of producing countries, the pre-condition for the flow of investments, and imposition of crises, from economic sanctions to wars, on major oil and gas producers can never serve or ensure the global energy supply security.
Zanganeh concluded that expansion of cooperation of major Asian producers with oil and service companies in the region will strengthen regional interests, and will lead to profound economic ties in this continent.
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