I guess. OTOH $6B given a few weeks ago is but a drop in the bucket considering Iran's overall budget.I think most business people here would admit that money is fungible.
I guess. OTOH $6B given a few weeks ago is but a drop in the bucket considering Iran's overall budget.I think most business people here would admit that money is fungible.
Hmmm.........it doesn't sound like a lot in Western budget terms, but it is almost 2% of Iranian GDP. The mullahs haven't exactly ushered in an era of prosperity.I guess. OTOH $6B given a few weeks ago is but a drop in the bucket considering Iran's overall budget.
This is not good.
Bear in mind that all this is designed to trigger a massive, angry, emotional response from Israel and the West, which can then be exploited for propaganda and diplomatic purposes in the Middle East.
Not sure, but I believe that they have had hostage/prisoner exchanges in the past.Does Israel have a "no negotiations" policy?
I'm guessing it does. Otherwise, hostage fees would eat up a chunk of the Israeli state budget.
Hard to believe an oil producing country has a GDP of only $300B. It must be quite fucked up.Hmmm.........it doesn't sound like a lot in Western budget terms, but it is almost 2% of Iranian GDP. The mullahs haven't exactly ushered in an era of prosperity.
So that's about $40 billion in relative Canadian terms for reference.
I'm not blaming the Biden Administration for Gaza, but I don't think there is any hope for rapprochement with Iran. I just don't buy Blinken's explanation of how the money is for this and not for that.
Not really, the Americans and the British decided that Iran didn't deserve democracy. In 1953 the Iranians were still loyal to the Americans for getting the Soviets out of Tabriz at the Yalta Accord.Hard to believe an oil producing country has a GDP of only $300B. It must be quite fucked up.
Which is exactly why Trump should never be allowed near the White House. Days like this. Arguably ours too.Bear in mind that all this is designed to trigger a massive, angry, emotional response from Israel and the West, which can then be exploited for propaganda and diplomatic purposes in the Middle East.
My first reaction as well was to say "Nuke 'em! They don't deserve to live!"
But I suspect that is what Hamas is trying to achieve.
Israel needs to permanently remove Hamas from Gaza while attempting to minimize civilian casualties. But easier said than done.
Hamas survives by continuing the hostility and tension between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel is faced with a number of difficult choices. If they invade, they subject their forces to endless intifada from Hamas, which will then dissolve again into the general population. If they just bomb, they will have no way of identifying Hamas personnel and will simply inflict indiscriminate casualties.
OTOH, the situation demands massive and effective retaliation.
Great point. Except the Iranians ditched the Shah and picked Khomeini, who was even worse.Not really, the Americans and the British decided that Iran didn't deserve democracy. In 1953 the Iranians were still loyal to the Americans for getting the Soviets out of Tabriz at the Yalta Accord.
More violence won't help.Bear in mind that all this is designed to trigger a massive, angry, emotional response from Israel and the West, which can then be exploited for propaganda and diplomatic purposes in the Middle East.
My first reaction as well was to say "Nuke 'em! They don't deserve to live!"
But I suspect that is what Hamas is trying to achieve.
Israel needs to permanently remove Hamas from Gaza while attempting to minimize civilian casualties. But easier said than done.
Hamas survives by continuing the hostility and tension between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel is faced with a number of difficult choices. If they invade, they subject their forces to endless intifada from Hamas, which will then dissolve again into the general population. If they just bomb, they will have no way of identifying Hamas personnel and will simply inflict indiscriminate casualties.
OTOH, the situation demands massive and effective retaliation.