Re: Fires of revolution sweep the Aran World
Maybe. It depends on the situation.
We may find the best route is to just to view the long term as a series of short terms.
Giving something away in a negotiation is not a bad thing, as long as you get something back. I still think we need to have the ability to offer incentives in negotiations for them to really be successful.
I can agree it plays some role, but I don't think ending the practice will end animosity towards America in all sectors.
Consider the following:
If speculators raise the price of oil above the level that balances supply with demand, then there will be a glut of oil on the market that must be hoarded for future sale..right?
That has not really been the case (it is more so recently) from an overall viewpoint of the futures market. Therefore, unless the amount of oil being hoarded increases dramatically, then the demand is meeting the supply, regardless of speculators...and unless we are seeing huge amounts of excess oil monthly, then the price is pretty close to where it ought to be.
If oil prices are going to be $200 per barrel next year because of growing demand and stagnant supply, then current prices need to rise in order to spur more production and encourage conservation. So long as their forecasts of rising prices are accurate, investors who push up current prices are performing a valuable service. They ensure that the price hikes are more gradual than would otherwise be the case.
Additionally, we have to factor in the value of the US dollar here. As the dollar falls in value, it will inherently increase the price of oil, regardless of supply and demand.
Ultimately that is all we did at the UN, however I do think it was wise to go there and at least attempt to build world support for the operation. If we don't get it, that does not mean we should not act.
We obviously have nuclear capabilities, but in terms of ship killers and ASAT weapons it is more a mixed bag. The question for me though is not do we have them, it is can we defend against them? Currently, I would argue that we cannot adequately defend against such threats.
As for your point of if we toned it down a bit it might ease tensions, short of unilateral disarmament, I don't see that happening.
Agreed.
It cannot just be US ships, in many cases foreign flagged vessels are still carrying American cargo. It is also important to protect vital shipping lanes because foreign powers do possess the capability to effectively shut them down, which would have a huge impact on the world economy.
An embassy does not have the same impact as a base and troop presence.
