Iran's atomic threat overstated

Iran's atomic threat to the U.S. overstated

What's behind the administration's exaggeration of the threat to America by Iran's 20-year-old nuclear ambitions?

With approximately 31,000 nuclear warheads (13,000 deployed and 4,600 on high alert) in the stockpiles of eight countries and 441 reactors already operating in 30 countries, why all the fuss?

Anyone savvy enough can see the writing on the wall: "This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous ... Having said that, all options are on the table." (George W. Bush, February 2005)

Iran holds the key to a much greater threat than gaining nuclear power, and it's one that strikes real fear in the desiccated hearts of this administration. The Iranian Oil Bourse is scheduled for debut on March 20, 2006.

At that time, Tehran has plans to start competition with the New York Mercantile Exchange and London's International Petroleum Exchange and use a Euro-based oil-trading method. Most oil importers have to purchase oil with U.S. dollars, which is why most of their foreign currency is in dollars. The American economy stays afloat through the demand for its currency.

A worldwide switch from dollars to Euros for foreign currency reserves would mean that hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars would suddenly become unwanted. The U.S. would have to change its severely unbalanced tax, debt, trade and energy policies. No amount of spin would hide this one.

In September 2000, Saddam Hussein announced that Iraq would no longer accept dollars for oil sold under the Oil-for-Food program and would switch to the euro for oil currency. We all know what happened next -- invasion based on lies. Interestingly enough, by June 2003, Iraqi oil sales were once again in U.S. dollars.

Intelligence analyst Philip Giraldi's article, "In Case of Emergency, Nuke Iran," in The American Conservative discloses reports of Vice President Cheney's instructions to the Pentagon for contingency plans against Iran in case of another terrorist attack inside America. Plans up to and including a nuclear attack whether Iran is involved in the terrorism or not.

If you've got the stomach, read William Clark: "The Real Reasons for the Upcoming War in Iraq" and "The Real Reasons Why Iran is the Next Target."

I really think George should add another costume to his repertoire: top hat, tails and a cane for the State of the Union song and dance.

STAN METCALF

Gooding