#1 Oil rises to near record as Iran’s dispute may lead to attacks
Oil rose to within 8 cents of its record high in New York on concern that a dispute over Iran’s nuclear program may lead to military conflict that would disrupt supplies from the world’s fourth-largest producer.
# 2 Israel warns of new ‘axis of terror’
After Hamas defended a deadly suicide bombing Monday, Israel’s U.N. ambassador warned that recent statements by the Palestinian government, Iran and Syria “are clear declarations of war, and I urge each and every one of you to listen carefully and take them at face value.”
On about the same day as the suicide bomber, Israel launched a missile strike into a Palestinian area, yet that’s not an act of war?
# 3 Ominous global outlook lifts oil past $70 peak
“The drama over Iran’s face-off with the west, the rise of insurgency in Nigeria and fuel supply concerns in the US ahead of the driving season are keeping a high floor under oil,” said Victor Shum at consultancy Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.
Without much press attention, the oil situation in Nigeria has been deteriorating too, with insurgents now controlling important areas.
#4 Sanctioned-out
The United States already has a broad range of sanctions on Iran.
“We’re kind of sanctioned-out at this point. We’re down to pistachios and rugs,” U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington on Monday.
Yuk, yuk, yuk… Stick to making carefully polished lies and evasions Sean, you’ll never make it in stand-up.
and finally,
#5 President Bush refused on Tuesday to rule out nuclear strikes against Iran if diplomacy fails to curb the Islamic Republic’s atomic ambitions.
Dr. Strangelove is in the White House and no one in Congress is screaming he is insane? A nuclear strike will make the US the biggest rogue state on the planet, guarantee soaring gas prices without end, create explosive situations in the Middle East, and guarantee seroius retaliation. Where is Congress? The Democrats are every bit as complicit as the Republicans in the insanities of our deranged president.