Iraq and ISIS Discussion

[Diamondback 2/2]

Does the transaction itself have to occur using USD? Or is the current USD equivalent in whatever currency?

I don't believe it is mandatory for all oil to be traded in USD, there are other currencies that are used, such as the euros. Most countries do have to trade in USD, to include all types of other imported goods. I'll have to research on it, but if my memory is right, most of our "axis of evil" list are all countries who attempted to trade oil in currencies other than the USD.

 

[ThunderHorse]

It's not so much the trade deficit as it is supply and demand. The demand of the USD, and the supply availability of the USD, sets the worth of the USD. When OPEC set a price in USD and than requires the transaction to be traded in USD, it not only requires our dollars to go out for those purchases, it requires other country's to maintain a supply of USD for their own needs. When everyone requires our USD, it allows us to run a high trading deficit. However, when country's start to dump our dollars to revalue or manipulate their own countries currency the USD go's down in worth, while the host countries currency will go up in worth.

There is only a finite amount of money, foreign countries aren't buying oil in dollars. The amount of our currency that is in foreign cash reserve banks that would be required is astronomical.

Our trade deficits are a huge problem which is why, to be honest, if the European Economic Community breaks up, we will get to have a ton of cheap fun in Europe.

 

[Dienekes]

Trade relations mean nothing without context. What about a country with a trade surplus that has done so artificially simply to collect enough tax dollars in order to prevent defaulting on a loan. Trade deficits are good political talking points, but they arent necessarily good or bad. It requires a great deal of context to classify it as either one.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

There is only a finite amount of money, foreign countries aren't buying oil in dollars. The amount of our currency that is in foreign cash reserve banks that would be required is astronomical.

Our trade deficits are a huge problem which is why, to be honest, if the European Economic Community breaks up, we will get to have a ton of cheap fun in Europe.

This article explains a bit of it.

Non-Dollar Trading Is Killing the Petrodollar -- And the Foundation of U.S.-Saudi Policy in the Middle East | The Huffington Post

This is from the federal reserve and explains how much of out currency is outside of our country. I'd hardly call it finite, especially on the context of if those dollars were dumped in the currency exchange market. Keep in mind this was from 20 years ago.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bulletin/1996/1096lead.pdf

As for trade deficits, it's been a great thing for the consumer economy of inexpensive products to the American middle class. It is also the down fall of the middle class with regards to manufacturing jobs. We think things are expensive now, vehicles, appliances house hold goods. Wait until you have to pay that worker $20+ an hour and another $10 an hour in benifits. It will be great to see Americans working again, but it's also going to drive the price of consumer products through the roof. Basically it's a trade off. We can have a lazy society on tons of government handouts because we can print money at will (currently) and people can pretty much buy what they want. Trade deficits allowed us to grow our middle class and improve our low income quality of life at a speed unseen in history. It's also killing the middle class and forcing dependency at a speed unimaginable. Our poor are far better off than most middle class around the world. Yet almost half our population is on some form of government assistance.

 

[ThunderHorse]

I would prefer people working and not being lazy as shit. But that's a discussion for another day. RIP Alenxandrov Ensemble, a video to commemorate them:

 

[ThunderHorse]

Syrians in Aleppo celebrated Christmas for the first time in five years:

http://nypost.com/2016/12/26/syrians-celebrate-christmas-amid-aleppo-cathedral-ruins/

Iraqi Christians celebrated Christmas in Bartella:

 

[ThunderHorse]

Kerry's Tell all book is going to be awesome: John Kerry blames Britain for derailing Obama's plan for intervention in Syria

 

[Grunt]

Kerry's Tell all book is going to be awesome: John Kerry blames Britain for derailing Obama's plan for intervention in Syria

Personally, I get tired of hearing what is supposed to be the greatest nation on Earth blaming others for their actions or inactions.

We need to start acting like the greatest nation on Earth and own our actions!

Now...back to my ever increasing isolationist world....

 

[ThunderHorse]

Ash Carter, I've expected a lot better of him and he has just been a disappoint: Ash Carter Says Putin Is Making It Harder for U.S. to Work With Russia

 

[Etype]

It seems to me we are entering into an unnecessary second cold war. What is the end game with Russia in all this recent bickering? Is this all an extension of election scapegoating?

If Russia is working to prop up Assad, then they are fighting ISIS. Russian bombs falling on ISIS are a bad thing? This world peace police act has gone too far.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

I feel like we have already had some discussion about this guy:

Body of Briton Ryan Lock 'recovered' after fighting Islamic State - BBC News

But I could not find it. Anyway, here is the follow up on his death. Brutal decision- but likely beats being captured by ISIS.

Briton Ryan Lock 'killed himself' to avoid IS capture - BBC News

 

[pardus]

I feel like we have already had some discussion about this guy:

Body of Briton Ryan Lock 'recovered' after fighting Islamic State - BBC News

But I could not find it. Anyway, here is the follow up on his death. Brutal decision- but likely beats being captured by ISIS.

Briton Ryan Lock 'killed himself' to avoid IS capture - BBC News

Good for him. Smart choice IMO.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Good for him. Smart choice IMO.

Agreed

 

[Mac_NZ]

A certain poem by Kipling still rings trues, just change Afghanistan's plains for Aleppo.

 

[Etype]

Good for him. Smart choice IMO.

Agreed

Or maybe he could've died fighting, the reason he was there to begin with.

Things must be drastically different in Great Britain if suicide when faced by the enemy is described as bravery- but I don't think that's the case in their military.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

I'd much rather punch my own ticket, than be, A) torchered to death on YouTube, or B) allow my family to see me get my head cut off on YouTube.

Totally disagree on this one. They apparently put up a hell of a fight, but lost. That happens in gunfights, but knowing the fight is lost and knowing the end game, Is smarter than sufferings or allowing your family to see it.


FYI: back in the day we had an agreement in my platoon, nobody went home crispy alive, and nobody was allowed to be caught slipping.

 

[Etype]

I'd much rather punch my own ticket, than...

--------------------------------

FYI: back in the day we had an agreement in my platoon, nobody went home crispy alive, and nobody was allowed to be caught slipping.

I'd rather fire my last bullet at the enemy than at myself, under any circumstances.

As for the second part, I have no idea what that means.

If a US Service Member killed himself in the face of the enemy, I'd argue that to be treason.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

In the spirit of clarification, Lock was not a British Soldier:

"Ryan Lock, who was a chef, had no military experience before travelling to join the Kurdish armed fighting forces known as the YPG in August."

 

[Etype]

In the spirit of clarification, Lock was not a British Soldier

I threw in the piece about their military to make that distinction, I was definitely unclear.

 

[Marauder06]

Mr Lock's body had been in the hands of IS militants.

In the hands of militants... gunshot wound under the chin... sounds more to me like surrendered/got captured and then got murdered than it does that he killed himself. Seems more like Pesh myth-making to me.