Will falling oil prices sink Iran's nuclear programme?

Dropping oil prices and Iran’s Nuclear Pursuits
By: Michael D. Evans

Members of OPEC, which supplies more than 40 percent of the world’s crude oil, will meet on Sept. 9 in Vienna. I believe that if OPEC refuses to decrease production, oil may continue to drop like the proverbial rock. It makes absolutely no sense for OPEC to cut its own economic throat unless the predominately Sunni-controlled cartel has decided to use oil as an economic stealth bomb to collapse the economy of Iran, a non-Arab, Shi’ite state hell-bent on going nuclear. Quite simply: The oil-rich Persian Gulf Sunni states, i.e. Saudi Arabia, are concerned that Iran, under the leadership of Shi’ite fundamentalist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will turn its sights on its Sunni neighbors once it possesses nuclear weapons. Ahmadinejad has been obsessed with a vision of a world Shi’ite caliphate in which he can become the Nebakanezer of the Gulf. A Persian nuclear umbrella would guarantee a Shi’ite fundamentalist explosion. Atomic Iran would usher in a nuclear arms race in which the Sunni states would seek to arm themselves against Shi’ite aggression and could foment an apocalypse of global proportions. The only thing that would prevent such nuclear proliferation in the Middle East would be a bankrupt Iran with no means to pursue its nuclear objectives. This would mirror the Reagan administration’s assault on the Soviet economy during his presidency. The Saudis were as concerned then about the Soviets as they are now about Iran. Reagan was able to induce them, and therefore OPEC, to cooperate with the U.S. in areas of oil production and price controls. In the end, the price of oil dropped, the Soviet economy collapsed, and the break-up of the U.S.S.R. began. Would that same strategy work against Iran? It seems certain that bombing Iran would only unite and infuriate the Iranian people behind the present regime. It could create a global economic tsunami. Almost certainly, it would guarantee that John McCain’s bid for the presidency would fail. Although crude has dropped in value by more than 25 percent since peaking at $147 per barrel, Iran is now lobbying OPEC to cut production output by 1.5 million barrels per day. The only thing that might work would be a concerted effort to drain Iran’s coffers of funds designated for nuclear pursuits. Iran simply cannot survive without significant oil profits. Such a move could force regime change. Ahmadinejad is up for reelection in 2009; an economic collapse could end his tenure, halt his nuclear ambitions and forestall a nuclear crisis in the Middle East. Such a move would hit oil-rich Russia, Persia’s atomic subcontractor, hard in the pocketbook. That would be a delightful thought for John McCain, especially after the incursion in Georgia.

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Your Ambassador to Jerusalem, Dr. Mike Evans

Your Jerusalem World News: www.myjwn.com Your Save Jerusalem Site: www.savejerusalem.org

Presidential debate sched.

Debates:

Fri., September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

Thurs., October 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Tues., October 7, 2008: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Wed., October 15, 2008: Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

The Red Cross jams to MC Raw Bass and DJ EZ-Rock

The Red Cross is using my favorite song, "It Takes Two," in a tv ad:

http://a1881.g.akamai.net/7/1881/26640/v0001/redcross.download.akamai.com/26640/psa/television/08/ChangeaLife/9730.mov

Also avail. at redcross.org; click on "Available Advertisements" and then "It Takes Two."

Letter to the next president from Dr. Michael Evans

An Open Letter to the Next President

One of you shortly will be elected as President of the United States. You will place your hand upon the bible and take the oath of office. I humbly appeal for you to choose 2 Chronicles 7:14 as your inauguration scripture and to base your presidency upon the principles of that prophecy. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Senators, as you well know the U.S. State Department has an official document that will be placed in your hand called the Shelf Agreement. They will ask you to implement the principles of the agreement which call for the division of Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. I urge you to reject the Road Map for Peace and the Shelf Agreement, and I urge you to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital.

Jerusalem became the capital of the Jewish people during the time of King David, more than 3,000 years ago. There have been more terrorist attacks on the city of Jerusalem than any other city in the world because of radical Islam's obsession in dividing Jerusalem. You will be faced with world public opinion, mobilized in the United Nations, the Arab League, Russia, and China, to sacrifice bible land for political expediency. I humbly appeal for you not to listen to the liberal Jew-hating appeasement movements. I believe one of the reasons God has blessed America is because of America's commitment to the Jewish people. The enemies of Israel will never be content until Jews in Israel cease to exist.

Add your name to this letter in defense of Israel.

Please do not open the floodgate by supporting the Road Map to Peace document, the Shelf Agreement. There is much more at stake than just the geo-political situation. God made an eternal promise to Abraham that the Promised Land would belong to his descendants forever...and that He would place a divine blessing on those who help Israel and a divine judgment on those who curse Israel. For the sake of our nation--and my family and yours--we must defend Israel. We must resist the voices who urge forcing her to give up the land of promise for empty assurances of peace. We must recognize and maintain Jerusalem as the eternal and rightful capital of Israel. God will surely judge us if we challenge Him and the holy city of Jerusalem.

Senators, one of you will make major decisions that will affect the destiny of America as the President of the United States. But none will have greater prophetic implications than your response to this crisis. I urge you again to firmly stand with Israel and the Jewish people and help defend the territorial integrity of the Chosen People and the land of Israel. God's word promises: "I will bless them that bless thee." More than anything in the world I want God to bless our beloved nation.

Prayerfully yours,

Dr. Michael Evans

My pro-Wrigley night game letter in Chicago Tribune sports

The Chicago Tribune printed this letter in the sports section of its Aug. 9 edition.

Dear Editor:

The night-game limit at Wrigley Field is a throwback to a previous era and should be lifted immediately ("Bats wilt in sun; club seeks weekend games at night," Sports, Aug. 3). The Cubs obviously suffer as a result of playing too many afternoon games in the summer heat. The popular term "June swoon" refers to the Cubs' fortunes as Chicago's weather turns hot; strong starts in April usually lead to mediocre finishes once heat and humidity set in. The Cubs are the only team to play home games on Friday afternoons throughout the summer. They must compensate for a competitive disadvantage as their rivals play 83 percent more home games at night. (Most teams schedule about 55 evening starts.) The Cubs were foolish to agree to these restrictions in 2003. As they shed their "lovable loser" label to become a perennial National League power, their hometown must allow them to compete with their rivals, including evening starts.

Watch someone's red light violation

At Western and North Avenues. Right on red without stopping.

www.cityofchicago.org/revenue
Then enter:

Citation Number:	7001222018
	License Plate Number:	9574240

Couple headed for Europe leaves tyke at TLV

From my profile today.

Today's top travel story

An Israeli couple going on a European vacation remembered to take their duty-free shopping and their 18 suitcases, but forgot their 3-year-old daughter at the airport, police said today.

Couple's 18 suitcases make plane, but child doesn't

via www.chron.com

JERUSALEM — An Israeli couple going on a European vacation remembered to take their duty-free shopping and their 18 suitcases, but forgot their 3-year-old daughter at the airport, police said today.

The couple and their five children were late for a charter flight to Paris Sunday and made a mad dash to the gate. In the confusion, their daughter got lost.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a policeman found her wandering in the duty-free area at Ben-Gurion airport, Israel's bustling main international air portal. He said the officer alerted airline staff, but the flight had already taken off.

Israeli media said the parents were an ultra-Orthodox Jewish couple but did not give their names.

Rosenfeld said the parents were unaware they had boarded the aircraft with only four children instead of five until they were informed by cabin staff after 40 minutes in the air.

The child, accompanied by an airline staffer, took the next flight to Paris where she was safely reunited with her parents.

Rosenfeld said police would question the couple when they return from vacation, on suspicion of parental negligence.