The National Defense Authorization Act is placing the sanctions on Iran which are FORCING their hand in these issues. Our government is playing with fire and ASKING for World War III by picking a fight with the Iranian Government. This SAME legislation gives our own government the power to detain American citizens indefinitely and without trial for speaking out against this agenda of war-profiteering through causing constant strife and conflict in the Middle East. Join the discussion about how our Government is waging war without public approval and suppressing our Freedom of Speech so far that we are petrified to stand up against them. Speak out with me against Living in this Society of Fear at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/09/living-in-society-of-fear-ten-years.html

Much as North Korea has done, Iran rattles its sabres to keep the West at bay.

It's a fool who still takes the corporate media message as reliable. This article assumes that the people with a vested interest in the oil business are good for their word. They are not. They are in the most despicable technology suppressing business and perpetual war, division and misery game on the planet.

That is not hyperbole it is the truth and you may look at the banks government and media to see the last cabal of liars to dupe our species.

A more articulate look at the history of the deception is here:

http://www.charlesfrith.com/2011/12/somebody-muzzle-dog-silence-is-killing.html

We've seen a brazen comments from Ahmadinejad before. They are a few short years from having a bomb, and they know we are scared of the potential WWIII scenario that will almost certainly unfold if they do indeed attack Israel.

http://www.physiciansassistanthq.com/

Is there any reason Iran WANTS to close the Straits of Hormuz?

Iran earns some $240.0 million a day from its oil exports, translating into roughly $81.00 billion a year in hard-currency funds for its government.

That figure, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, accounts for roughly half of Iran's government funding.

In addition, Iran has limited capacity to refine its oil, and must import approximately 78,000 barrels a day of refined gasoline or about 28.0 million barrels per year (or about 1.2 Billion gallons). Indeed, according to the New York Times, in 2010, Iran was providing energy subsidies to Iranians of $114.00 Billion, and retail gas prices at the pump were $1.44/gallon.

All this doesn't even begin to include the amount of food and other imports Iran receives through the Straits.

It seems that the day Iran shuts down the Straits of Hormuz would be the day that the mullahs decide to cut their own throats because Iran cannot afford to subsidize its own military adventurism.

Iranians already went into the streets en-masse back in 2009. Tunisians and Egyptians, fed up with the declines in their respective economies took to the streets this year in the face of rising food prices.

I've read through several years of the O&G headlines (both on FP and your own blog site). You mention that sanctions don't work due to the smuggling factor.

I don't think the volumes involved here, coupled with the countries that surround Iran, would lend weight to that argument, especially when it is Iran that is forcing the closure of the Straits.

So why buy into the idea that Iran is capable of and its government has the ability to survive closing the straits?

Iranians already went into the streets en-masse back in 2009. Tunisians and Egyptians, fed up with the declines in their respective economies took to the streets this year in the face of rising food prices. I've foodblog read through several years of the O&G headlines (both on FP and your own blog site). You mention that sanctions don't work due to the smuggling factor.