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Max Keiser: The Greek debt crisis, Peak Oil and possible outcomes
The evolving situation in Greece should be holding our attention - certainly more than we are getting in out media - as so much hangs on its outcome.
This week Michael Ruppert interviewed Max Keiser on the background to the debt crisis and how Peak-Oil and "Peak Credit" are interwoven.
I have written an article trying to encapsulate what they talked about as well as provide the most recent footage of the Greek demonstrations.
Available at; http://robinwestenra.blogspot.com/2011/06/max-keiser-imf-uses-greeces-as...
Attention
While I agree that there is much at stake, I'm not sure I would make the general statement that what is happening in Greece "should be holding our attention". Attention is a very personal thing and limited. There are many things people could be putting attention on, and I won't even begin to suggest some of the other things that we coud be giving attention to, as that is an endless list.
Perhaps another way to approach this is in service to the people reading this, by offering a concise summary of your perspective, based on your reading and watching of the streams of information. Then we could choose whether we want to explore the situation further, or simply accept that we are now better informed - having heard another point of view - and can go on to put our attention elsewhere.
For example...
What's happening in Libya
I've spent an hour and a half recently listening to this alternative perspective (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNLqQ2cN-PA) on what is happening in Libya and Gaddafi.
From my reading of the situation it seems that Hilary Clinton's calls for Gadaffi to step down are most likely more about her countries desire to have continued access to resources within the African continent, than they are about a failing of Gadaffi, which is almost certainly a major misrepresentation by the corporate media.
This morning I spotted this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWzNhk3zv4U) showing huge crowds coming out in support of Gadaffi, something rather unusual today - when so many are protesting against their countries leadership.
Gadaffi and the oil
I think the desire of the people of Lybia to free themselves from the dictator (and corrupt ruling tribe) are genuine. The western desire to have stability in the region and access to resources are obvious as well. I think the fact that the West is supporting the rebels is the only sensible outcome as the fall of the dictator is likely unavoidable so to hasten this outcome and limit the ability of Gadaffi to inflict mass murder on his own people is probably in every bodies interest. Just imagine the outcry if the USA had backed Gadaffi in this struggle!! So for once the US is backing a rightful struggle however nobody should doubt the further motives of the US....
Not as certain as you on this Thomas
From my reading of the situation and having listened to the 90 minute press conference (did you watch/listen to it) I came away with another perspective. It's dangerous to make assumptions (no matter which side of the opinion fence they fall) without direct experience, so unfortunately our debate here is not likely to be terribly fruitful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNLqQ2cN-PA
Ordinary Libyans love Gaddaffi
James, I'm with you on this one.
It has been understood by me and others of my age and persuasion who have followed this debacle since the 1970's, that ordinary Libyans love Gaddaffi. Ok, he is a dictator and lives in splendour. So what? It offends western liberal thinking, but is no different to the mediaeval kings that are a part of our common cultural ancestry. At a certain stage of societal development, actually not very chronologically far behind us smug Ango-Saxons, even poor people basked in the reflected grandeur of their regal leaders.
From my understanding, Gaddaffi has always payed a certain part of Libyas oil revenue to the people of Libya as a kind of "reverse poll tax".
No wonder the middle class of Libya don't like him. Such a policy of course undermines their differential wealth. How disgusting that a common goat-herder should receive a proportion of the nations oil wealth income that would maybe account for 50% of his annual income and a doctor or lawyer would receive the same sum of money, but it might be an almost insignificant 5% addition to his annual salary. Now do you understand why this Libyan "popular rebellion" is so bourgeois in nature? Of course, in the minds of middle class professional western liberals, the fact that the rebels are "reasonable people- just like myself" only serves to validate their support for western intervention on behalf of "their side". Middle class, professional- but nonetheless retarded as far as political awareness is concerned.
Understand this. Western intervention in Libya is about the oil, and that's all it's about. Any other illusion or buying into the "freedom and democracy" argument is just delusional. they don't do it in Burma or Indonesia, so why in Libya?