From Tunsia to Bahrain; the Global Event of Our Time

[MeoTwister5]

Curiously how well equipped is the IRGC compared to the rest of the standing army?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Curiously how well equipped is the IRGC compared to the rest of the standing army?

Much better...with copied Western equipment (hypocrites aren't they?).

I would say their Quds Forces (special forces arm) is as good as the SAS in terms of training doctrine, combat capability and fighting ability.

Their country is a very oppressive regime. I spoke to an Iranian foreign student before in one of our universities...his English is very fluent, and he claims that the "Americans are hypocrites" and that "their government is very good". I suspect that he might be a sleeper agent or AOI sent by their government, even some of his local Malay peers didn't quite like him (as much as our local Chinese don't like the mainlanders). What is more unique is that, he gives you a feel that he is naive or brainwashed.

And that is before the 2010 Feb protest at People's Park (a government mandated "protest area"). Naturally I believe the upper-class and lower-class would support their government, but the middle-class wouldn't be so supportive because they are technically stuck on that part of the social ladder. The lower-class are just brainwashed.

[Kaijo]

Gaddafi is down to two cities in Libya (and is mostly losing Tripoli, the main city). He's lost all his oil money, so all he has is cash on hand.

More Yemeni tribes and tribal figures are joining the opposition and calling for Saleh to step down.

There have even been some gripes forming in Saudi Arabia, and some have speculated that it could spread to China. I'm really wondering where this will end, heh.

[FDW]

Originally Posted by Kaijo

Gaddafi is down to two cities in Libya (and is mostly losing Tripoli, the main city). He's lost all his oil money, so all he has is cash on hand.

More Yemeni tribes and tribal figures are joining the opposition and calling for Saleh to step down.

There have even been some gripes forming in Saudi Arabia, and some have speculated that it could spread to China. I'm really wondering where this will end, heh.

If what happened in 1989 was the "Autumn of Nations", what would this be? "The spring of Nations"? "The Spring of Democracy"?

[synaesthetic]

The Spring of America Better Find Somewhere Else to Get Energy so the Middle East Fades into Obscurity and Nobody Gives a Shit What Happens There Anymore, Before This Insanity Causes Our Already Fucked Up Economy to Get Even More Fucked Up When the Price of Energy Skyrockets.

*deep breath*

[FDW]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

The Spring of America Better Find Somewhere Else to Get Energy so the Middle East Fades into Obscurity and Nobody Gives a Shit What Happens There Anymore, Before This Insanity Causes Our Already Fucked Up Economy to Get Even More Fucked Up When the Price of Energy Skyrockets.

*deep breath*

The solution to americas energy problems is actually quite simple. Stop subsidizing a car-based lifestyle.

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by FDW

The solution to americas energy problems is actually quite simple. Stop subsidizing a car-based lifestyle.

That's rather difficult considering how spread-out a lot of our cities are. For places like where I live--in the Bay Area--it's not that hard. Having a car here is kind of a bother with expensive parking, expensive gas and expensive insurance...

But when I lived in the South, you pretty much had to own a vehicle, or you couldn't get anywhere. Everything was so far apart.

Not to mention shipping. The solution is to throw massive resources into battery technology and EV research. America is to coal what the Middle East is to oil, so with electric cars, our need for oil drops to incredibly low levels, and we can still happily generate power while telling the Mideast to go fuck itself.

Also, build more nuclear power plants, and get rid of that stupid prohibition on reprocessing spent fuel rods.

[ChainLegacy]

Even in a rather densely populated state such as my own (MA), you can't really get by without a car. Just to get to the train station to get on the train to Boston requires a car. The suburban/countryside lifestyle necessitates a car for commuting to work, getting food, etc. America would have to revert to an urban-rural dichotomy like we had prior to the 20th century for it to work. Lots of people would have to move to the city, and rural areas would have to become much more self-sufficient. Right now we have a lot of 'in-between' zones that require cars, supermarkets, and other modern amenities to be habitable on the current scale. Not to imply I do not favor trying to ween us off of oil, but cars are pretty damn integral to how our society is built, currently.

The current conflict, which very well may exacerbate our already existing problem with energy prices, may force some more research into alternatives. This would lead to pain in the short term but be beneficial overall. The problem is, we're already in bad enough shape economically so it's hard for me to really see it as a good thing. I do see a change in our energy sources as inevitable, even though we've been kicking that can down the road for 30-40 years now.

[FDW]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

That's rather difficult considering how spread-out a lot of our cities are. For places like where I live--in the Bay Area--it's not that hard. Having a car here is kind of a bother with expensive parking, expensive gas and expensive insurance...

But when I lived in the South, you pretty much had to own a vehicle, or you couldn't get anywhere. Everything was so far apart.

Not to mention shipping. The solution is to throw massive resources into battery technology and EV research. America is to coal what the Middle East is to oil, so with electric cars, our need for oil drops to incredibly low levels, and we can still happily generate power while telling the Mideast to go fuck itself.

Also, build more nuclear power plants, and get rid of that stupid prohibition on reprocessing spent fuel rods.

Actually I think a massive investment in Public Transportation and HSR would go a million times farther than battery tech and EV's, even if the upfront costs are higher, the benefits would also be much higher as well. (Though, like I've said this past on site, they would take some time to be fully realized)

Originally Posted by ChainLegacy

Even in a rather densely populated state such as my own (MA), you can't really get by without a car. Just to get to the train station to get on the train to Boston requires a car. The suburban/countryside lifestyle necessitates a car for commuting to work, getting food, etc. America would have to revert to an urban-rural dichotomy like we had prior to the 20th century for it to work. Lots of people would have to move to the city, and rural areas would have to become much more self-sufficient. Right now we have a lot of 'in-between' zones that require cars, supermarkets, and other modern amenities to be habitable on the current scale. Not to imply I do not favor trying to ween us off of oil, but cars are pretty damn integral to how our society is built, currently.

The current conflict, which very well may exacerbate our already existing problem with energy prices, may force some more research into alternatives. This would lead to pain in the short term but be beneficial overall. The problem is, we're already in bad enough shape economically so it's hard for me to really see it as a good thing. I do see a change in our energy sources as inevitable, even though we've been kicking that can down the road for 30-40 years now.

Suburbs in this country can easily be repurposed towards denser development, all you have to do is redevelop the area to make it more pedestrian friendly and denser, and that can be done by rewriting zoning laws. As for the shift to greener energy, our current is economy is broken anyways, we may as just take the pain that would be required in this economic shift for the sake of the long run.

[synaesthetic]

Battery tech has just lagged so far behind everything else. We've got smartphones that are basically computers in your pocket, but they can't last more than a day or two on a charge...

EVs are even worse...

Public transport doesn't solve the shipping issues, and it doesn't always work for individual transport, either. I hear far too many people saying the AC in AC Transit stands for "Absolutely Crappy."

The public transport we have now needs to get a hell of a lot better before it can even approach replacing cars.

Time is money, and it takes me hours to do errands (especially if I have to go between SF and the East Bay)... most of those hours are spent by waiting for the fucking bus to show up. Don't even get me started on full buses, buses missing timing points, the GPS trackers being inaccurate, buses skipping stops, bus drivers generally being dicks and trying to knock my disabled girlfriend over...

If I had a car, I could get everything done in a quarter of the time or less--with far less headache. Just a lot more money spent.

[FDW]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Battery tech has just lagged so far behind everything else. We've got smartphones that are basically computers in your pocket, but they can't last more than a day or two on a charge...

EVs are even worse...

Public transport doesn't solve the shipping issues, and it doesn't always work for individual transport, either. I hear far too many people saying the AC in AC Transit stands for "Absolutely Crappy."

The public transport we have now needs to get a hell of a lot better before it can even approach replacing cars.

Time is money, and it takes me hours to do errands (especially if I have to go between SF and the East Bay)... most of those hours are spent by waiting for the fucking bus to show up. Don't even get me started on full buses, buses missing timing points, the GPS trackers being inaccurate, buses skipping stops, bus drivers generally being dicks and trying to knock my disabled girlfriend over...

If I had a car, I could get everything done in a quarter of the time or less--with far less headache. Just a lot more money spent.

That's why we need to pump more money into Public Transit, so that it will be less crappy, more reliable, more frequent, and more convenient. Take AC Transit for example, it hasn't had a dedicated, stable source of funding since the 1970's. The Result? An endless fiscal crisis that always chips away at bus service. This is same story for lot's of other transit agencies throughout the country. And I bring up improving Public Transit as a way of achieving energy independence not necessarily because it's the best way (Those buses spew CO2 as well), but simply because it's simple to do and doesn't really require that much in the way of fancy technology, and it has the potential to reap some real dividends.

[Lost Cause]

I for one am all for the ongoing revolution in the middle east! And hope that our current administration has the brains too stay out of it!

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by FDW

The solution to americas energy problems is actually quite simple. Stop subsidizing a car-based lifestyle.

What synth said made a point :

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

That's rather difficult considering how spread-out a lot of our cities are. For places like where I live--in the Bay Area--it's not that hard. Having a car here is kind of a bother with expensive parking, expensive gas and expensive insurance...

But when I lived in the South, you pretty much had to own a vehicle, or you couldn't get anywhere. Everything was so far apart.

Public transport must have been really shitty.

Not to mention shipping. The solution is to throw massive resources into battery technology and EV research. America is to coal what the Middle East is to oil, so with electric cars, our need for oil drops to incredibly low levels, and we can still happily generate power while telling the Mideast to go fuck itself.

With US effectively bankrupt, the only solution to run these is quantitative easing.

But the GOP is blocking all that money flow into resource development, but instead, wanting to use leverage instead (which is fucking more risky). Obama had little choice. What most Americans didn't realise is that the major resource that is running out for them is TIME - the GOP's cockblocking is only a tactic to win the presidential election, not to solve long-term problems such as alternative energy and reverting US back to a sustainable asset-backed economy.

Also, build more nuclear power plants, and get rid of that stupid prohibition on reprocessing spent fuel rods.

Them "environmentalists" want to have a word with you.

Originally Posted by Lost Cause

I for one am all for the ongoing revolution in the middle east! And hope that our current administration has the brains too stay out of it!

With the rest of European politicians having their heads up their arses, I would sure want US to send humanitarian support. Drop the 82nd and Rangers in, send up medical points and soup kitchens, then feed some people. Whoever dies is not their problem, don't take sides.

[FDW]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Public transport must have been really shitty.

To put this way, Transportation in America is the one policy where the government's approach to it has been rather Socialistic in nature, completely ignoring capitalist principles.

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by FDW

The solution to americas energy problems is...

in the coasts of Pacific & Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and untapped huge reserves of coal and gas in the Continental U.S..

[Ithekro]

The train can't go everywhere and the buses take time. Take BART for example in the Bay Area again. It is fairly fast, but it cannot be everyplace. Also you can't move any quantity of stuff around with you on mass transit systems. For a convention in San Ramon, I have a friend that needs three or four boxes of stuff moved from San Francisco to the hotel in San Ramon for gaming. I drive to the city the week before to get the boxes, then he takes BART to were I live, then we go to San Ramon. I then take him and his stuff back to the city after we ar finished. This is to save time mostly. If I was going to be at his place anyway, might as well get the stuff while I'm their, rather than getting up early to drive to San Francisco, get the stuff and drive back, when it is out of my way to do so. It also costs gas and time to do so when it is not needed.

As for the Middle East, I suspect the West's goal is to drain the place of oil then forget about them entirely, since they will be of no use to us. After their reserves are gone, the US can retap its own oil reserves and not only supply our own needs, but also return to exporting oil like we use to do....and thus the United States would be the one setting the market prices...not Saudi Arabia.

[FDW]

Originally Posted by flying ^

in the coasts of Pacific & Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and untapped huge reserves of coal and gas in the Continental U.S..

…Which I oppose the US tapping into.

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by Lost Cause

I for one am all for the ongoing revolution in the middle east! And hope that our current administration has the brains too stay out of it!

staying out of it would be a great idea according to these guys

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by flying ^

staying out of it would be a great idea according to these guys

Isn't it great to have a corrupt fundamentalist Islamic state forcing their ideals and religion upon anyone else in that region? *sarcastic*

[FDW]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

The train can't go everywhere and the buses take time. Take BART for example in the Bay Area again. It is fairly fast, but it cannot be everyplace. Also you can't move any quantity of stuff around with you on mass transit systems. For a convention in San Ramon, I have a friend that needs three or four boxes of stuff moved from San Francisco to the hotel in San Ramon for gaming. I drive to the city the week before to get the boxes, then he takes BART to were I live, then we go to San Ramon. I then take him and his stuff back to the city after we ar finished. This is to save time mostly. If I was going to be at his place anyway, might as well get the stuff while I'm their, rather than getting up early to drive to San Francisco, get the stuff and drive back, when it is out of my way to do so. It also costs gas and time to do so when it is not needed.

As for the Middle East, I suspect the West's goal is to drain the place of oil then forget about them entirely, since they will be of no use to us. After their reserves are gone, the US can retap its own oil reserves and not only supply our own needs, but also return to exporting oil like we use to do....and thus the United States would be the one setting the market prices...not Saudi Arabia.

I don't want to get rid of cars entirely, just beef up public transit to the point where it easier to take trips without a car throughout american cities and suburbs than it is now. And also have it advertised better than it is right now as well, to get people to notice it more. Either way, public transit is just one tool in the "green toolbox". All of the tools (Battery tech, EV's, altering the regulations of zoning and railroads, HSR, and other green infrastructure) have to be used in the US if the middle east is to be irrelevant.