To: elmatador who wrote (93183 ) 11/6/2007 8:14:42 AM From: dvdw© Respond to of 206106 It is a fact that the gas pipeline will open a source of revenue to Iran. 1. Its a fact that the mid ocean volcanic ridge produces more heat in a day, than all the oil has produced since its use was began. It is a fact that that source of revenue will defeat the Iranian economic sanctions. 2. You can also say that if Iran would discover velcro, they could cease importing shoelaces.....its meaningless, because iran has no economy but the mullahtocracy, they might increase thier overall inflow but to what effect, iran wastes human potential sacrifices it everyday all to the purpose of sustaining its broken government. A government without economics is a sham, evidence is all around you. It is fact that the US tried to block the Urengoy gas pipeline to Europe to deny the Russians a source of revenue. 3. Perhaps, but the US interests may have been positing another route? I dont know any of these details so I will rest on the Fact that the missing information from the big picture is reducing your surmise to facts as political rhetoric. It is a fact that the US has been sabotaging the gas pipeline deal. 4. OK, but this so called fact is probably counter pointed by a whole host of rational alternatives which are seen to be, diminishing to the political elite in the effected territory, and because this makes the elite less stable, sabotage not logic becomes the preferred deduction of those whose power and decisions might be debated. It also a fact that during the Cold War the US propped undemocratic regimes and dictatorships that crushed populations that wanted democracy when these dictators helped the US strategy. 5. Unfortunate isnt it. But in the absence of a real economy, others see their inputs framed against what is real on the ground, not what is imagined by political extravegance masquerading legitimacy. My conclusions are always derived from facts. 6. Perhaps, but facts are parts of trees with roots, without resolving contradictions in your analysis of the whole tree, your facts are just convenient extrapolations. Nothing personal, I usually like your work and hope you will continue your reporting.