AIPAC & Price of Gasoline

[bigrun]

TOP TEN WAYS IRAN IS DEFYING US, EU OIL SANCTIONS and HOW YOU are
PAYING for IT ALL ...... Informed Comment, Juan Cole, Professor of History @ Univ of Michigan.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, the Neocons assured us. Iran would soon be on its knees because of ever more stringent US sanctions on Iran. But Iran just cheekily sent two warships through the Suez Canal to dock at the Syrian port of Tartous. The old Mubarak government in Egypt might not have allowed such a thing, but the Arab Spring has brought to power an Egyptian government eager to demonstrate its independence from Washington.
Brent crude just hit $121 dollars a barrel, the highest in 8 months and a remarkable figure in the absence of a crisis like the Libyan War (responsible for the last big spike). In part, the markets are jittery at the news that Iran is cutting off oil deliveries to the UK and France (Iranian petroleum accounts for only 1 percent of UK imports, and 4 percent of French ones). The Europeans will just find other suppliers or will end up buying Iranian oil through third parties, so the announcement isn’t that significant, but oil traders are a jittery lot. The oil sanctions plan foisted on the United States by Israel and the US Israel lobby pledged that the sanctions would not put the price of oil way up. But in fact, they have contributed to higher prices in part because of speculation on war talk.
As prices in February hit a historic high for this time of year, presaging perhaps $5 a gallon gasoline this summer in the US, Iran is still sitting pretty. The fragile European and US economies, however, may take a hit from higher transportation costs (the US will likely see a fall in summer travel and internal tourism). The same Republicans who complain that President Obama hasn’t been hard enough on Iran are cynically planning to campaign against him on his having caused higher petroleum prices, ignoring the role of sanctions on Iran and tensions with that country in the price run-up! I hate to say it but I told you so.
So what has allowed Iran to fight back against the draconian US-Israeli-European sanctions regime?
10. US and European Union financial sanctions look set to cut Iran profits on its petroleum by roughly 10 to 15 percent by raising transaction and insurance costs. But Iranian saber-rattling about the Straits of Hormuz, for instance, along with Israeli and American warmongering rhetoric, has caused a 10 to 15 percent increase in petroleum prices on speculation over hostilities. That is, from Iran’s point of view the negative effects of the sanctions on oil profits have been cancelled out by the positive effects of the war talk.
9. The sanctions plan against Iran advocated by Israel-lobby intellectuals Mark Dubowitz and Reuel Marc Gerecht (a former CIA analyst) was deeply flawed because it did not take into account the likelihood of supply disruptions (South Sudan, Syria) or of increased demand (India, Japan, South Korea, China), as John Kemp cannily explains.
8. Saudi Arabia has been unable to ramp up production quite as much as it boasted it could to US and European allies. In part, Saudi’s reserves are declining by 3% a year, which few analysts seem to have taken into account.
7. South Sudan abruptly halted petroleum exports through Khartoum in a dispute with Sudan over its “theft” of some of the oil. That step took 350,000 barrels a day off world markets.
6. Likewise, Syria’s uprising has closed down oil production of nearly 400,000 barrels a day, and there have been problems in Nigeria. Thus, not only couldn’t Saudi quite add 2 million barrels a day to world production, but its increased output was in part offset by cutoffs elsewhere.
5. India has insisted on continuing to buy Iranian petroleum and on trading with Iran, much to the dismay of the US government. But given the tightness of world petroleum supplies and increasing Asian demand, it is difficult for me to understand why Nicholas Burns thought Delhi could do without Iran’s petroleum. In part, making sure consumers have subsidized petroleum is an election issue in India
4. South Korea and Japan don’t believe that they can replace Iranian petroleum imports from other suppliers, and so have politely told Washington and the Neocons to jump in a lake over boycotting Iranian oil.
3. Turkey is also bucking US pressure to buy from Saudi Arabia rather than Iran. Some analysts doubt that Saudi Arabia can keep up its current 11.8 million barrels a day, and if the output fell, Turkey might be scrambling for new contracts in an even more competitive world of six months or a year down the road.
2. Iran and China have agreed on an oil deal that will boost Chinese imports from Iran. China has been completely impervious to Washington’s attempts to strongarm it into compliance with the US boycott of Iran.
1. Iran is still being supported by its neighbors, who need its aid. Iraq wants a waiver, being deeply dependent on trade with Iran. And, at a tripartite summit between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, Pakistani president Asaf Ali Zardari underlined that outside pressure could not undermine good relations between Islamabad and Tehran! Pakistan has an energy crisis and is seeking electricity and fuel from Iran. So, basically, US allies Afghanistan and Pakistan are paying no attention to American attempts to get them to join a boycott of Iran; in fact, they are openly defiant on this score. The three are even talking of some sort of regional bloc that would include China!
The last crackpot Neocon plan, the invasion of Iraq, ended up costing Americans about $1 trillion so far and nearly 5,000 soldiers killed. their Iran gambit looks set to triple all the costs of the Iraq fiasco, or more. Write your congressmen and put blame where it is due, on AIPAC.

[Riot]

U.S. Oil Independence Beckons as Exports Rise: Chart of the Day
12-13-2011
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...f-the-day.html

U.S. net exports of oil products such as diesel will more than double in the next decade from record levels as slowing domestic consumption cuts the nation’s dependence on foreign energy, Citigroup Inc. said.

The CHART OF THE DAY shows how net exports expanded to a record 920,000 barrels per day in September, the most recent monthly data available from the Department of Energy. Net outbound cargo will add another 1.5 million barrels a day by 2022 as output grows, cars become more efficient in the U.S. and demand rises in Latin America, said Ed Morse, head of commodity research at Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

The U.S. first switched from net imports of the products, which include fuels such as gasoline and propane, for several months in 2010 before net exports pushed higher, staying positive since the middle of this year.

“Net exports will continue to grow because oil products demand will continue to decline,” Morse said by phone from New York. “We’re likely to see U.S. import requirements for crude oil shrinking because of higher domestic production.”

Exports of refined products rose 23 percent this year to 3.1 million barrels a day while imports fell 9.6 percent to 2.2 million barrels, Department of Energy data show. U.S. demand for gasoline averaged 9.26 million barrels a day this year, roughly equal to last year, according to Department of Energy data.

U.S. oil products exports to Brazil in September were 244,000 barrels a day, up 53 percent from a year before, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show. Brazil’s crude and oil product imports rose 23 percent this year, the trade ministry said.
---------------
Top 15 sources of imported US Oil
CANADA
SAUDI ARABIA
MEXICO
VENEZUELA
NIGERIA
COLOMBIA
IRAQ
ECUADOR
ANGOLA
RUSSIA
BRAZIL
KUWAIT
ALGERIA
CHAD
OMAN

[joeydb]

Drill Baby Drill!!! :d

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by bigrun

TOP TEN WAYS IRAN IS DEFYING US, EU OIL SANCTIONS and HOW YOU are
PAYING for IT ALL ...... Informed Comment, Juan Cole, Professor of History @ Univ of Michigan.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, the Neocons assured us....{Drivel}...The last crackpot Neocon plan, the invasion of Iraq, ended up costing Americans about $1 trillion so far and nearly 5,000 soldiers killed. their Iran gambit looks set to triple all the costs of the Iraq fiasco, or more. Write your congressmen and put blame where it is due, on AIPAC.[/b]

Hilarious how the author's opening and closing sentiments blame "Neocons" for Obama's foreign policy. I don't believe "Neocons" had anything to do with Obama lying about what he was going to do to end our occupation in Afghanistan, his unilateral decision to involve the US in the overthrow of the govt's of Egypt, Libya and shortly Syria, along with his war hawk approach to inevitable military involvement in Iran.


Congrats Obama lovers, you are now the new Neocons

[Riot]

Yes, Obama.

The Iran War Hawk.


BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Riot

Yes, Obama.

The Iran War Hawk.


BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-...b_1250668.html

Once again, the MO of this president is to ignore and do absolutely nothing for 3 years, then attempt to make it appear that Congress is pulling his strings, forcing him to be the bad guy..lol.

Unless of course, the Huff Post is now a right-wing biased blog.

And by the way - a whole lot more about this "suspected" attempt to kill the Saudi ambassador last fall is set to come to light in the near future.


What a joke.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

in, the MO of this president is to ignore and do absolutely nothing for 3 years, then attempt to make it appear that Congress is pulling his strings, forcing him to be the bad guy..lol.

Only if one ignores reality. Face it, this president has had an excellent foreign policy record, and even the reasonable people on the right acknowledge it's success, and Clinton's excellence as SOS.

The only people who hate it are the typical war hawks.

But hey, you're entitled to your opinion. Not your own facts, but your own opinion.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Riot

Only if one ignores reality. Face it, this president has had an excellent foreign policy record, and even the reasonable people on the right acknowledge it's success, and Clinton's excellence as SOS.

The only people who hate it are the typical war hawks.

But hey, you're entitled to your opinion. Not your own facts, but your own opinion.

I can't even respond to this...

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

his unilateral decision to involve the US in the overthrow of the govt's of Egypt, Libya and shortly Syria, along with his war hawk approach to inevitable military involvement in Iran.


Congrats Obama lovers, you are now the new Neocons

We invaded Egypt and Libya?..Missed that, musta been outta town..

Not an Obama lover, just an ABTB..Anything Better Than Bush..(except Newt or Santorum)

Originally Posted by bigrun

We invaded Egypt and Libya?..Missed that, musta been outta town..

Not an Obama lover, just an ABTB..Anything Better Than Bush..(except Newt or Santorum)

Are you being naive for the sake of it? You do know that we are funding rebels in every country Rude mentioned, correct? Then why play the semantics route with wording?

Common sense. Come on.

[bigrun]

When haven't we been 'involved' in foreign countries?...It's NOT just an Obama thing...Ignore the involvement in the U.S.


COUNTRY OR STATE Dates of intervention Forces Comments
SOUTH DAKOTA 1890 (-?) Troops 300 Lakota Indians massacred at Wounded Knee.
ARGENTINA 1890 Troops Buenos Aires interests protected.
CHILE 1891 Troops Marines clash with nationalist rebels.
HAITI 1891 Troops Black revolt on Navassa defeated.
IDAHO 1892 Troops Army suppresses silver miners' strike.
HAWAII 1893 (-?) Naval, troops Independent kingdom overthrown, annexed.
CHICAGO 1894 Troops Breaking of rail strike, 34 killed.
NICARAGUA 1894 Troops Month-long occupation of Bluefields.
CHINA 1894-95 Naval, troops Marines land in Sino-Japanese War
KOREA 1894-96 Troops Marines kept in Seoul during war.
PANAMA 1895 Troops, naval Marines land in Colombian province.
NICARAGUA 1896 Troops Marines land in port of Corinto.
CHINA 1898-1900 Troops Boxer Rebellion fought by foreign armies.
PHILIPPINES 1898-1910 (-?) Naval, troops Seized from Spain, killed 600,000 Filipinos
CUBA 1898-1902 (-?) Naval, troops Seized from Spain, still hold Navy base.
PUERTO RICO 1898 (-?) Naval, troops Seized from Spain, occupation continues.
GUAM 1898 (-?) Naval, troops Seized from Spain, still use as base.
MINNESOTA 1898 (-?) Troops Army battles Chippewa at Leech Lake.
NICARAGUA 1898 Troops Marines land at port of San Juan del Sur.
SAMOA 1899 (-?) Troops Battle over succession to throne.
NICARAGUA 1899 Troops Marines land at port of Bluefields.
IDAHO 1899-1901 Troops Army occupies Coeur d'Alene mining region.
OKLAHOMA 1901 Troops Army battles Creek Indian revolt.
PANAMA 1901-14 Naval, troops Broke off from Colombia 1903, annexed Canal Zone; Opened canal 1914.
HONDURAS 1903 Troops Marines intervene in revolution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1903-04 Troops U.S. interests protected in Revolution.
KOREA 1904-05 Troops Marines land in Russo-Japanese War.
CUBA 1906-09 Troops Marines land in democratic election.
NICARAGUA 1907 Troops "Dollar Diplomacy" protectorate set up.
HONDURAS 1907 Troops Marines land during war with Nicaragua
PANAMA 1908 Troops Marines intervene in election contest.
NICARAGUA 1910 Troops Marines land in Bluefields and Corinto.
HONDURAS 1911 Troops U.S. interests protected in civil war.
CHINA 1911-41 Naval, troops Continuous occupation with flare-ups.
CUBA 1912 Troops U.S. interests protected in civil war.
PANAMA 1912 Troops Marines land during heated election.
HONDURAS 1912 Troops Marines protect U.S. economic interests.
NICARAGUA 1912-33 Troops, bombing 10-year occupation, fought guerillas
MEXICO 1913 Naval Americans evacuated during revolution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1914 Naval Fight with rebels over Santo Domingo.
COLORADO 1914 Troops Breaking of miners' strike by Army.
MEXICO 1914-18 Naval, troops Series of interventions against nationalists.
HAITI 1914-34 Troops, bombing 19-year occupation after revolts.
TEXAS 1915 Troops Federal soldiers crush "Plan of San Diego" Mexican-American rebellion
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1916-24 Troops 8-year Marine occupation.
CUBA 1917-33 Troops Military occupation, economic protectorate.
WORLD WAR I 1917-18 Naval, troops Ships sunk, fought Germany for 1 1/2 years.
RUSSIA 1918-22 Naval, troops Five landings to fight Bolsheviks
PANAMA 1918-20 Troops "Police duty" during unrest after elections.
HONDURAS 1919 Troops Marines land during election campaign.
YUGOSLAVIA 1919 Troops/Marines intervene for Italy against Serbs in Dalmatia.
GUATEMALA 1920 Troops 2-week intervention against unionists.
WEST VIRGINIA 1920-21 Troops, bombing Army intervenes against mineworkers.
TURKEY 1922 Troops Fought nationalists in Smyrna.
CHINA 1922-27 Naval, troops Deployment during nationalist revolt.

MEXICO

HONDURAS


1923

1924-25


Bombing

Troops


Airpower defends Calles from rebellion

Landed twice during election strife.
PANAMA 1925 Troops Marines suppress general strike.
CHINA 1927-34 Troops Marines stationed throughout the country.
EL SALVADOR 1932 Naval Warships send during Marti revolt.
WASHINGTON DC 1932 Troops Army stops WWI vet bonus protest.
WORLD WAR II 1941-45 Naval, troops, bombing, nuclear Hawaii bombed, fought Japan, Italy and Germay for 3 years; first nuclear war.
DETROIT 1943 Troops Army put down Black rebellion.
IRAN 1946 Nuclear threat Soviet troops told to leave north.
YUGOSLAVIA 1946 Nuclear threat, naval Response to shoot-down of US plane.
URUGUAY 1947 Nuclear threat Bombers deployed as show of strength.
GREECE 1947-49 Command operation U.S. directs extreme-right in civil war.
GERMANY 1948 Nuclear Threat Atomic-capable bombers guard Berlin Airlift.
CHINA 1948-49 Troops/Marines evacuate Americans before Communist victory.
PHILIPPINES 1948-54 Command operation CIA directs war against Huk Rebellion.
PUERTO RICO 1950 Command operation Independence rebellion crushed in Ponce.
KOREA 1951-53 (-?) Troops, naval, bombing , nuclear threats U.S./So. Korea fights China/No. Korea to stalemate; A-bomb threat in 1950, and against China in 1953. Still have bases.
IRAN 1953 Command Operation CIA overthrows democracy, installs Shah.
VIETNAM 1954 Nuclear threat French offered bombs to use against seige.
GUATEMALA 1954 Command operation, bombing, nuclear threat CIA directs exile invasion after new gov't nationalized U.S. company lands; bombers based in Nicaragua.
EGYPT 1956 Nuclear threat, troops Soviets told to keep out of Suez crisis; Marines evacuate foreigners.
LEBANON l958 Troops, naval Army & Marine occupation against rebels.
IRAQ 1958 Nuclear threat Iraq warned against invading Kuwait.
CHINA l958 Nuclear threat China told not to move on Taiwan isles.
PANAMA 1958 Troops Flag protests erupt into confrontation.
VIETNAM l960-75 Troops, naval, bombing, nuclear threats Fought South Vietnam revolt & North Vietnam; one million killed in longest U.S. war; atomic bomb threats in l968 and l969.
CUBA l961 Command operation CIA-directed exile invasion fails.
GERMANY l961 Nuclear threat Alert during Berlin Wall crisis.
LAOS 1962 Command operation Military buildup during guerrilla war.
CUBA l962 Nuclear threat, naval Blockade during missile crisis; near-war with Soviet Union.
IRAQ 1963 Command operation CIA organizes coup that killed president, brings Ba'ath Party to power, and Saddam Hussein back from exile to be head of the secret service.
PANAMA l964 Troops Panamanians shot for urging canal's return.
INDONESIA l965 Command operation Million killed in CIA-assisted army coup.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1965-66 Troops, bombing Army & Marines land during election campaign.
GUATEMALA l966-67 Command operation Green Berets intervene against rebels.
DETROIT l967 Troops Army battles African Americans, 43 killed.
UNITED STATES l968 Troops After King is shot; over 21,000 soldiers in cities.
CAMBODIA l969-75 Bombing, troops, naval Up to 2 million killed in decade of bombing, starvation, and political chaos.
OMAN l970 Command operation U.S. directs Iranian marine invasion.
LAOS l971-73 Command operation, bombing U.S. directs South Vietnamese invasion; "carpet-bombs" countryside.
SOUTH DAKOTA l973 Command operation Army directs Wounded Knee siege of Lakotas.
MIDEAST 1973 Nuclear threat World-wide alert during Mideast War.
CHILE 1973 Command operation CIA-backed coup ousts elected marxist president.
CAMBODIA l975 Troops, bombing Gassing of captured ship Mayagüez, 28 troops die when copter shot down.
ANGOLA l976-92 Command operation CIA assists South African-backed rebels.
IRAN l980 Troops, nuclear threat, aborted bombing Raid to rescue Embassy hostages; 8 troops die in copter-plane crash. Soviets warned not to get involved in revolution.
LIBYA l981 Naval jets Two Libyan jets shot down in maneuvers.
EL SALVADOR l981-92 Command operation, troops Advisors, overflights aid anti-rebel war, soldiers briefly involved in hostage clash.
NICARAGUA l981-90 Command operation, naval CIA directs exile (Contra) invasions, plants harbor mines against revolution.
LEBANON l982-84 Naval, bombing, troops Marines expel PLO and back Phalangists, Navy bombs and shells Muslim positions. 241 Marines killed when Shi'a rebel bombs barracks.
GRENADA l983-84 Troops, bombing Invasion four years after revolution.
HONDURAS l983-89 Troops Maneuvers help build bases near borders.
IRAN l984 Jets Two Iranian jets shot down over Persian Gulf.
LIBYA l986 Bombing, naval Air strikes to topple nationalist gov't.
BOLIVIA 1986 Troops Army assists raids on cocaine region.
IRAN l987-88 Naval, bombing US intervenes on side of Iraq in war.
LIBYA 1989 Naval jets Two Libyan jets shot down.
VIRGIN ISLANDS 1989 Troops St. Croix Black unrest after storm.
PHILIPPINES 1989 Jets Air cover provided for government against coup.
PANAMA 1989 (-?) Troops, bombing Nationalist government ousted by 27,000 soldiers, leaders arrested, 2000+ killed.
LIBERIA 1990 Troops Foreigners evacuated during civil war.
SAUDI ARABIA 1990-91 Troops, jets Iraq countered after invading Kuwait. 540,000 troops also stationed in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Israel.
IRAQ 1990-91 Bombing, troops, naval Blockade of Iraqi and Jordanian ports, air strikes; 200,000+ killed in invasion of Iraq and Kuwait; large-scale destruction of Iraqi military.
KUWAIT 1991 Naval, bombing, troops Kuwait royal family returned to throne.
IRAQ 1991-2003 Bombing, naval No-fly zone over Kurdish north, Shiite south; constant air strikes and naval-enforced economic sanctions
LOS ANGELES 1992 Troops Army, Marines deployed against anti-police uprising.
SOMALIA 1992-94 Troops, naval, bombing U.S.-led United Nations occupation during civil war; raids against one Mogadishu faction.
YUGOSLAVIA 1992-94 Naval NATO blockade of Serbia and Montenegro.
BOSNIA 1993-? Jets, bombing No-fly zone patrolled in civil war; downed jets, bombed Serbs.
HAITI 1994 Troops, naval Blockade against military government; troops restore President Aristide to office three years after coup.
ZAIRE (CONGO) 1996-97 Troops Troops at Rwandan Hutu refugee camps, in area where Congo revolution begins.
LIBERIA 1997 Troops Soldiers under fire during evacuation of foreigners.
ALBANIA 1997 Troops Soldiers under fire during evacuation of foreigners.
SUDAN 1998 Missiles Attack on pharmaceutical plant alleged to be "terrorist" nerve gas plant.
AFGHANISTAN 1998 Missiles Attack on former CIA training camps used by Islamic fundamentalist groups alleged to have attacked embassies.
IRAQ 1998 Bombing, Missiles Four days of intensive air strikes after weapons inspectors allege Iraqi obstructions.
YUGOSLAVIA 1999 Bombing, Missiles Heavy NATO air strikes after Serbia declines to withdraw from Kosovo. NATO occupation of Kosovo.
YEMEN 2000 Naval USS Cole, docked in Aden, bombed.
MACEDONIA 2001 Troops NATO forces deployed to move and disarm Albanian rebels.
UNITED STATES 2001 Jets, naval Reaction to hijacker attacks on New York, DC
AFGHANISTAN 2001-? Troops, bombing, missiles Massive U.S. mobilization to overthrow Taliban, hunt Al Qaeda fighters, install Karzai regime, and battle Taliban insurgency. More than 30,000 U.S. troops and numerous private security contractors carry our occupation.
YEMEN 2002 Missiles Predator drone missile attack on Al Qaeda, including a US citizen.
PHILIPPINES 2002-? Troops, naval Training mission for Philippine military fighting Abu Sayyaf rebels evolves into combat missions in Sulu Archipelago, west of Mindanao.
COLOMBIA 2003-? Troops US special forces sent to rebel zone to back up Colombian military protecting oil pipeline.
IRAQ 2003-? Troops, naval, bombing, missiles Saddam regime toppled in Baghdad. More than 250,000 U.S. personnel participate in invasion. US and UK forces occupy country and battle Sunni and Shi'ite insurgencies. More than 160,000 troops and numerous private contractors carry out occupation and build large permanent bases.
LIBERIA 2003 Troops Brief involvement in peacekeeping force as rebels drove out leader.
HAITI 2004-05 Troops, naval Marines & Army land after right-wing rebels oust elected President Aristide, who was advised to leave by Washington.
PAKISTAN 2005-? Missiles, bombing, covert operation CIA missile and air strikes and Special Forces raids on alleged Al Qaeda and Taliban refuge villages kill multiple civilians. Drone attacks also on Pakistani Mehsud network.
SOMALIA 2006-? Missiles, naval, troops, command operation Special Forces advise Ethiopian invasion that topples Islamist government; AC-130 strikes, Cruise missile attacks and helicopter raids against Islamist rebels; naval blockade against "pirates" and insurgents.
SYRIA 2008 Troops Special Forces in helicopter raid 5 miles from Iraq kill 8 Syrian civilians
YEMEN 2009-? Missiles, command operation Cruise missile attack on Al Qaeda kills 49 civilians; Yemeni military assaults on rebels
LIBYA 2011-? Bombing, missiles, command operation NATO coordinates air strikes and missile attacks against Qaddafi government during uprising by rebel army.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by bigrun

When haven't we been 'involved' in foreign countries?...It's NOT just an Obama thing...Ignore the involvement in the U.S.

We've been completely bankrupt for 200 years? Didn't get that memo.

Oh, I get it - so it's ok with you that we continue to borrow money that we can't even afford the interest on, much less ever even making a dent into paying off, to wage unprovoked war because you think, "urrbody dud it before, what's the problem now?" It's not Obama's fault!!!

Jesus Christ. Glad your guy, that ran on a platform of Hope and Change to focus the world's attention away from the abortion of a presidency the preceded him - by projecting a positive image of peace and leadership around the world - turns out to be exactly the same douchedrip that he replaced. Long live war.