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Thursday, April 22, 2004 |
 Wow. I want this e-ink book. It seems much more useful than a tablet PC.
11:18:59 PM 
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Electricity infrastructure rehabilitation is being delayed by departures (Siemens) and slow-downs (GE) by some of its prime contractors. Terrorist attacks on contractors are having the intended effect (10% of non-Iraqi contractors are currently outside Iraq). Disregard the spin to the contrary.
6:36:15 PM
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I have posted multiple entries to the weekly journal on Global Guerrillas. Arab Big Brother (counter-cyberterrorism in Egypt), CyberTerror? (terrorist attacks on the Internet), Flight Delays (power infrastructure fragility), and The Weaker Player (is the US the stronger player in the GWOT?).
6:31:14 PM
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Telepocalypse has a overview of Kenneth Deffeye's early April presentation on Hubbert's Peak (not new to readers of this weblog) at David Isenberg's conference. Don't forget this article on Saudi Oil production in the NYTimes.
11:42:50 AM
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BBC. Pakistan declares victory and departs from the hunt for Osama. The Pakistani "anvil" just walked away from the US "hammer" in Afghanistan.
10:58:38 AM
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NYTimes. Interesting trend in wealth disparity in college admissions (which reflects the larger trend in wealth concentration currently underway). It is in the interest of the US to circulate elites.
At the most selective private universities across the country, more fathers of freshmen are doctors than are hourly workers, teachers, clergy members, farmers or members of the military — combined.
In 2000, about 55 percent of freshmen at the nation's 250 most selective colleges, public and private, were from the highest-earning fourth of households, compared with 46 percent in 1985...
9:47:18 AM
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The demand for oil is growing rapidly. Global supplies are stagnant. This imbalance has a direct influence on the US push for a democratic and capitalist Middle East. NOTE: this push doesn't stop at Iraq. Here's how:
- Remove rogue states that produce oil. As long as Iraq remained under Saddam, oil production was severely limited. The removal of Saddam removed that limit. Iran's continued push for nuclear weapons may result in UN dictated limits on their oil production.
- Clear the way for corporate investment. The oil autocracies exert total control over their oil production which drastically limits outside investment. They also want steady production at moderate levels to ensure a long-term income stream. The US goal is to install true capitalist economies that will enable a) the investment of the hundreds of billions in development funds to increase production (not possible as long as these governments retain total control over production), and b) eliminate any artificial limits on production. Target: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc.
- Security: to prevent embargos in response to US policies. The US is increasingly reliant on oil production from politically unreliable sources. The imposition of democracies in the Middle East will ease this concern. Target: all major producers.
9:27:18 AM
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© Copyright 2004 John Robb.
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