Rattlesnake Ridge      

 
      BFF
“Iran’s parliament approved President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s candidate as oil minister on Wednesday, putting a military commander who is under international sanctions in charge of production in the world’s fifth biggest crude exporter. A huge majority — 216 of the 246 lawmakers present — voted in favour of Rostam Qasemi, a Revolutionary Guards commander, a rare victory for Ahmadinejad who has been severely criticised by parliament in recent months. Qasemi takes control of the oil ministry as Iran holds the rotating presidency of OPEC where it has strongly resisted calls by more Western-friendly producers to increase output quotas. His most important task will be to stem declining output from Iran’s mature oil fields and develop vast gas resources where sanctions have restricted foreign investment…… The European Union put him on a sanctions list in July 2010, meaning he is not allowed to travel or hold assets in the EU.……….”

A strange appointment. Perhaps not his favorite candidate, but do-able in parliament. President Ahmadinejad initially appointed himself acting minister of oil, but Parliament objected. Gradually we are seeing veterans of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the new elites of Iran, get into prominent cabinet posts. Like China in recent decades, like Egypt under Sadat and Mubarak, like other militarized states, Iran’s IRGC is spreading its tentacles throughout the bureaucracy and the economy. A few decades ago U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, on leaving office, warned of the military-industrial complex. His fear has been realized in a military-corporate-congressional complex. In Iran we are seeing a military(IRGC)-industrial-clergy complex that is dominating the economy (and the politics). Unfortunately.
For all its worth: this new minister will not be able to attend OPEC meetings in Vienna or anywhere else in the European Union. But that is okay, he won’t miss the ambiance of Vienna.
Cheers
mhg



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