[vaseline2008]

If we look back at the history behind the State of Israel and the Arabs, we will get some understanding as to the chaos in that region. Basically TPTB took away land from the Palestinians and created the state of Israel, most likely with the thinking that Israel are the "chosen" people of "God" and that was the right thing to do. If you are a country in that region, wouldn't you want to protect your land from being taken away? That is the mindset of that region.

Wikipedia: Israel

On 14 May 1948, the day before the expiration of the British Mandate, the Jewish Agency proclaimed independence, naming the country Israel. The following day, the armies of four Arab countries —Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq – attacked Israel, launching the 1948 Arab–Israeli War; Saudi Arabia sent a military contingent to operate under Egyptian command; Yemen declared war but did not take military action. After a year of fighting, a ceasefire was declared and temporary borders, known as the Green Line, were established. Jordan annexed what became known as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip. The United Nations estimated that more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from what would become Israel during the conflict.
Israel was accepted as a member of the United Nations by majority vote on 11 May 1949.

[radon]

Any country has liberty on non-recognising any other country, there is nothing that can or should be done about it. What is dreadful and unacceptable is threats of mass physical extermination of people.

[bochen280]

A bit of (conspiracy) theorizing.

The Arab Springs appear to be mostly smoke screens to take over Lybia, or maybe even protect Lybia (or Cyrenaica) from potential invasion by neighbors.

Assuming that Syria and Iran are "liberated" Lybia(Kosovo)-style, the West won't stop there. They'll seek to inflame a war in Caucasus/Black Sea region, as ferocious as possible, under the familiar guise of "freedom-fighting", mostly to provide smoke screen to their main priority at this stage: they'll incite Arab Springs throughout the Central Asian Stans. Once the Stans are finished, the West and allies will finish up locking all planet's energy resources of any significance to themselves (except Russia, but this will be inconsequential). Mission accomplished. Among other things, China's strategy of locking in bilateral energy agreements will have failed.

Having accomplished that, the West may turn the energy valves off for the outsiders and let the die-off begin. Peacefully, without much shooting. The outsiders will attempt to protest, appealing to "universal human values", but will be told "to fight corruption" or similar mental BS.

Thus, Iran may prove to be the last bastion of humanism, despite all the images of the "irrational fanaticism". At least, until they have the nukes. Assuming that the story holds true.

This is EXACTLY what is happening. Peak oil means there is not enough food to go around in the fish tank.... so when push comes to shove the big fish are eating alive the smaller fish... and using this cannibalization to sustain themselves... The power structure hierarchical is getting flatter and flatter, and it is happening on all levels in a scale-invariant way...

[radon]

This is EXACTLY what is happening.

The thing is, Iran, having acquired the bomb, may well go on offensive and start using similar tactics. More likely directed towards Iraq/Mediterranean than Black Sea/Central Asia, but nevertheless. Who knows. If the Iranians can seek to block the Strait of Hormuz now, then at some point in the future they may seek to turn off the energy valves to whoever they perceive as "outsiders".

[Revi]

I think Iran is only going to block the straights if they get bombed. Why would they cut themselves off of the world market? Their oil has to pass through the straights as well. We are headed towards a really nasty showdown if we push them to that. I don't see an upside for anyone.