Should Iran Pay Reparations?

[RavVid]

For forcing Israel and US to expend a lot on munitions and for the damage caused by their missiles and drones?

They have a lot of oil, so it seems fair.

In the longer term should Persian people get oil revenues paid into their bank accounts instead of going to their gov't which is obviously untrustworthy. That seems a very easy & welcome regime change to me that they would all go for.

Australian Aborigines get royalty checks from miners and they love it. So pretty sure Persians will too.

Both are a great idea

Reparations only

Oil checks for the people only

Nah, oil money should only go to their gov't

Updates

4 mo

The Iran Womens Soccer team was in Australia when this happened. The team refused to sing the Iran anthem and to salute.

Predictably there were calls in Iran for them to be executed on return. 5 of the team managed to sneak out of the hotel on Tuesday and claim asylum which was given the same morning.

A lot of regimes collapse due to internal pressure e. g. USSR, Ukraine. If Trump wants the people to rise up and dispose of the regime then he should treat this as an election campaign.

[madhatters4]

you do realize this campaign was started by the US/Iran right? why would the country attacked first pay reparations to the country's that attacked them?

[RavVid]

Well it is a long established principal that the loser pays in international conflict.

[madhatters4]

reparations have been a common but not a rule of war; however, who pay reparations is not based on the group that lost but the group that initiated the conflict. in this case it would be Israel and/or the US

[RavVid]

Not saying there never has been a victor paying reparations but can't think of one. I don't think US paying for California after the Mexica-American war constitutes reparations.

In the case of Iran, they have been conducting a gray zone war for 50 years so they started it.

[madhatters4]

if you are going to look at it in antiquity this battle has been going on for centuries before iran as a country even existed.
reparations are paid by a country that initiate a war. iran did not initiate. Promise you they won't pay reparations cause it literally doesn't work that way

[Sevenpointfive]

i think the problem is that the owners of all of the land with oil don't live there anymore. they created the UAE about 40 years ago. if the sand people were smart, they'd be destroying that oil infrastructure and make the people with money listen. they just completely stripped the land and vanished, leaving tribes of humans that have to constantly be attacked by israel.

[RavVid]

The Middle East is still in the Age of Empires, so who ever is running the country sees the oil as their own possession rather than the State's possession and therefore belonging to the people of the country.

The Iran people should seize the wealth as theirs.

[alice55]

When russia attack Ukraine russia is the mean Guy when America attack Iran Iran is the bad guys

I say nobody is good in the end

[RavVid]

Iran has been sponsoring 19 terrorist groups as a gray zone tactic.

At the end, the gray zone should have consequences and it seems they finally are.

[alice55]

Dubai Pakistan uae Libya etc … and it still does not stop the West from being friend and all y with them this is just an excuse

there's not consequence it’s all because of pétrole and money nothing more

[RavVid]

IS is a problem but does not seem to be state sponsored; certainly not Iran for a change. Libya was bombed quite a few times for terrorism.

Pakistan has no oil but is aligned with China. It does have a fluid view on terrorism and suffered consequences from India recently.

[permanentem]

Offers of free shit and Socialism is what landed the Iranian people in oppressive Islamic slavery under dictatorship. People that are rejecting the current government and fighting the current revolution are anti-socialist/anti-Islamic.

[permanentem]

The Islamic Revolution in Iran that occurred in 1979, rode in on Socialism promising free electricity and public transportation under a "just Islamic system". Iran has had enough of that bullshit, but it seems NYC is dumb enough to fall for the same drivel.

[RavVid]

The IR was also against short skirts. There is a good case that the mineral resources of a country belong to the people of that country. If the people get the money from the sale of those mineral resources as royalty cheques than it means the central gov't doesn't get to spend it on aggressive armament.

That should be better and people will be able to afford water and electricity.

[permanentem]

Governments are suppose to invest in infrastructure like transportation (roads, bridges, railways, seaports, airports), utilities (water, electricity, gas), communication networks, public facilities (schools, police force, hospitals), military. etc.. These elements facilitate the conditions for business to grow and create jobs so that people can earn a living. They aren't suppose to just dole out checks.

[RavVid]

You raise a bigger problem of responsible gov't and the Iranian gov't for example has seen investing in armaments and external terrorist groups as most worthy of investment. With a lot of cash, gov'ts tend to vanity projects; one of which might be to dominate their neighbors whilst the people might want water more.

The bigger problem is what can a country produce aside from it's natural endowments? It is not necessarily solvable.

Education doesn't automatically create businesses. Nor do roads and bridges to nowhere. There is a "All dressed up with nowhere to go problem". A person could be highly educated and brilliant and be highly rewarded for that... in another country. But in their own country not to be able to get a job at any level.

We think of the Middle East as being rolling sand dunes. But you know what? They have to import sand for construction because their sand is rubbish.

A sovereign wealth fund might be the best they can do but that requires a lot of trust in gov't and it might be better if it is kept out of their hands.

[permanentem]

Companies don't invest in areas without infrastructure and the rule of law. You have to have access to stable electricity, water, transportation, manufacturing space, roads/highways, rail spurs, ports, etc. with a workforce that are trained for some specific task and a system that isn't filled with corruption and crime so that you have some assurances your investment will turn a profit. So no, one element alone doesn't produce business. You need all of them in a location that geographically close enough to a market that demands your product.

Education doesn't create business, education needs to be catered to business. You need to train people to do what business demands. It's not about being the smartest country, it's about developing a workforce with the skill set investors demand. If a capable workforce exists, a business will use them to manufacture a product.

There are different kinds sand with different uses. Desert sand is smooth sand. It can be used in aspects of construction like mortar mixes that require smooth finishes like plasters, joint compound, grout, etc., but is less desirable than more coarse sands for projects that require stability like foundation beds where you find coarse with irregular shapes that lock together more easily otherwise known as concrete sand used. None the less there are other uses for sand like glass manufacturing (solar panels, silicon wafers for electronics), paint manufacturing, etc. Sand can also be mechanically milled and chemically refined to get more preferred properties. So no, their sand isn't "rubbish", it's just not a be all end all wonder material that can do every job. It has it's uses and that's what it should be used for.

[RavVid]

Your synopsis on business is pretty good and there is a lot of stuff that has to come together. Textiles is the classic route for industrial development.

Most of all it is hard to see the Iranian gov't providing it's side of the magic pudding. They would kinda be a lot better without one or one highly constrained.

More the point with sand is that it appears a plentiful resource but to be used it requires significant treatment. Silicon requires exceptional purity.

[Hagar88]

Yes and should pay what they owe to US oil companies from when they nationalised in the 70s.

[RavVid]

That is another excellent reason for Iran to pay out. Thank you for that addition.

[Hagar88]

Liberals love the idea of nationalisation industries under state control but forget that someone else built and invested in what they are bringing under state control, when you do stuff like that then no one will invest in your country or trade with you as you can't be trusted.

[RavVid]

It seems like Big Oil is not keen on trying Venezuela again. Nor Russia probably when/if peace is declared.

[Hagar88]

Big oil probably doesn't want Venezuela under cutting their oil exports to China. Drives down the overall price of oil/gas globally

[RavVid]

I was more thinking they might not want to be nationalized again. But that too because China is happy to undercut to gain dominance in industries.

[Hagar88]

Exactly right.

[strateguy632]

Both yes like trump arranged in Venezuela. And from oil sales pay as you explained.

[888theGreat]

Iran was attacked by US and Israel. They should pay for damages

[888theGreat]

Should US pay Libya

[RavVid]

That is a reference to Obama bombing Libya isn't it?

[LC75LC71]

Oh great, another "insert Iran here" question!

[Paige2006]

They should but won't

[RavVid]

Everything can be negotiated. My view is the money should be kept out of gov't hands.

[beefcakebradybatson]

The third.

[RavVid]

The Iranians should get benefits from the oil wealth, instead of having to protest for water and electricity and be shot for doing so.

[beefcakebradybatson]

You typed it, RavVid !!!

[RavVid]

:) :)

[Anonymous]

Yes!