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I hate to admit it, but it’s actually a rather positive day for SHTF News.

Hugo “The Devil” Chavez: Wowee! Hugo Chavez’s proposed constitutional changes that would’ve equated to virtual unrestricted power and dictator-like control over the people of Venezuela has sunk at the poles - albeit barely - with a 51% to 49% vote. This is a victory for freedom and democracy. Congratulations to the people of Venezuela.
FMI: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071203/D8TA96601.html

Iran and . . . no nukes(?): A new U.S. report states that Iran halted their nuke juice weapons program in 2003. This a report coming from all 16 of Ameria’s spy agencies, which weakens any argument to take a more hawkish stance toward Iran. The report also concludes that if Iran was to lift their freeze on nuke weapons, they’d still be about 2 years away from the ability to launch a warhead.

This brings me to question how S will HTF with Iran. If Bush’s aggressive stance against Iran is more challenged, perhaps he’ll sit the issue out and let our next President deal with it. Oil’s high prices have been influenced by this nuke juice tension. We don’t bomb Iran, oil drops, the economy looks great, Iran keeps processing uranium (just “not for nuke juice weapons”), and everyone is happy. Until . . . . until when? It’ll come to a head, rest assured. If there’s a lull before the storm, consider it an opportunity to prepare.
FMI: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/03/iran.nuclear/index.html

Oil Watch: $89.31 at today’s close, up 60 cents on the day, but down overall.

As always, keep the paranoia in check, folks (as in check to make sure it’s there).
This is Ranger Man reporting for SHTF News.