[wayoverontheright]

I too have been thinking there might be some negative repercussions for the Russkies here. It is already apparent that the other former Soviet republics have hardened in opposition, and it has caused the European Union countries to view America's military presence there a little more favorably also.

The ability to withhold the sale of oil and natural gas is over-rated as a weapon. In order to harm your client, you have to refuse to sell it at all, to anyone, which means you are refusing revenues-not good.

I wonder if the author is related to Vasco and Ilian Evtimov, the brothers who played basketball for North Carolina and N. C. State, respectively.

[Sal]

The ability to withhold the sale of oil and natural gas is over-rated as a weapon. In order to harm your client, you have to refuse to sell it at all, to anyone, which means you are refusing revenues-not good.

Exactly. It's fungible. If Russia sells to customers of Venezuela or Canada or whomever, then the oil/gas that would have gone to those customers is available on the market. Europe can buy it. It's not as convenient as having everything already set up, but it's doable.

Refusing to sell at all means Russia loses is major (practically only) income. They might as well cut their own throats... which is OK with me, but not so good for the Russian people.

Of course, Putin and the other KGB/mafiya/oligarch thugs have already gotten theirs and they don't care about the Russian people who should really consider regime change PDQ.

[dennisw]

The ability to withhold the sale of oil and natural gas is over-rated as a weapon. In order to harm your client, you have to refuse to sell it at all, to anyone, which means you are refusing revenues-not good.

You guys are dead wrong.
Russia has cut of oil/energy exports in the dead of winter to East European nations - Ukraine & Belarus and others

Try floating your oil fungiblity theories over there during a winter cutoff

BTW --- Oil is more fungible than natural gas which is also a major Russian export