Russia may cut off oil flow to the West

telegraph ^ | 29/08/2008 | By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

[Flavius]

Fears are mounting that Russia may restrict oil deliveries to Western Europe over coming days, in response to the threat of EU sanctions and Nato naval actions in the Black Sea.

Any such move would be a dramatic escalation of the Georgia crisis and play havoc with the oil markets.

Reports have begun to circulate in Moscow that Russian oil companies are under orders from the Kremlin to prepare for a supply cut to Germany and Poland through the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline. It is believed that executives from lead-producer LUKoil have been put on weekend alert.

[Flavius]

iran,russia,venezuela,sharia

[edcoil]

No surprise here. Russia attacked for the oil - Europe better get its act together fast.

[shankbear]

Well, well, well.........Nutty Maxine Watters wants to run our oil companies. Is she taking orders from the Kremlin? Is Putin her leader of choice?

[fantom]

Yes..

[r9etb]

If Russia actually does this, it would be a HUGE mistake. At present there's still a useful (to the Russians) ambiguity about Russia's intentions. Once they play this card, however, they will have announced the return of the old enemy, thereby resurrecting NATO.

And I suspect also that Europe's interest and actions in the Middle East may shift as a result.

[dr_who]

Wunner who they’ll sell it to. If they can’t, we’ll have some more oil reserves after the Ossetian wall crumbles.

[tillacum]

It was only a matter of time. NOW what WWII agreements couldn’t do, putin can do all by his little self. Control ALL of Europe. AND because of the reluctant democrats and follow-me RINOs we cannot send “our friends” in Europe the oil they will need WHEN the itty bitty guy turns off the oil spigot.

[TLI]

Perhaps T-Bone will ship `em a few wind generators. Nutjob Nancy will be jetting over when the book sales drop off from their current blistering pace and Mr. Hussein will have them free of their addiction to oil and running on just renewable energy resources in ten years.

Right.

[GOPJ]

Europe knuckles under to ME threats - why wouldn't they do the same with Russian threats?

Soon the "citizens of the world" will be cringing under the Russian boots or... they'll grow a backbone. Waiting - waiting - waiting.

[Flavius]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) shakes hands with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) during their bilateral meeting in Dushanbe on August 28, 2008. China and four Central Asian nations signed a statement on August 28 supporting Russia's role in the Caucasus but also expressing "deep concern" over the Georgia confict and calling for a negotiated settlement. In a joint statement, the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan said they "support the active role of Russia in assisting peace and cooperation in the region. " The six in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) also "express their deep concern over the recent tensions surrounding the South Ossetia question and call for the sides to peacefully resolve existing problems through dialogue."

A house on fire is seen in the ethnic Georgian village of Redvi, in Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. Russian forces and their armed allies have driven all Georgians out of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and are now ethnically cleansing other areas of Georgia, a senior Georgian official charged Thursday.

[G8 Diplomat]

I’ve been saying Russia would do that one of these days. The whole reason behind the Georgia attack was to take the BTC pipeline. The Energy War is just beginning.

[kcm.org]

Let's go: Drill Los Angeles Drill NOW!

[Thud]

How is this a problem?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its absolutely no surprise. The Rooskie knows blackmail backward and forward.
But anyone who knows how oil is produced will wonder
1. where the Bear gonna store his unshipped oil ? and
2. What happens to oil wells that are shut in ?

[Robert DeLong]

we cannot send “our friends” in Europe the oil they will need WHEN the itty bitty guy turns off the oil spigot

I view that as a good thing, maybe now Europe will start to wake up and smell the realities.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See this:

CA: Oil field may pipe cash to L.B. ( Democrat calls for drilling Wilmington Oil Field )

[wolf78]

If Russia actually does this, it would be a HUGE mistake. At present there's still a useful (to the Russians) ambiguity about Russia's intentions. Once they play this card, however, they will have announced the return of the old enemy, thereby resurrecting NATO.

Correct. And not only that. Right now Russia sells oil and natural gas and in turn gets goods and services from Europe and the west. Europe is playing a big role in rebuilding Russia's infrastructure, which still is in large parts outdated and energy-inefficient. Russia would shoot its own foot by doing this.

[edcoil]

China, India will take it. Both are also bigger markets.

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

the new rome ping

[Quix]

Sobering.

Thanks much.