Press f’s up again.
The most important quote in the entire piece:
“”It’s not a matter of Crimea — we are defending our independence, our sovereignty and our right to exist,” he said. “We should all understand this.””
So, if you need $100/BBL oil to survive, and you have a massive military infrastructure to maintain, and the Saudis, single-handedly, have created a Ruble crisis by lowering oil below $60/BBL in less than a month, and you actually believe invading the Crimea as ‘self-defense’, what do you suppose you are likely to do next in the name of national self defense?
If I were in the Saudi Royal Family, I’d be moving my caviar and my harem down into the underground palace at this time.
The problem is that the Saudis could cut production off right now and Oil would only go up to $85/bbl. It is because of weak demand from China, whose economy is grinding to a halt, that oil is so low.
I've been thinking along the same lines.
What, exactly, would Obozo do about such an eventuality?
Come up with a redesigned 'Reset' button, perhaps?
The Sauds are producing less oil in 2014 than they did in 2013. Your comment doesn't make sense.
Big friggin nothing, except broadcosting quasi-patriotic propaganda for internal use and keep stealing public money.
You are assuming that Putin is a Russian patriot and he is honest when giving these funny speeches... If he was one, he would: 1. crack down on corruption and public sector mismanagement 2. Invest the oil & gas money in modernization/entrepreneurship development 3. Mentor a team of young political leaders - the first step to set up real democracy over there.
Now what he actually does: 1. He and his buddies steal countless billions annually. 2. Waste billions (on crappy military equipment, Crimea etc.) and ruin the economy 3. Destroy any opposition and is the guy number 1 since +15 years with no intentions to go away.
Dude triggered off all this “crisis” to transform his shitty “authoritarian” presidency into typical dictatorship and to keep his own people stupid, brainwashed and isolated - therefore easy to control. It's all about his personal agenda.
>If I were in the Saudi Royal Family, I’d be moving my caviar and my harem down into the underground palace at this time.<
.
If Putin has evil designs on the Saudis, ARAMCO personnel had better get the hell out of the country.
They’re the real target.