http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/to...th%20of%20opec
Thoughts?
Personally I am super excited about it!
Good for them for taking a fucking stand and doing the right thing!
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http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/to...th%20of%20opec
Thoughts?
Personally I am super excited about it!
Good for them for taking a fucking stand and doing the right thing!
^^^ actually, this is pretty solid proof that GWB has cut some sort of backroom deal with the Saudis as a result of his last trip to Riyadh with hat in hand. See recent posts in the Muni Bond thread. This is also pretty solid proof that the Saudis are distancing themselves from Iran.
actually, the 'tin foil hat' crowd would tell you that Russia is posturing itself to be a controlling force behind a 'new' OPEC. See for a bunch of recent Russian actions ...Quote:
report coming out of Kuwait that Russia courting OPEC
- Russia invaded Georgia to guarantee that oil pipelines carrying caucasus oil to Western Europe would remain under the exclusive control of the Russian pipeline system (i.e. that a planned new 'direct' pipeline through Georgia cannot be built)
- Russia has sent heavy bombers and is sending heavy warships to Venezuela, in a clear attempt to deter US military intervention should Hugo Chavez decide to stop exporting Venezuelan oil to America.
- Russia is building a permanent navy base in Syria, and is re-establishing close ties with Iran (i.e. guaranteeing that their new nuclear breeder reactor will be operational before the end of this year), in a clear attempt to deter US military action should Muhammed Almenijad decide to stop exporting Iranian oil to America.
- Russia is attempting to close a huge energy deal with Nigeria
(snip)"""They're talking tough and saying the west has taken advantage of us in the last 50 years and they're offering a better deal ... they are ready to beat the Chinese, the Indians, and the Americans.""
The FT assessed that Gazprom's move -- on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempts to seek energy cooperation with his Nigerian counterpart Umaru Yar'Adua -- would cause concern among European governments.
Europe is dependent on Russia for about a quarter of gas imports and has been troubled by Moscow's readiness to cut off supplies, it added.
Any inroads made by Gazprom would challenge Western dominance by companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil in Nigeria, which is Africa's biggest producer of crude oil, the newspaper said.
Gazprom's representative Ilya Kochevrin was quoted as saying: ""We made a decision to go global in terms of acquiring assets and developing strategy outside Russia. Africa is one of our priorities."" "(snip) from
Of course, all of these separate 'fragments' are receiving little coverage in mainstream US media
Arguably, Western Europe has not missed these recent Russian actions or their future implications to Western European oil and gas supplies. For example, by some 'strange coincidence', immediately after the Russian invasion of Georgia, France and Germany backed away from calling for tougher UN sanctions against Iran.
~
This thread is giving me heartburn.
Eeeep.
www.debka.com is a hardline pro-Israel rag. Where along Syria's short 120 mile Mediterranean coast could there a Naval base? Tartus, Baniyas, Latakia? Most is developed with 4 cities, small resort communities and numerous villages.
(snip)"Russia overhauls naval base in Syria
Saturday, September 13, 2008
By Sam F. Ghattas, The Associated Press
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Russia yesterday said it was renovating a Syrian port for use by the Russian fleet, signaling an effort to establish a firmer foothold in the Mediterranean at a time of tensions with the United States over Georgia.
Syria was Moscow's strongest Mideast ally during the Cold War. The alliance largely waned after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, though Russia has continued some weapons sales to Damascus. But Syrian President Bashar Assad has increasingly reached out to Russia recently, including seeking weapons and offering broader military cooperation.
Yesterday's announcement was the first tangible sign of any new cooperation. The Itar-Tass news agency reported a vessel from Russia's Black Sea fleet had begun restoring facilities at Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus for use by the Russian military. The two countries' naval chiefs also met in Moscow yesterday and discussed "further strengthening mutual trust and mutual understanding between the two states' fleets," a Russian naval official, Igor Dygalo, told Itar-Tass.
The Tartus renovations could signal an intention to have a long-term Russian naval presence there. In late August, Russia's ambassador to Damascus, Igor Belyev, said Russian ships already patrol the area, but "a new development is that the Russian presence in the Mediterranean will become permanent."
The Russian navy's closest access to the Mediterranean is through the Black Sea, where its has a strong naval presence. But that area has seen an increase in NATO naval activity after the Georgia conflict, prompting Russian complaints that NATO has exceeded ship numbers permitted there under international accords.
The move comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Russia after last month's brief war in Georgia. The rift has raised concerns that Moscow might start reaching out to U.S. rivals around the world to beef up military alliances.
Russian bombers this month arrived in Venezuela for training exercises, and the two countries are to hold joint exercises in the Caribbean in November.
In Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday said Russia would build economic and military ties with nations willing to do so, even if the West dislikes some of these alliances. "There are many other interesting places in the world with governments maintaining friendly ties with us," he said. "And if they like developing economic, humanitarian and military ties with us, we won't say no."
Syrian media made no mention of the Russian announcement yesterday, and Syrian officials could not be reached for comment. In Syria, military activities are rarely discussed or divulged by authorities, who keep a tight lid on state security matters.
Russian military experts said Tartus would be a considerable boost for operations in the Mediterranean. "It is much more advantageous to have such a facility than to return ships patrolling the Mediterranean to their home bases," former Black Sea Fleet commander Adm. Eduard Baltin said, according to the Russian Interfax-AVN service."(snip)
Tartus looks to be the most likely (from Google Earth) since it is a highly industrialized port.