[Brilliant]

Why would they want us to think they have more oil than they do? You’d think it’d be the reverse.

[Spktyr]

It’s not *us* they’re trying to fool, primarily.

Imagine what would happen to the Saudi royals if the word gets out that they’re running out of oil in SA.

In addition, a *secondary* reason they want people to think they have more oil than they do is to maintain power over other nations AND to keep people from switching to alternative energy supplies.

[thackney]

Why would they want us to think they have more oil than they do?

Not us, but each other.

OPEC production quotas are based upon reserves. The more they claim to have, the more they are allowed to produce.

[Nonstatist]

Why would they want us to think they have more oil than they do? You’d think it’d be the reverse

So you dont go building nuclear power plants and the like, I would think. Thats the reason the OPEC shieks resisted underselling in the past. Complacency ensures a reliable customer base.

[PapaBear3625]

Why would they want us to think they have more oil than they do? You’d think it’d be the reverse.

If we think Saudi oil is about to run out, then we would/should be starting NOW to develop other sources of supply, plus building more nuke plants. They want us to think we can depend on them for supplies well into the future

[b4its2late]

Why would they want us to think they have more oil than they do? You’d think it’d be the reverse.

Absolutely. That way they get the big bucks now, and later when the reserves actually decline.

[G8 Diplomat]

Why would they want us to think they have more oil than they do? You’d think it’d be the reverse.

Because, if you're the #1 oil producer in the world, you don't want your clients to know you're running out of oil. That would convince people (if they're smart) to either drill in their own borders or start up nuclear power plants, and there goes a big chunk of the Saudis' moo-lah.