[VaBthang4]

"And so it starts"

No, it doesnt.

Nothing here but a control-freak commie grasping at a solution to the problem that he and is buddies are losing cash hand over fist as oil prices drop.

There is NOTHING he can do about it.

[MDspinboyredux]

There is NOTHING he can do about it.

There's a LOT he can do about it. Oil prices are set on perceived supply and a whole lot of speculation.

All Russia has to do is to cause unrest in oil producing/supplying areas to spike prices.

Remember when Ukraine was contemplating closer ties to the West? He shut off gas supplies heading into that region. Result? Ukraine's government collapsed and called for new elections.

All Putin has to do is cause trouble in the Middle East. Rattle some sabres. Maybe slap Georgia around again (it has the only oil pipeline heading into Europe NOT originating from Russia). If speculators think that supply is in danger, the price goes up. Simple as that.

Believe me, there is a lot he CAN do.