“The oil speculators at the root of all this are in a big hurry to map out Syria. Whatever it takes, regime chance, invasion, they will not wait.”
Actually, no. Speculators even out the cost to producers. Without them, the price would be all over the map.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait want to build a pipeline through Jordan and Syria. But Assad said no. Without that pipeline all those countries will eventually become vassals of Iran when Iran goes nuclear. That’s because once they go nuclear they can do whatever the heck they want to the Straits of Hormuz without fear from anybody. (Note. We don’t even know if North Korea has the bomb and they can sink warships with impunity. Still think Iran won’t set up a gate and keep raising the exit price on tankers?)
I wonder why they don’t build a pipeline thru Iraq instead. The Saudis and Iraqis are buddy buddy...for the moment.
Or are there terrain issues?
Can’t Assad just charge for the pipeline to pass through? Pipelines are vulnerable to attack, as is shipping in the Gulf.