Yes! Bring on the oil!
Posted on 07/03/2002 10:26:58 AM PDT by Texaggie79
Right on the eve of Independence Day, a rather unexpected event has occured: Russian companies started direct oil supplies to the USA. Very few people believed that it would happen indeed.
Beginning of the oil supplies is very important from both political and economic points of view. First, Washington demonstrates its interest in a close partnership with Russia not only fixed in documents, but in practice first of all. Russia’s Astro Lupus oil tanker will be met by US Deputy Energy Minister Michael Smith and US Congress members Nicolas Lampson and Ken Bentsen. This fact demonstrates the importance of the deliveries.
It is no secret that the USA wants to reduce the dependence of the US economy on oil import from Mideast countries. Russian oil is an alternative in this case. As of now, it is difficult to say to what extent the oil deliveries will be economically justified. The matter of the fact is that the first tanker with Russian oil has covered a rather long way: originally, the oil was loaded onto the tanker in the port of Novorossiisk, then by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas, it was delivered to Houston. On the other hand, the route from the Persian Gulf is also rather long.
President of YUKOS, a Russian company that performs oil deliveries to the USA, Mikhail Khodorkovsky announced recently the intention to make oil supplies economically rational, one barrel of Russian oil is to cost $25 at least. It is to be taken into consideration that Russian oil is of a lower quality than the Mideast oil. And, consequently, its price on the world markets is much lower than $25.
On the other hand, if the project continues, Mideast countries will have no opportunity to threaten the USA with the cessation of oil supplies. Therefore, Washington is getting more chances for therealization of its Mideast policy, and the USA appreciates this fact very much.
The beginning of the oil supplies is also very important for Russia’s economy as well. If they become regular, Moscow can look at OPEC from a considerable distance. OPEC, as is known, is not remarkable for its unity of opinions; the increase of quotas for oil sales has been discussed for several months already.
And what is more, unlike the Middle East, Russia has no reason to blackmail the USA with cessation of oil supplies, and no reasons are likely to appear in the future.
On the whole, time will tell to what extent the project turns out to be economically justified. This is just the first shipment of oil from Russia.
Vasily Bubnov
PRAVDA.Ru
Yes! Bring on the oil!
This is an excellent point. Recall that Russia had been very pro-US all the way back from the time of our founding under Cathrine II "the Great," they stuck by us during our Civil War, we purchased Alaska from them in 1867 so they could pay off war debts from there Crimean War obligations, etc...
It was not until the atheistic philosophy of those poor-little rich kids (you know...that German fella, Marx, and that nit-wit Brit, Engles) married, as it was to the pseudo-Science espoused by that other Brit, Darwin, that the Communism originally spawned by the French Revolution-era Jacobins became to be known as Soviet Communism in the USSR as it was for 70 long years.
The history of Christianity in Russia stretching back to 1000 AD was a foundation that even philosophies of Marx-Engles-Darwin could not assail for very long. Remember, that Bush openly relates to Putin on the basis of what he sees as their shared Christianity.
Time marches on, as does truth, and bankrupt philosophies do wind up on what Reagan termed, the ash heap of history.
I suppose you don't see any negatives in having our national policies dictated by those foreign entities who control the oil supply in the short-term either.
Where can I buy 100% pure Russian gas ? Or at least SFG (Saudi Free Gas)?
Any country that actually impliments a flat tax (Russia with 15%) is ok by me.
Nope, just the opposite. I see that adding Russia as a supplier helps to create atlernatives to the OPEC stranglehold. It's beautiful strategy.
IMHO, its a myopic strategy with high potential for backfiring.
Unlike the OPEC states, whose societies are barely beyond the stone age, Russia has plentiful resources and a highly skilled work-force. Russia's main hinderance is the remaining influence of 20th Century communist rule. With "assistance" in developing their resources and other reforms, it is likely they could divert their supply for their own internal use on a moment's notice. Possibly even importing from OPEC to further fuel their domestic growth.
That scenario would leave the U.S. high and dry with undeveloped infrastructure, and looking mighty stupid.
Wow!
Isn't it amazing that the best science fiction writers are REALLY good students of politics, economics, and human nature.
I have a better idea. Give Iraq to the Turks. The Turks have some experience running the place, and they are a free country, with elected leaders, many personal freedoms, etc. They didn't do so bad running the mid-east/southwest asia before WW-I. Certainly better than the Brits and French did afterwards. They just picked the wrong, that is losing, side in WW-I. And they are tough enough to go in and knock those heads that need knocking.
You have more than enough who say this right here at FR.
And as others have pointed out , the Russian people are historically Christians ; their suffering for 70 years demonstrates what evil happens when a people are disarmed-the thugs run wild in and out of gov't.
Pournelle?
Are we seeing the beginning of the CoDominian?
Thanks for the post, as an investor in Russia, this news is FANTASTIC!!!
I am simply amazed that they made the flat tax a reality before our "Capitalist" economy. It looks like we are more socialist then the Russians... pathetic.
Hydrogen. With enough energy you can synthesis most any fuel you need, but hydrogen is very promising. Don't forget solar power satellites either. It's raining soup in space, and we need to build some proper bowls to catch it in.
I understand that the oil infrastructure in Russia is pretty old, but that can be remedied quickly and efficiently. In just a couple of years, the entire world can breath a huge sigh of relief. I would also prefer that my dollar goes to Russia rather than finance those who plot to murder both Russians and Americans.
When able, remain at peace as long as possible.
Excellent observation!
It took me years of unlearning what I had been tought, and relearning to "get it." The Reds did a mind job on the West; but the spirit of the Russian people is preserved, maybe even unconsciously, in the Russian Orthodox Church.
I'm talking family and tradition here; not necessarily observant Christians. Humans hold to that when under the heel of the oppressors.
The appeasers in the Cld War had it half right. Sadly, they were defending the evil empire on the back of Ivan. Their mantra was that the Russian people were just like us. They are; but they were not able to express their "likeness" until now.
Putin has made his faith a matter of public record, in a place where that is a radical ides.
There is a treasure trove of intellect in Russia. There is also a strength of character that can give America lessons.
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