Saudis Desperate for Russian Help

STRATFOR ^ | 19 Apr 02 | STRATFOR

[montag813]

Riyadh will have few options left but to ally with rogue nations Iran and Iraq.

I would advise them against this. Appeasing their "angry" subjects will not prolong their corrupt regimes. The writing is on the wall. Just as with Eastern Europe, the tyrants of the Arab world will fall one by one.

[LenS]

The Serbs can go fly a kite. The idiots managed to radicalize some of the few non-radical Muslims in the world. Heck, the Bosnians handed over suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists to the US despite their local court saying they should be released. Besides, this garbage of the Serbs pretending they were the leaders in the fight against Al-Qaeda doesn't work too well when everyone remembers that Serbia attacked the Christians in Croatia and Slovenia first.

[Cicero]

I think the European Socialists are already worried that, instead of building a powerful United States of Europe that would challenge the former two world powers, they are headed toward complete irrelevance. That's why they're so irritable when we don't take their advice.

[LenS]

Not true. The Saudis have vast investments that could be sold off to buy time. Russia, while looking better since the flat tax, doesn't have that level of investment. More critically, their outside investments are not in the hands of the government. The House of Saud is the government and controls those investments. Neither government could afford to low a price.

[paul51]

Time for te President to have Putin out to the ranch for another BBQ and some bonding. In the balance, we are better off with the Russians as allies than the desert roaches. At least the Russians can find a place in the civilized world.

As far as the armaments to the Saudis, hope we aren't too far out with the parts and supplies on those.A 12 month glitch in the supply pipe would wake them up.

[montag813]

But together they could bring greater political and economic pressure to bear on the smaller Persian Gulf states, upon which Washington grows increasingly reliant.

I would advise they go along with our plans, or face the Bush Doctrine, with an election close at hand.

With their U.S. assets (80% of their current outstanding) frozen, and Price Faysal's 5% of AOL TimeWarner (he is the largest single shareholder of the parent of CNN) seized by the SEC, the Saudis may find it hard to exert much "financial" pressure at all.

[A. Pole]

The Serbs can go fly a kite. The idiots managed to radicalize some of the few non-radical Muslims in the world.

It is not true. Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo were radicalised by Germany, Saudies, Iran and United States. Thanx to the Big Game player Zbigniew Brzezinski and Foggy Bottom Madlenka.

Either way, treat Serbs well and you will gain Russian friendship.

[RedsHunter]

Saudi Arabia is seeking Russia's help to counter the U.S. agenda in the Middle East.

To paraphrase Stalin: How many divisons do the Saudis have?

[Shermy]

They have low price for extraction (not transport to europe compared to Russia), but they are not only dependent on oil, but deeply in debt. I've read many times (from Russia, American sources) that for Saudi to keep on the up side, they need oil around $23.00 per barrel. (can't find the sources right now). Of course, the debt would be wiped out if the 100's of billions of dollars stashed overseas in personal investments of the Royalty were brought back home, but this will never, never happen.

Here's an interesting link for y'all Huge Saudi Debt Expected To Increase Further 1/7/02, esp. post # 12.

[A. Pole]

To paraphrase Stalin: How many divisons do the Saudis have?

I hope that this analogy with the Pope is not true. Saudies have keys to Mecca and Wahabite agents all over Muslim world.

[11B3]

Personally, I'll be more than happy to dance on the graves of all our enemies - including the CommuRats - and if the new alignment takes place as it appears, I'll be happy to toast our Russian brothers in peace.

[OldFriend]

Stratfor is decidedly left wing and anti Bush. About as reliable as the New York Slimes.

[Dallas]

What the hell are you nit-picking about....you know what I'm getting at.

[crystalk]

I strongly agree with you, I think the USA must repent in tears and also atone, for what it did to Serbia.

May God bless heroic Slobodan Milosevic and continue to give him a strength and a courage that are more than merely human.

"Surely an enemy hath done this," says the Bible. While Christians slept, the enemies of the West and of Christ stole a march and took over the US govt. that did these atrocities to Serbia and that also had these unfortunate (and evil) stances in the Caucasus, that very few Americans even knew about much less approved.

We are with you, my friends, even if we stumble a little, we have come from so far West we had forgotten Islam's threats for a minute there, but we are fast learners, and once we do the world will know something has changed!

[crystalk]

And an even better candidate for Antichrist, where he already is way out ahead of the pack.

[weikel]

bumped and bookmarked

[crystalk]

Don't forget Taiwan, little dragon, but velly, velly s-t-w-o-n-g, velly POW'fur!

Also an as-yet-untapped mine of Spiritual Strength as well. All you American tourists that want somewhere to go, that would be worthwhile, head for TAIWAN TODAY!

[Spar]

The Russians are smart enough to know that they should not trust the Saudis....or the Americans.

Russia's lower house of parliament mulls challenge to Radio Liberty (Chechen Radio)

[crystalk]

Europe has outlived its usefulness.

You heard it here first.

[weikel]

Putin advisor extols Ayn Ran. Sounds good to me they are privatizing their space program too.