Saudi not mulling oil as "weapon" - Saudi Embassy

Reuters | 4/25/02

[kattracks]

CRAWFORD, Texas, April 25 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is not 
considering supporting an Iraqi suspension of oil exports to 
the United States, a Saudi Embassy spokesman said, dismissing 
reports in the New York Times that the country could consider 
such a move in protest of U.S. Middle East policy. 
    The report roiled world oil markets on Thursday, sending 
prices higher on speculation of a potential change in policy of 
Saudi Arabia, which holds the world's largest oil reserves. 
    "We have always been a reliable source," the spokesman, 
Nail al-Jubeir, told reporters covering a meeting between U.S. 
President George W. Bush and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. 
    "We will try to maintain an equilibrium between supply and 
demand and we are committed to a price level that is fair to 
producers and consumers," he said, adding that oil prices were 
"in that range now." 

25 APR 2002 18:01:54 Saudi not mulling oil as "weapon" - Saudi Embassy

© 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

[kattracks]

ping

[Catspaw]

Saudi Arabia is not considering supporting an Iraqi suspension of oil exports to the United States, a Saudi Embassy spokesman said, dismissing reports in the New York Times that the country could consider such a move in protest of U.S. Middle East policy.

blink.

[Grampa Dave]

Actually that was Harry Browne and Patty Buckwheat who said that. You should have their pictures with the Opecker Prince with your words!

[Miss Marple]

Ha! I told you guys the Times was making this story up!

[RightWhale]

The report roiled world oil markets on Thursday, sending prices higher on speculation

Actually, it didn't.

[Redcloak]

The House of Saud must realize that while they could use oil as a weapon, we can always use cash as a weapon. They know that we can do without their oil far longer than they can do without out money.

[Miss Marple]

Which is why I doubted this story in the Times from the beginning. They may be duplicitous, but they are not brain-dead.

[anniegetyourgun]

Darn, I was so hoping the Saudi's would pull this trigger. (Though I recognize that they need us more than we need them.) If they would just "cut off the oil" it would make it so much easier for the President to tell Americans to bring the Congress to their knees on ANWR and his total energy plan approach.

[Miss Marple]

Did you see the article where we are going ahead with drilling on the west slope? That was already ok'd by Clinton (no doubt for campaign cash) and the enviiros are going nuts about it. Interior has already given the go-ahead.

[anniegetyourgun]

No! Where is that article - or what's the title?

[a_witness]

The House of Saud must realize that while they could use oil as a weapon, we can always use our military as a weapon.

After all, it was Saudis who attacked our capital and the WTC. It is Saudis who are supporting the terrorists. It is Saudis who came here to deliver an ultimatum to President Bush.

Who is going to blink ?

[Mr. K]

maybe we should just stop buying it from them and , oh, iddunoo... GET THE OIL WE ALREADY *OWN* OUT OF ALASKA???

[a_witness]

If they would just "cut off the oil" it would make it so much easier for the President to tell the Congress to declare war on the kingdom that sent its sons to attack our nation and who has decided to cast its lot with the terrorists.

[anniegetyourgun]

Do you believe (especially after the military decimation during the last Clinton admin) we can pull that off - in addition to what we are doing in Afghanistan AND planning for Iraq?

[Redcloak]

The House of Saud must realize that while they could use oil as a weapon, we can always use our military as a weapon.

Well... There's that too! ;^)

[a_witness]

Do you believe (especially after the military decimation during the last Clinton admin) we can pull that off - in addition to what we are doing in Afghanistan AND planning for Iraq?

Yes

And I believe we defeated Germany and Japan too

[bybybill]

Rush was quoting the Times article like it was the words from GOD. That has to be the first time he believed the NY TIMES. The Saudis are going to be with us or at least not against us, when we send Saddamnn to stay with virgins. How do I know? Simple, they always act in their best interest and their money is here, not in Bagdad.

[anniegetyourgun]

I don't doubt our ability to gear up for same, just our ability to take on all Muslim nations right away. After all, declaring war on Saudi Arabia (and Afghanistan and Iraq) will essential pit us against every Muslim nation around the world.