@ejmalrai@OPEC Really?! Blow up the USA 🇺🇸/ KSA 🇸🇦 special arrangement?!
“The bill, meanwhile, comes amid a growing attitude in Congress to punish Saudi Arabia for its refusal to cooperate with the US on a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as a number of human rights issues.”
@ejmalrai@OPEC The US (together with the rest of what #PepeEscobar calls #NATOstan) is going for broke on this whole Russian 🇷🇺 sanctions thing. It is now a clear sign of desperation on the part of our 🇺🇸 political leaders.
@ejmalrai@OPEC What goes around comes around, people. André Gunder Frank predicted this (the return of China🇨🇳 to global dominance) back in the late 1990s! And here we are!
Got 47 minutes to watch a video? This is time well spent, as we attempt to grasp the big picture.
@ejmalrai@OPEC The irony is this: as #US hegemony gradually declines (via the long-term historical processes by which hegemony typically declines), the aggressive and/or violent acting out we’re seeing (e.g., economic sanctions) merely excellerates that same decline.
“Today I have signed an Executive Order that establishes the rules for #trade in Russian #NaturalGas with so-called unfriendly states. We offer counterparties from such countries a clear and transparent scheme. To purchase Russian natural gas, they must open ruble accounts…”
What we are witnessing here (potentially) is nothing less than the gradual conversion of the Russian ruble from a “soft” to a “hard” currency. Students in my international business class will appreciate the significance of this.
This massive release of oil from the #StrategicPetroleumReserve has all the markings of desperation in the face of a global emergency.
It’s the energy equivalent of dipping into a savings account to make routine payments.
QUOTE—
“the world has never had a release of oil reserves at this 1 million per day rate for this length of time. This record release will provide a historic amount of supply to serve as bridge until the end of the year when domestic production ramps up”
“Resisting a more powerful opponent will result in your defeat, whilst adjusting to and evading your opponent's attack will cause him to lose his balance, his power will be reduced, and you will defeat him. This can apply whatever the relative values of power…” ~ Jigaro Kano
As I study the geopolitical moves of Putin & the Russians, it seems to me they are adeptly applying “judo principles” in the pursuit of their political & economic goals.
They are using elements of surprise to throw opponents off balance, literally & figuratively.