Thread by @RYP__

"My administration has made clear that the United States will not tolerate extraterritorial threats and harassment against dissidents and activists by any government." Lot to unpack there if he adds in UAE, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Russia, China, Iran etc. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…

Graeme Wood: "When I spoke with bin Salman—known universally as MBS—in December, he all but dared President Joe Biden not to meet with him. “Go for it,” MBS said to me in English... I believe the idiom he was searching for was “make my day.” theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

Gas prices are a function of "perceived" availability and demand, by a network of brokers. MBS fucked America in the pump and Putin screwed Europe and will make sure a loaf of bread will get ridiculous. All part of the #1922Plan to destabilize democracy. investopedia.com/financial-edge…

Commodification and supply chain mastery require a steady flow of reliable product to a predictable market. Whether it's cocaine, diapers or gasoline. Perception can whipsaw prices even if supply and or demand does not change. thebalance.com/how-are-oil-pr…

The law of supply and demand doesn't apply in times of crisis. The downside of gaming availability/ prices is stimulated demand and perceived prices or shortage. Add supply chain chaos and hype and you have a perfect opening for carpet baggers.
www2.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/eco212i…

Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE, Qatar, Venezuela are sitting on fixed amounts of reserves and narrow short term output choices. Putin's invasion of Ukraine almost quintupled the value of dictator controlled assets from Covid era prices. weforum.org/agenda/2022/03…

What we are seeing (again) is how dictators can briefly and dramatically insert themselves on the international stage. Crushing economies, bruising free trade and forcing political concessions. One of the very early reasons for America's gunboat policy. history.com/this-day-in-hi…

Historically, the U.S. has never been reticent to impose their will on truculent tyrants. What would a war to seize Saudi Arabia's oil look like? UAE? Russia? These days we take the passive aggressive route to undermine their long term success. Does it work? Probably not.

Did we "punch a hole" in Putin's plans? Sure at first, but Vlad will insidiously creep until he is stopped by force. KSA is less sophisticated but they are pushing the limits of diplomacy and gangsterism. Where exactly is America's trip wire for survival?

Putin has proven time after time that he is untrustworthy as a political partner and rapacious in his fantasy of reclaiming empire. Europe sits frozen like a rabbit while we take half measures that cost billions. cbsnews.com/news/putin-rus…

Russia, China, UAE and KSA are not only keenly aware of the impact of the #1922Plan essentially destroying global stability in democratic regions but seek to profit and reshape their global positions. That excess petro wealth is driving numerous projects. federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/…

The down side is "demand destruction" a covid-like era where the petrofascists are stripped of their income and scale back their ambitions. This is above all a judo flip. Something Putin and Tahnoon know well. It may be their only chance to use the West's weight against them.

Again the U.S. has "bled" Russia before back in the 80's and used gunboat diplomacy to control small dictatorships from Panama to Iraq. But America is not really addressing what is happening on a global scale or as an existential threat yet. The pain is just beginning.