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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 12:11 PM Jun 2012

Iraq And Iran Form Alliance Within OPEC

Source: Financial Times

Iran and Iraq are forming a strengthening alliance inside Opec, raising concerns among moderate Arab Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia and increasing the potential for discord in the oil producers’ group.

With the EU sovereign debt crisis worsening and growing fears for the global economy, the deep divisions within Opec risk undermining the organisation’s ability to do its job of effectively managing oil supply and preventing violent price swings.

A person familiar with the matter said Opec’s meeting in Vienna on Thursday was overshadowed by “strong disagreements” over issues ranging from the acceptable price of oil, to the global supply-demand balance, to who should replace the current secretary general of the organisation.

A particular bone of contention was a proposal by Venezuela – backed by other Opec hardliners like Iran, Iraq and Algeria – that the group should protest against the EU sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme. The move was rebuffed by Saudi Arabia and other moderates including Nigeria, Libya and Kuwait, who argued that such protests were the preserve of foreign ministers, not oil ministers.

MORE...

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/6a54ea10-b706-11e1-bd0e-00144feabdc0.html

Read more: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/6a54ea10-b706-11e1-bd0e-00144feabdc0.html

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Iraq And Iran Form Alliance Within OPEC (Original Post) Purveyor Jun 2012 OP
That fucking, shit-headed, marbled-mouthed cocksucker George W. Bush sowed the wind on this one. Aristus Jun 2012 #1
Exactly!! It's amazing to me how few people realize the Bush mafia has loudsue Jun 2012 #5
Hey now, don't keep it all bottled up like that. Posteritatis Jun 2012 #22
I know, I know. Aristus Jun 2012 #23
What pisses me off is that we're still doing almost squat on alternatives. xtraxritical Jun 2012 #2
Using oil as a political weapon? I'm shocked... William deB. Mills Jun 2012 #3
". . . . moderate Arab Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia"? We know how this gets framed. leveymg Jun 2012 #4
"Moderate" = in our pocket Comrade Grumpy Jun 2012 #7
At this point, we're in their pocket. leveymg Jun 2012 #9
Wait what? Moderate Arab Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia? Crow73 Jun 2012 #6
Thank you George W Bush and your neo-cons! 4000+ American lives lost for nothing. I hope you demosincebirth Jun 2012 #8
Is it called sleep when you pass out from alcohol? But the Iraq war wasnt for nothing. rhett o rick Jun 2012 #10
He doesn't drink alcohol. demosincebirth Jun 2012 #13
You are saying that George W Bush doesnt drink alcohol????? nm rhett o rick Jun 2012 #14
I understand he stopped drinking years ago demosincebirth Jun 2012 #17
I stand corrected. Your sources are unimpeachable. nm rhett o rick Jun 2012 #20
That's a good one...forgot your sarcasm thingy tho. dixiegrrrrl Jun 2012 #15
No thingy needed. Check it out yourself... demosincebirth Jun 2012 #18
In 2010 Pickles claims he stopped drinking... dixiegrrrrl Jun 2012 #19
Yeah, just like she quit smoking. LOL nt Javaman Jun 2012 #21
Hey, I'm just the messenger. nt demosincebirth Jun 2012 #24
Yeah, Bush's Brain, KKKarl Rove tabatha Jun 2012 #11
good to see neighbors getting along otherone Jun 2012 #12
Praise be to Allah for George W. Bush and the Republican Party! Strelnikov_ Jun 2012 #16

Aristus

(65,985 posts)
1. That fucking, shit-headed, marbled-mouthed cocksucker George W. Bush sowed the wind on this one.
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 12:23 PM
Jun 2012

And we are all going to reap the whirlwind.

You see this, you asshole?: This is what you get what you lump two mutually-antagonistic countries together in "The Axis Of Evil", and then invade one of them for no reason whatsoever beyond an intent to rob them of their oil!

Words cannot convey the depths of my hatred for that clownish, idiotic buffoon. He has ruined our nation in every way imaginable...

loudsue

(14,087 posts)
5. Exactly!! It's amazing to me how few people realize the Bush mafia has
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 01:27 PM
Jun 2012

been setting up this New World Order since the time of FDR, and now we're all going to reap the consequences of their short-shighted greed and miscalculations.

We also have the Chamber of Commerce and the NRA to thank for consolidating their power in the short-sighted, greedy 1%.

 

xtraxritical

(3,576 posts)
2. What pisses me off is that we're still doing almost squat on alternatives.
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 12:31 PM
Jun 2012

What happened to President O's "green Manhattan project"? Now we're pursuing tar sands, how sad and stupid.

3. Using oil as a political weapon? I'm shocked...
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 12:53 PM
Jun 2012

I fully agree with the first two commentors that this is indeed a serious issue - the missteps of the U.S. on its international oil policy and the failure of the U.S. to implement a serious domestic carbon tax are fundamental failures that hurt us all.

Nevertheless, take a moment to enjoy the humor of the Financial Times article as well. What could be more hilarious that Saudi Arabia lecturing its fellow oil producers about mixing energy policy with foreign policy! "For shame, all you Shi'i Iranians and Iraqis and Venezuelans (ah, no, guess they're not really Shi'a, but anyway, you know what I mean)! how dare you use oil as a political weapon!?! No Sunni Salafi would ever dream of such behavior!" Were we all so noble as the noble sheikhs.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
4. ". . . . moderate Arab Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia"? We know how this gets framed.
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 01:11 PM
Jun 2012

OPEC has always been wielded as a political weapon, and there are no "moderates," just sides.

 

Crow73

(257 posts)
6. Wait what? Moderate Arab Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia?
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 01:30 PM
Jun 2012

How are they moderate? It is like saying teabaggers are moderates.

demosincebirth

(12,517 posts)
8. Thank you George W Bush and your neo-cons! 4000+ American lives lost for nothing. I hope you
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 02:01 PM
Jun 2012

sleep well. I bet you do, though.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
10. Is it called sleep when you pass out from alcohol? But the Iraq war wasnt for nothing.
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 07:23 PM
Jun 2012

I actually accomplished it's primary function of moving wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.

tabatha

(18,795 posts)
11. Yeah, Bush's Brain, KKKarl Rove
Sat Jun 16, 2012, 07:51 PM
Jun 2012

Bush will go down in history about Iraq - but to the opposite of what you predicted.

You dumb ass.

Strelnikov_

(7,772 posts)
16. Praise be to Allah for George W. Bush and the Republican Party!
Sun Jun 17, 2012, 12:02 PM
Jun 2012

He has brought together two long time enemies, thus eliminating a painful rift in the Ummah.

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