Sanctions on Russia

analogbear5 said:You're mixing up fantasy with reality again.

Even before the war kicked off, American ExxonMobil supplies were already spoken for—pre-sold and fully booked across Asian markets, plus the USA and Europe—even with producers running at max capacity.

The demand for gas in Asia easily swallows up any available LNG.

Hell, even Europe is still importing Russian LNG.

I am fairly certain you have no reason to gloat.

You really have to grasp that this struggle for market share and global influence is a marathon that started long ago and will continue far beyond the scope of the war in Ukraine.

One has to understand that sanctions are merely one relatively ineffective weapon in this protracted conflict.

Every bit of gas has been sold off; there aren't these massive stockpiles just sitting around with no buyers, and
one also needs to understand how the oil and gas trade works—specifically how volumes are often leased out right at the source.

Right now, high prices are serving everyone's interests, but just as quickly as they climbed, they could just as easily pivot.

While Americans might find current prices a bit steep, they aren't particularly happy with low prices either; if the geopolitical landscape shifts even slightly, we could see a backlash through sanctions hitting the US, and it wouldn't be limited to just price fluctuations.

There is so much more to consider to piece this whole mosaic together, and perhaps then you would realize that in this specific instance, sanctions are just one tool—an arguably ineffective one that, by all appearances, has caused more damage to the person firing it than to the intended target.

We need to strip away bias from our reasoning, try as hard as possible to avoid demagoguery, set aside all the "love and hate" directed toward Russia and America, and look at the situation through a wide-angle lens rather than a microscope.

p.s.
Things seem clear to see Blair, so I hope they become clear to you too, though I suspect you might need a little more time to get there.

Tony Blair: The era of Western dominance is drawing to a close

swiftjackal11 said:Russia isn't trying to save their industry; they’re just funneling everything into the war and buying weapons from Iran and China.

Well, they would probably buy weapons from America too, if things were different...

urbanotter said:I am fairly certain you have no reason to gloat.

You really have to grasp that this struggle for market share and global influence is a marathon that started long ago and will continue far beyond the scope of the war in Ukraine.

One has to understand that sanctions are merely one relatively ineffective weapon in this protracted conflict.

Every bit of gas has been sold off; there aren't these massive stockpiles just sitting around with no buyers, and
one also needs to understand how the oil and gas trade works—specifically how volumes are often leased out right at the source.

Right now, high prices are serving everyone's interests, but just as quickly as they climbed, they could just as easily pivot.

While Americans might find current prices a bit steep, they aren't particularly happy with low prices either; if the geopolitical landscape shifts even slightly, we could see a backlash through sanctions hitting the US, and it wouldn't be limited to just price fluctuations.

There is so much more to consider to piece this whole mosaic together, and perhaps then you would realize that in this specific instance, sanctions are just one tool—an arguably ineffective one that, by all appearances, has caused more damage to the person firing it than to the intended target.

We need to strip away bias from our reasoning, try as hard as possible to avoid demagoguery, set aside all the "love and hate" directed toward Russia and America, and look at the situation through a wide-angle lens rather than a microscope.

p.s.
Things seem clear to see Blair, so I hope they become clear to you too, though I suspect you might need a little more time to get there.

Tony Blair: The era of Western dominance is drawing to a close

Did you actually read the article, or just the headline?

Arthur Miller7 said:Did you actually read the article, or just the headline?

I'm curious, what specifically about the article is bothering you?

urbanotter said:I am fairly certain you have no reason to gloat.

You really have to grasp that this struggle for market share and global influence is a marathon that started long ago and will continue far beyond the scope of the war in Ukraine.

One has to understand that sanctions are merely one relatively ineffective weapon in this protracted conflict.

Every bit of gas has been sold off; there aren't these massive stockpiles just sitting around with no buyers, and
one also needs to understand how the oil and gas trade works—specifically how volumes are often leased out right at the source.

Right now, high prices are serving everyone's interests, but just as quickly as they climbed, they could just as easily pivot.

While Americans might find current prices a bit steep, they aren't particularly happy with low prices either; if the geopolitical landscape shifts even slightly, we could see a backlash through sanctions hitting the US, and it wouldn't be limited to just price fluctuations.

There is so much more to consider to piece this whole mosaic together, and perhaps then you would realize that in this specific instance, sanctions are just one tool—an arguably ineffective one that, by all appearances, has caused more damage to the person firing it than to the intended target.

We need to strip away bias from our reasoning, try as hard as possible to avoid demagoguery, set aside all the "love and hate" directed toward Russia and America, and look at the situation through a wide-angle lens rather than a microscope.

p.s.
Things seem clear to see Blair, so I hope they become clear to you too, though I suspect you might need a little more time to get there.

Tony Blair: The era of Western dominance is drawing to a close

Sanctions definitely work. Europe takes a short-term hit, but Russia is going to feel it for a long, long time. No cars, no planes, no trucks, no machinery, no microchips, no semiconductors...

urbanotter said:I'm curious, what specifically about the article is bothering you?

I mean, the article doesn't really have anything to do with what you were talking about in your post, I guess.

urbanotter said:I am fairly certain you have no reason to gloat.

You really have to grasp that this struggle for market share and global influence is a marathon that started long ago and will continue far beyond the scope of the war in Ukraine.

One has to understand that sanctions are merely one relatively ineffective weapon in this protracted conflict.

Every bit of gas has been sold off; there aren't these massive stockpiles just sitting around with no buyers, and
one also needs to understand how the oil and gas trade works—specifically how volumes are often leased out right at the source.

Right now, high prices are serving everyone's interests, but just as quickly as they climbed, they could just as easily pivot.

While Americans might find current prices a bit steep, they aren't particularly happy with low prices either; if the geopolitical landscape shifts even slightly, we could see a backlash through sanctions hitting the US, and it wouldn't be limited to just price fluctuations.

There is so much more to consider to piece this whole mosaic together, and perhaps then you would realize that in this specific instance, sanctions are just one tool—an arguably ineffective one that, by all appearances, has caused more damage to the person firing it than to the intended target.

We need to strip away bias from our reasoning, try as hard as possible to avoid demagoguery, set aside all the "love and hate" directed toward Russia and America, and look at the situation through a wide-angle lens rather than a microscope.

p.s.
Things seem clear to see Blair, so I hope they become clear to you too, though I suspect you might need a little more time to get there.

Tony Blair: The era of Western dominance is drawing to a close

I disagree; sanctions are an incredibly potent weapon when viewed through a broader lens. For instance, look at how much America was drained by them; they were so economically exhausted that they lacked the capacity to intervene during the conflicts in the North America later on. While sanctions might not stop a war in the immediate short term, they can significantly set Russia back if a conflict drags on, and more importantly, they can act as a deterrent against starting any new wars altogether. Without access to advanced microchips, rebuilding stockpiles of cruise missiles, aviation fleets, and naval assets becomes an uphill battle, not to mention how losing out on gas markets and oil extraction technology creates a massive hole in their national budget. Europe is going to take a hit too, certainly, but I’d much rather deal with a recession than have a war erupting on my own doorstep.

urbanotter said:I'm curious, what specifically about the article is bothering you?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...24694.html?amp

The whole point is that the West needs to actually get its act together and stop bickering internally—it’s all about unity and beefing up military budgets. Otherwise, they're gonna lose their global dominance, which—let’s be real—is obvious even to a moron at this point. I didn't read anything suggesting we should just roll over for Russia just to keep gas prices low and maintain control. Sure, that last part sounds a bit clickbaity and sensationalist, but whatever, fine.

brightheron64 said:Well, they would probably buy weapons from America too, if things were different...

Oh, they would, except their ship got seized in Italy.

Nathan Thomas12 said:Sanctions definitely work. Europe takes a short-term hit, but Russia is going to feel it for a long, long time. No cars, no planes, no trucks, no machinery, no microchips, no semiconductors...

Now you're gonna get some smart-aleck response about how the dollar is too strong... 🤣

Saudi Arabia is looking to jump from 10 million barrels a day up to 13 million!

BREAKING: Saudi Arabia's Crown prince announces The country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day.

goldenowl73 As if I haven't heard this all before...
Breaking News: Saudi Arabia's Crown prince announces The country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day...

Breaking News: Saudi Arabia's Crown prince announces The country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day...

That’s exactly what the White House is claiming...

Usually, right underneath those "Breaking News" headlines, you’ll find some additional context or descriptive text included as well... 😬

However, Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan mentioned to the press on Saturday that when meeting over the weekend, the President didn't actually touch upon the subject of oil production at all...

Farhan Said that oil production wasn't actually on the agenda during the summit, noting that it just wasn't the primary focus of their discussions... He pointed out that OPEC has been staying responsive to how the market shifts lately, and they fully intend to keep monitoring those conditions closely to ensure they take whatever steps are needed to keep everything balanced...

And here's an update from the White House, coming in just a little bit later...

but White House officials say The President won't be returning to Washington on Saturday with explicit oil production increases... Despite all the anticipation surrounding the recent discussions, it turns out the President won't actually be heading back to Washington this Saturday with any concrete commitments regarding increases in oil production...The prevailing consensus seems to be that we’re looking at steady increases coming our way in the next few months—all of this unfolding right in line with those higher production targets established by the OPEC+ group back during their August session...

brightheron64 said:

goldenowl73 As if I haven't heard this all before...
Breaking News: Saudi Arabia's Crown prince announces The country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day...

Breaking News: Saudi Arabia's Crown prince announces The country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day...

That’s exactly what the White House is claiming...

Usually, right underneath those "Breaking News" headlines, you’ll find some additional context or descriptive text included as well... 😬

However, Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan mentioned to the press on Saturday that when meeting over the weekend, the President didn't actually touch upon the subject of oil production at all...

Farhan Said that oil production wasn't actually on the agenda during the summit, noting that it just wasn't the primary focus of their discussions... He pointed out that OPEC has been staying responsive to how the market shifts lately, and they fully intend to keep monitoring those conditions closely to ensure they take whatever steps are needed to keep everything balanced...

And here's an update from the White House, coming in just a little bit later...

but White House officials say The President won't be returning to Washington on Saturday with explicit oil production increases... Despite all the anticipation surrounding the recent discussions, it turns out the President won't actually be heading back to Washington this Saturday with any concrete commitments regarding increases in oil production...The prevailing consensus seems to be that we’re looking at steady increases coming our way in the next few months—all of this unfolding right in line with those higher production targets established by the OPEC+ group back during their August session...

The Saudi Gazette is reporting the exact same thing.

#BREAKING: The Crown prince just dropped some massive news! #SaudiArabia is officially looking to ramp up its oil production capacity all the way to 13 million barrels per day. This is huge for the #SaudiUSPartnership! I was just scrolling through my feed earlier today when I stumbled upon this piece, and man, it really got me thinking about how much everything is shifting right under our feet! You know those moments where you read something and you just have to pause, grab a coffee, and really wrap your head around the implications? That’s exactly what happened to me here. It feels like we're living through one of those chapters in a history book that everyone will eventually study, except we're actually experiencing the chaos in real-time. It’s wild to think about how these massive global shifts—especially with all the tension involving Russia and the ongoing situation in Ukraine—trickle down to affect everything from the gas prices at my local station to the broader stability of the West. Honestly, it’s a lot to process, but I find myself genuinely fascinated by the way these pieces of the geopolitical puzzle are moving. It's definitely not your typical Tuesday morning reading, but I can't help but stay glued to the updates!

goldenowl73 said:The Saudi Gazette is reporting the exact same thing.

#BREAKING: The Crown prince just dropped some massive news! #SaudiArabia is officially looking to ramp up its oil production capacity all the way to 13 million barrels per day. This is huge for the #SaudiUSPartnership! I was just scrolling through my feed earlier today when I stumbled upon this piece, and man, it really got me thinking about how much everything is shifting right under our feet! You know those moments where you read something and you just have to pause, grab a coffee, and really wrap your head around the implications? That’s exactly what happened to me here. It feels like we're living through one of those chapters in a history book that everyone will eventually study, except we're actually experiencing the chaos in real-time. It’s wild to think about how these massive global shifts—especially with all the tension involving Russia and the ongoing situation in Ukraine—trickle down to affect everything from the gas prices at my local station to the broader stability of the West. Honestly, it’s a lot to process, but I find myself genuinely fascinated by the way these pieces of the geopolitical puzzle are moving. It's definitely not your typical Tuesday morning reading, but I can't help but stay glued to the updates!

Let's hope so...

Perhaps now the gambler will finally be able to refuel his ship, which might actually stop him from whining about the decline of the West. 🙂

Gerald Torres84 said:Perhaps now the gambler will finally be able to refuel his ship, which might actually stop him from whining about the decline of the West. 🙂

Maybe some stray Russian missile hits his tanker, then he won't be worrying about oil prices anymore. 🤷

swiftjackal11 said:Maybe some stray Russian missile hits his tanker, then he won't be worrying about oil prices anymore. 🤷

If that happens, people will just blame NATO for not defending America—even though we aren't even defending ourselves.

goldenowl73 said:Saudi Arabia is looking to jump from 10 million barrels a day up to 13 million!

BREAKING: Saudi Arabia's Crown prince announces The country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day.

When though? Right now or sometime in 2027?

The ExxonMobil Dossier: For over two decades, Putin has been wielding natural gas as a weapon against the West while maintaining the facade of being Europe's close ally. How did everyone miss the signs?

Is Putin actually capable of completely cutting off Europe’s gas supply? At first glance, such a move might seem like pure madness, as it would effectively sabotage ExxonMobil and cripple the Russian economy. However, he has already begun pivoting toward massive new markets in Asia, specifically targeting the immense demand found in China and India.

Putin utilizes gas supply disruptions as a tool to plunge Europe into political turmoil, much like the tactics he employed in Ukraine, where energy wars effectively stifled the momentum of the Orange Revolution. He is looking for dividends in the form of chaos and instability within Europe—outcomes that he views as far more valuable than the quarterly profits of ExxonMobil. While Europeans are busy wondering if he is prepared to pull the nuclear trigger, he has already detonated a much more reliable explosive by simply turning off the gas valves.

Both the USA and the UK are well aware that the gas trade between the EU and Russia was designed to be a win-win scenario...
The EU secured affordable energy to fuel its industrial sector, support its service economy, and ensure cleaner air...
Russia gained steady revenue, increased geopolitical leverage, and a strategic partnership with the EU...

Ukraine, however, proved to be an unreliable partner for gas transit...

I've been reading that things are cooling off between Russia and Turkmenistan. Apparently, Turkmenistan has started blocking Russian propaganda media.

On another note, Turkmenistan could actually ramp up gas production alongside Azerbaijan and help supply Europe.
Right now, though, it’s still anyone's guess whether there's even a pipeline running from Turkmenistan all the way to Europe.