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| Arabia | |
| Saudi battle for Yemen exposes fragility of global oil supply | |
| 2015-03-27 | |
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... and Iran for Mid-East supremacy has escalated to a dangerous new level as the two sides fight for control of Yemen, reminding markets that the epicentre of global oil supply remains a powder keg. Brent oil prices spiked 6pc to $58 a barrel after a Saudi-led coalition of ten Sunni Moslem states mobilized 150,000 troops and launched air strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to Americaâ„¢, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews... militias in Yemen, prompting a furious riposte from Tehran. Analysts expect crude prices to command a new "geo-political premium" as it becomes clear that Saudi Arabia has lost control over the Yemen peninsular and faces a failed state on its 1,800 km southern border, where Al Qaeda can operate with near impunity. Over 3.8m barrels a day (b/d) pass through the 18-mile Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen, one of the world's key choke points for crude oil supply. While there is little likelihood of disruption to tanker traffic, Saudi Arabia is increasingly threatened by Shiite or Jihadi enemies of different kinds. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 Shiraz Pipeline Glug. What's long, hard, contains hydrocarbons, And spews on whales, bunnies, and gardens? Westbound trains of tankers And ships dragging anchors? Nope. Keystone's what Pharaoh's heart hardens. |
| Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 2015-03-27 19:55 |
| #6 |
| Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169 2015-03-27 19:42 |
| #5 Imagine everyone who would get on board if it were renamed The Shiraz Pipeline. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2015-03-27 19:04 |
| #4 Don't look now but while you are trying to figure out how to move Canadian oil senator patty Murray (d-gonzo) introduced federal legislTion this week to immediately ban all the dot-111 standard tank cars. Not next year but now! Too bad that thing , long and cylindrical capable of moving vast amounts of product ain't built. Damn what is thT thing called anyway?? |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2015-03-27 17:12 |
| #3 If only, let's put on our thinking caps. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2015-03-27 16:53 |
| #2 If only there were some way to safely, efficiently, and in good time, transport Canadian oil to US refineries... |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2015-03-27 16:19 |
| #1 While there are adequate supplies here, I look for the sympathetic price jump to begin early next week if not sooner. Because they can. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2015-03-27 12:37 |