There is something absurdly silly about threatening a country with sanctions if it has something that you are completely dependent on. But that has now happened with Russia and the West over the crisis in Georgia.
With the EU threatening Russia with sanctions, the Daily Telegraph reports that “fears are mounting that Russia may restrict oil deliveries to Western Europe over coming days.” As the paper notes dryly “Any such move would be a dramatic escalation of the Georgia crisis and play havoc with the oil markets.”
And havoc it would be. For years the West, especially the EU, has slept-walked into Russian and gas oil dependency. Even when Putin cut the gas before no radical action was taken to shift away from oil and gas to cleaner more reliable sources of energy.
Reports are said to be circulating that Russian oil companies are under orders from the Kremlin to prepare for a supply cut to Germany and Poland through the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline, from as early as next Monday.
The EU has failed to realize that, because of their failed policies on renewables, when it comes to energy at the moment, Putin holds all the aces. If there is a lesson in history – it is don’t threaten the Russians if they have something you want.
The combination of storm-damaged oil platforms in the Gulf and Russia playing games with their pipeline could send oil prices shockingly higher. We are sacrificing national security to ensure our oil supply, since even the threat of oil being cut has no doubt changed the severity of sanctions against the Russians that the West will consider.
Wouldn’t suprise me if we see oil barrels at $200, $500 and dare to say $1,000 if we continue to rely so much on crude oil.
As I watch the events from now to the election and beware the manipulations in in the media possibly to create another illusion of the need to drill for oil here in the West I see more and more how we need to cut out all compulsive acts that beef up the economy by wasting resources anymore. I for one am sitting tight more and more and sorting needs. Pruning. If Russia sanctions the oil supply to the West and we get cut off so there are not choices we are reminded that we here need to change like Mr. Obama has been saying. We need renewable resources and to totally keep eys and earsto the ground in support of those doing the work and realizing change in our schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, libraries, out in the streets, up in the board rooms, out on the job where our collective action for the good works for an authentic future for all creation. We need jobs and education for all seeking solutions that are sustainable. I do not worry so about what Russia does more I worry about what I do. How can I help?