Opinion
Barry Artiste
UK demanding Russia not turn off the oil/gas pumps to the rest of the EU, most likely will have little effect.
Russia a major exporter of energy to Europe pretty much can set the terms, and shut off the pumps, much like the Saudis do to the US, limiting supply when increased demand in the world for a product results in panic mode.
Russia suffering bad press over the invasion of Georgia by EU countries, feel the EU should not “Bite the Hand that Fuels Them” and align themselves with Russia.
The EU looking to the Caspian to get off reliance of Russian Energy is a little too late, in that it will take years to come to fruition, and winter is coming quick and the EU homes and cars need fuel.
It’s Russia’s energy, they do not have to sell to anyone, morally Russia may be wrong in not selling energy to western customers, but forcing Russia by hook or by crook to sell their energy is folly.
Folly in much like the World today demanding the Saudi’s reduce oil prices for hungry consumer is just plain Fuelish!
Stalinist Russia used food shortages to keep their people in line, Today’s Russia is using energy to keep their customers in line.
Russia is one pissed off bear, and though some fear Russia invading Europe,they should know it ain’t gonna happen, Russia don’t need to, as their Energy Reserves are a much better weapon to take you hostage by the “Short and Curly’s”.
As for NATO invading Russia? Well, perhaps if NATO has some Electric Tanks, but even then it would only get the tanks out the gates to the Russian Border, before needing a recharge, and last time I checked, Russia can pull the plug on that as well.
Best the EU use quiet diplomacy with Russia’s invasion with Georgia in order to keep the energy flowing to Europe, work out a resolve in all this and be prepared to make some concessions, cause after all, in this case the “Customer isn’t always Right”, when the Merchant can pick and choose who they serve.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ce4ddbee-900b-4731-8909-9a1748f525cc
UK’s Brown warns of Russian “energy stranglehold”
Reuters
(Photo Inset) CREDIT: Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images Russian tanks roll on a street in Tskhinvali on August 30, 2008. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on European governments Saturday to send more observers to Georgia, where fighting broke out this month, a Kremlin statement said.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
LONDON – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that Russia must not be allowed to subject Europe to an “energy stranglehold” and said NATO should review relations with Moscow in the light of its actions in Georgia.
In an article in Sunday’s Observer newspaper, Brown said he had spoken to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and told him to expect a determined response when European leaders meet to discuss the Georgia crisis on Monday.
The EU meeting in Brussels will debate the bloc’s response to Russia’s military intervention and its decision to recognise South Ossetia and Georgia’s other breakaway region, Abkhazia, as independent states.
The Russian incursion has raised fears in the West that an important oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to the Turkish Mediterranean coast via Georgia could come under Russian control. Brown said he would press European leaders to increase funding to allow EU nations to source energy from the Caspian, reducing dependency on Russia.
Tags: Europe | Georgia | London | Russia | Moscow | energy | opinion | World | NATO | Relations | warns | stranglehold | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown