Oil Slick Stuff

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I understand that states are losing due to lower prices for fuel and are going to lose more tax money if more fuel efficient cars are sold. What happened to the extra tax money they made during the last year? They will just have to find another way to increase their revenue instead of tracking citizens mileage. How about charging gas efficient cars more tax, isn't that a crock? I thought Pres Obama was going to fix all the roads and such with a trillion in additional taxes? It's best I quit this rant, I'm really getting pissed now!!:nuts: eyes3.gif
 
Looks like our friends in Russia have found a new weapon?:nuts:

Russian gas theories abound

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Several gas pipelines run through Ukraine to the rest of Europe

By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
BBC News, Moscow
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Winston Churchill once famously described Russia as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". This week Russia has once again lived up to its difficult reputation.
As an outsider it's extremely easy to be desperately confused by the way this country behaves.
Is Russia's decision to cut gas supplies to Ukraine simply a commercial dispute?
Is it the Kremlin extracting political revenge for Ukraine's Orange Revolution?
Or is it an even more convoluted conspiracy involving powerful political figures in Moscow and Kiev?
Depending on who you talk to, it's all of the above.
Political tool?
Talk to the deputy chairman of Russia's state gas giant Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, and he'll tell you it's purely a commercial dispute.
"The rest of Europe pays more than $400 for each thousand cubic metres of gas it gets from Russia."
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Alexander Medevdev says Gazprom needs 'alternative transit routes'

He tells me: "We have offered Ukraine extremely favourable terms for gas deliveries in 2009, but they have still refused to sign a new contract.
"So now we have no legal basis to continue supplying gas to them."
All of this is true. Up to now Ukraine has got its gas at just $179 per thousand cubic metres. This year Russia wants to raise that to $250.
That's still far below what the rest of Europe pays.
But talk to Masha Lipmann, a well-known political commentator at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Moscow, and you'll hear a very different story.
"Moscow can't pretend this is purely a commercial dispute" she says.
"There's little doubt that Russia is using its energy resources as a political tool." But why? What does the Kremlin want to achieve? According to those who subscribe to the political weapon theory, Russia's purpose is to bring down the government of Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko. [more]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7809131.stm
 
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JL23Ak03.html

[more] ....The northern city of Kirkuk, populated by an ethnic mix of Arabs, Christians, Kurds and Turkomans, sits adjacent to one of the largest untapped oilfields in the region. For all concerned, the status of Kirkuk represents a strategic crossroad and legitimate claims can be made by the KRG and the central government.

Kirkuk was dominated by a Kurdish majority until Saddam's attempted "Arabization" of the northern provinces during the 1970s. Now it rests under the administrative control of Baghdad and is populated by an eclectic mix of Arabs, Kurds, Turkomans and other minorities. The relative stability enjoyed in the north has allowed the KRG to push ahead in pursuing deals with international energy companies. So far, two dozen contracts have been signed with companies from Canada, South Korea and Turkey, among others.

For over 12 months, negotiations have been continuing between the KRG and Baghdad over oil concerns. When Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani visited Irbil in November, his comments that Kurdish oil would be connected to national pipelines bound for Turkey led many to think a softening in relations was imminent.

However, Baghdad insists the KRG has no right to conduct oil deals with foreign interests independently, based on Article 140 of the historic 2005 Iraqi constitution. The KRG claims exactly the opposite. As such, up to 20 contracts signed by the KRG with Iraqi and foreign interests since February 2007 - without authorization from the central government - have been regarded as "illegitimate".

In addition to this, the decrease in the price of oil has led to increased competition among international companies, something that has led to renewed interest in the "safe part" of Iraq. Such events can only conspire to hasten conflict over the issue, still governed by an oil trade law from the Saddam era. The law itself supposes control of oilfields to the Baghdad-controlled Oil Ministry. [more]
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I love the Asia Times for their indepth discussions interpretation of regional Asian and Middle Eastern socio-polical-economic conditions and trends.
 
nnuut said:
I understand that states are losing due to lower prices for fuel and are going to lose more tax money if more fuel efficient cars are sold. What happened to the extra tax money they made during the last year? They will just have to find another way to increase their revenue instead of tracking citizens mileage. How about charging gas efficient cars more tax, isn't that a crock? I thought Pres Obama was going to fix all the roads and such with a trillion in additional taxes? It's best I quit this rant, I'm really getting pissed now!!:nuts:
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Mileage-tracking is bound to affect the tourist industry (further hindering our economy) as people will be less inclined to head out for a long day/weekend trip with the tax-meter hanging over their heads - instead, just staying home or closer to home. We tend to spend more $$ when on a trip than in and around our own milieu....barring Home Depot of course.
 
I'm concerned with violation of privacy, it's bad enough now with cell phones carried by everyone, computers/laptops at home and everywhere else, GPSs in the cars, and Credit Cards! They can almost track our every move now, I think this is way far down the BIG Brother Hole and will put the citizenry at a level of control that has never been seen in the history of humanity!! Now they want the ability to track exactly where we are and what we are doing every minute of the day. Zoom in with the satellites follow them with GPS and traffic cameras, where they spend money, who's wife they are seeing!!WOW!! I shouldn't have watched EAGLE EYE last night!! :sick: Think about it, this is no BS!!:cool:
Where are our inalienable rights now? View attachment 5359
 
And people were really upset because of Government phone taps. HA!!! face1.gif
 
James48843 said:
It's not paranoia if they really ARE after you....



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Really?..and you jump down my throat when I post something bogus..

First; How is that sign attached to the pole...Velcro?

And There is no 647 US Area code..Why are you worried about Canada?

Can you say; PHOTOSHOP?

LOL:toung::laugh:
:rolleyes:
 
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