They're going to have to cut spending somewhere, but I'm guessing it's not going to affect their golden toilet and race-horse budget.

Maybe they'll stop building fucking mosques all over the world?

I am enjoying the thought of a world not dominated by Saudi oil or Russian gas.

It baffles me that conservative Americans don't want to get behind alternative energy sources as a political as well as environmental tool.

It's almost as if their distaste for agreeing with environmentalists is more important than the fact that they are supporting one of the most obnoxious regimes on Earth.

(October 26, 2015 at 11:57 am)Minimalist Wrote: Maybe they'll stop building fucking mosques all over the world?

Collapse of the petro-oligarchy in the gulf most likely mean expansion of IS. It does benefit the US in creating the sort of disorder that makes it easier for the US to retain its preeminence in the civilized parts of the Euroasian continent, but it benefits almost no one else.

(October 26, 2015 at 1:33 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: It baffles me that conservative Americans don't want to get behind alternative energy sources as a political as well as environmental tool.

It's almost as if their distaste for agreeing with environmentalists is more important than the fact that they are supporting one of the most obnoxious regimes on Earth.

We wouldn't want them to have to admit that maybe -- just maybe -- Jimmy Carter made a good point all those years ago.

(October 26, 2015 at 1:37 pm)Chuck Wrote: Collapse of the petro-oligarchy in the gulf most likely mean expansion of IS.   It does benefit the US in creating the sort of disorder that makes it easier for the US to retain its preeminence in the civilized parts of the Euroasian continent,   but it benefits almost no one else.

This is what I was thinking. Despite the fact that regimes like this are nauseating, they do have the benefit of stabilizing a region that is full of sectarian tribes that want to see each other up against the wall. The ensuing power vacuum of a bankrupt Saudi Arabia would be ripe for IS to take over, giving them a new foothold, more recruits and more resources.

The region is destabilized enough as it is. The Saudis running out of money would be devastating for the common man in the region. It's a lose/lose situation.

(October 26, 2015 at 1:37 pm)Chuck Wrote:

(October 26, 2015 at 11:57 am)Minimalist Wrote: Maybe they'll stop building fucking mosques all over the world?

Collapse of the petro-oligarchy in the gulf most likely mean expansion of IS.   It does benefit the US in creating the sort of disorder that makes it easier for the US to retain its preeminence in the civilized parts of the Euroasian continent,   but it benefits almost no one else.

It seems like every weekend a fucking mosque blows up somewhere.  I imagine it will just give them fewer targets.