In what can only be seen as smart geopolitics, Russian state oil giant Rosneft just paid the recently vanquished Iraqi Kurds $1.3 billion for E&P (Exploration and Production) rights in their region. Remember that both Syrian and Iraqi Kurds enjoy nearly complete autonomy to govern themselves within those countries.
It is the U.S. that is pushing for independence and fanning the flames of the knee-jerk American left to that cause. The Necons want the ability to negotiate around the Syrian and Iraqi governments who won't let us build bases on their soil to threaten Iran and Russia.
That's all Kurdish independence is about, from a U.S. perspective. It's simply more of that outdated Cold War leftover called the Brzezinski Doctrine of chaos in central Asia.
Rosneft coming in and cutting a lucrative deal is meant to soften the blow of Moumad Barzani's failed independence push which saw first a referendum for independence and then a failed military attempt to expand Kurdish-controlled territory to the city of Kirkuk to gain access to the airport which could serve as a logistical hub for more U.S. air-dropped war materiel.
Don't think for a second that Rosneft and Gazprom are both working the back channels with the PKK Kurds in eastern Syria. Unfortunately, the PKK has subjugated its population to the U.S via its strategic alliance with the U.S. in what will ultimately be another failed independence bid.
The U.S.'s position is eroding in the region, despite Defense Secretary Mattis' escalations. All these have done is brought us even more direct confrontation because NATO ally Turkey is pressuring both Syrian Kurdish cantons militarily while the Syrian army 's coalition destroys what's left of the opposition in Idlib and Homs closer to Damascus.
Rosneft has plenty of money to splash around. Building strong regional relationships based on sustainable improvements, not air-dropping money to buy schools that require perpetual money is the path to victory. Putin knows this and that's why Igor Sechin (the CEO of Rosneft) is there acting as his assistant Foreign Minister.
The feral government has no idea how much they are alienating people both in the US and overseas. After all the Neo-cons & Dem establishment thinks that they have all reasonable views covered between themselves. The reputable news agencies all agree with them right?
The good news is that Trump, Putin & others are holding them back from causing too much problems. The bad news, I still don't see how the Americans aren't going to go through bad shit. Americans have allowed the US Gov to create so much collective Negative Karma.
Tinman, I agree with you completely on that. These people have so little clue as to what their policies bring. It's the same in markets with these egghead economists who run uncontrolled thought experiments on the economy and then blame 'market failures' when things don't go to plan.
Curated for #informationwar (by @openparadigm)
Relevance:Geopolitics
Once again, I'd rather read your news and insights than yahoo and the crapy mainstream manipulation of truth media!
Rosneft’s Venezuela model is also finding traction in the Middle East, where Russia is looking for ways to support the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, make friends in Iran and help drive a wedge between Turkey and the West.
There should be a default and the Maduro government collapses, Russia and Rosneft could be left holding bad loans that a new government might not want to pay. @goldgoatsnguns
It's definitely a war with these places being the proxies for the U.S. v. Russia. Russia supports a country that tries to get out from underneath the dollar, that causes further escalation etc. Venezuela is vulnerable because their crude is most profitably refined here in the U.S. Gulf Coast and that market is now effectively closed to them.
The Maduro governmnet, inept as it is, is on the right track with an oil-backed crypto to end-run U.S. sanctions. Also, Russia gets to have a case study to learn from with their crypto-ruble.
There are no alliances in geopolitics, only opportunities.
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