The Middle East

Eau de Petroleum

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John ‘Effing Kerry’s always sensitive, elite and almost French nose appears to perceive a malodor surrounding this Saudi Prince.

From RT.com, “Saudi Arabia loses oil market share in key countries “.

The world’s largest crude exporter, Saudi Arabia has lost its leading position in nine of the 15 top markets in the past three years reports the Financial John_Kerry_Sniffing_Saudi_Oil_FragranceTimes citing data from energy consultancy group FGE.

According to the analysis, the kingdom lost ground in China, South Africa and the US between 2013 and 2015, despite the goal of maintaining its crude market share amid the oil glut.

“Saudi Arabia has had very difficult time selling oil in this environment,” Citigroup analyst Ed Morse told the FT. “Its rivals are going into a very crowded market in a very aggressive way.”

The country has also lost its market share in South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and several western European countries, the FGE data showed.

Saudi Arabia’s share of Chinese oil imports fell from more than 19 percent in 2013 to almost 15 percent in 2015, because of increased supplies from Russia.

Terrorist Takes One to the Old Melon

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Here’s some irony for you.  According to the Daily Caller, “Sniper Cuts Short ISIS Beheading Class With A Well-Placed Head Shot.”

In a stroke of irony, a sniper from the elite British Special Air Service (S.A.S.) took the head off an Islamic State leader who was teaching recruits how to behead prisoners.

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The terrorist was probably not expecting to become his students’ example, but the sniper armed with a large-caliber rifle made him one after landing a head shot from over 3,000 feet away. The man was reportedly teaching 20 recruits when he quite literally lost his head.
“One minute he was standing there and the next his head had exploded. The commander remained standing upright for a couple of seconds before collapsing and that’s when panic set in.

 

Embargo Toyota

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Here’s one plausible way to end warfare as we have come to know it in the Middle East and Africa.

Embargo Toyota.  Cut off all sales of Toyota Pickups and repair parts because “The Toyota Pickup Truck Is the War Chariot of the Third World“.

For three decades, one vehicle has dominated Third World battlefields.

Ubiquitous and incognito, chances are you’re less than a mile from one right Isis_A10_Warthog_Caravannow. You could pass one on virtually any street in any city in the world and you wouldn’t think twice.

The vehicle costs a fraction as much as a modern main battle tank. In fact, you can buy 266 of them for the cost of just one tank. Plus it’s more dependable than a tank—and easier to maintain.

It’s not produced by the United States, Russia, France, China or any of the major arms exporters. It’s made by Japan, an avowedly pacifist country that prohibits the export of arms abroad … particularly to Third World combat zones.

From the deserts of the African Maghreb to the mountains of Afghanistan, warriors from tribesmen to American Special Forces have chosen the Toyota pickup truck as their unarmored personnel carrier of choice.