Oil grabs in Libya and Iraq.

Discussion in 'Latest US & World News' started by Poohbear, Jul 28, 2020.

  1. Poohbear

    Poohbear Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Who recalls how America "invaded" Iraq to "take their oil" ?
    Turned out the Chinese and French got the post-war contracts.
    But this one, predictably, will go completely under the radar because the issue is never about oil grabs, but about America.



    Libyan oil grab fuels US-Kremlin tensions


    BENOIT FAUCON JARED MALSIN

    Military contractors linked to the Kremlin have seized control of two of Libya’s largest oil facilities in recent weeks, heightening tensions between Russia and the US over Moscow’s growing footprint in the North African nation.

    Since last month, fighters from the Wagner Group, a Russian firm with ties to the Kremlin, have moved in to secure Libya’s largest oilfield and its most important oilexporting port, Es Sider. The advance has helped war lord Khalifa Haftar maintain a blockade of Libya’s petroleum exports in defiance of US pressure to restart them, according to Libyan and Western officials.

    Moscow’s moves show how Libya has become a key front in a struggle between the US and Russia for influence in the Middle East. The two nations have also locked horns in Syria, where Russian and US troops patrolling near oilfields in eastern Deir Ezzor province have engaged in roadside confrontations.

    “The Russians are doing things that are bolder and bolder,” said Jason Pack, president of US consulting firm Libya-Analysis.

    The US Treasury Department cited Russian involvement in Libya in a new round of sanctions applied this month to a Russian businessman with ties to President Vladimir Putin. The US is also seeking to counter the Kremlin’s influence by threatening sanctions against their Libyan ally, Field Marshal Haftar.

    In addition, the US Africa Command has taken the unusual step of revealing Russian mercenary deployments in Libya through a series of statements accompanied by satellite photos.

    Russian military contractors arrived in Libya last year, backing Marshal Haftar’s forces as he waged war on Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli. His campaign collapsed last month after being driven back by a government counter-attack supported by Turkey.

    Now, US officials are concerned that the Russian mercenaries have shifted their focus to taking control of Libya’s oil industry. Wagner Group gunmen moved into the Sharara oilfield in the country’s south last month. On July 12, Wagner, controlled by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Mr Putin, set up camp in Es Sider.

    On July 15, the US Treasury expanded its sanctions on entities owned by Mr Prigozhin, citing in part their involvement in Libya. “Our intelligence reflects continued and unhelpful involvement by Russia and the Wagner Group,” Rear Admiral Heidi Berg, Africom’s director of intelligence, wrote on Twitter.

    While the Kremlin says the private military contractors operate independently of its control, European security officials say intercepted communications show they report to Russian military intelligence in Libya. And the Russian government publicly backs the demands of Marshal Haftar, who has blocked most of Libya’s oil production since January as he seeks more revenue from the Government of National Accord in Tripoli for the East Libyan region he controls.

    In another sign of Russia’s rising clout in Libya, the Kremlin on Wednesday agreed with Turkey

    — which backs the opposite side — to set up a permanent, joint working group to secure a ceasefire.

    Wagner’s mercenaries now hold sway on key export flows to Europe and assets partly owned by Western oil companies. Sharara is run by Spain’s Repsol while Es Sider is the international gateway for nearby fields partly owned by US companies Hess Corp and ConocoPhillips.

    While the US recognises the GNA, some Trump administration officials previously viewed Marshal Haftar as a potential ally against radical Islamists.

    President Donald Trump endorsed Marshal Haftar in April last year, discussing what the White House termed a “shared vision” with the commander during a phone call.

    But US officials say Washington threatened Marshal Haftar — a US citizen and one-time CIA asset who used to live in exile in Virginia — with sanctions over his refusal to reopen oil exports. The war lord initially let ports reopen but changed his mind when Wagner Group forces moved to the Es Sider terminal, say Libyan and European officials.

    The State Department communicated the threat of sanctions to Marshal Haftar because he was being “ridiculous and uncompromising” with oil installations in eastern Libya, said one US official.

    THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
     
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  2. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Here's how I see it, I don't give a **** who controls Libya's oil as long as it is not ISIS or Turkey.

    The west destroyed Libya, created a massive refugee problem for Europe.. (call it an own goal or shooting yourself in the foot if you like) then turned around and pretended Libya does not exist....they wouldn't touch it....even though Libya is incredibly important to Europe's stability.

    Now suddenly it's "but Russia this and Russia that" the bigger threat here is ISIS & Turkey (with ISIS links) ...everyone else by all means have at it.
     
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  3. zoom_copter66

    zoom_copter66 Well-Known Member

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    We could always use more target practice....Wagner's seem to be a good choice, the last ones were appetizers!:).

    These vatniks have no imagination......they have to use some German name for their Mercs...ROFL....priceless.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
  4. kreo

    kreo Well-Known Member

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    United States armed China and Russia for 30 years, there is no point to complain about it.
    Americans have cheap jeans and t-shirts, everyone should be proud.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
  5. MGB ROADSTER

    MGB ROADSTER Banned

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    The t-shirts and jeans are made in China.
    I suggest to all the whiners in this forum to appreciate what they have.
    Anyone who is not satisfied in the US should go live in China, Africa or Afganistan..
     
  6. kreo

    kreo Well-Known Member

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    US Citizens have to pay a large sum of money for renunciation.
    No one let slaves go for free.
     

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