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Comment by Animats | Hacker News Reader

US imports of Saudi oil are way down.[1] About a quarter of peak. Between fracking, wind power, and solar, the US is in a very strong position with regard to the OPEC countries. It's time to pull the plug on the Middle East and let them sink back into the sand.

[1] https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=M...

[2] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=37253

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The US never did import much oil from them directly. They do export enough to other countries to have a strong effect on the market price though.

I suspect its the European Allies that still depend on Saudi Oil that keep the US still supporting the regime.

Actually, it’s primarily because Saudi is a “pivot state” (to use zbigniew brzezinski‘s terminology) for the US in the region. Much like Japan in east Asia.

So let them suck up to the Saudis.

I suspect that there is a substantial group of lobbyists and other politically connected people that are paid a lot of money to influence US policy. The Saudis seem to be pretty smart that way.

That was more the Bushes, who were involved in the oil industry. Less so today.

Quote from the current US president about the Saudis: "They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much."

Another quote from the current US president about the Saudis: "I make a lot of money from them. They buy all sorts of my stuff. All kinds of toys from Trump. They pay me millions and hundreds of millions".

More so today.

There are plenty of these people around in DC. Probably more than ever.

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