The moral case for US oil exports

abarrelfullabarrelfull wrote on 15 Apr 2014 06:09
Tags: exports pipelines refinery usa

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I have dealt with the commercial issues surrounding the ban on exports of American crude oil but I think there is another way of looking at the issue as well, ethical considerations.

One thing that always strikes me when I discuss the Middle East with people in Noth America is how easy it is to be hawkish from 10,000 miles away. When sanctions on Iran are discussed in Washington, there are no commercial implications. in Brussels, however, there are. European refineries have lost huge sums of money due to the banning of Iranian crude. The biggest winner has been Russia, who has seen their discounts reduce to nothing.

It is possible that Russia is next in line for sanctions, and once again European companies will bear the brunt of them.

Meanwhile in a parallel universe on the other side of the Atlantic, our alleged ally refuses to sell us their crude oil, even though they have too much. Instead of the champion of freedom that we were always told that America is, they are running a beggar thy neighbour policy, and one that probably even harms themselves.

The USA already has an image problem and this just reinforces the view that it doesn't care about its allies.

So whilst I will agree with any American that thinks European leaders have a tendency to be lily livered, from where we are standing, we are being asked to be tough, and to also pay all of the bill.


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