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Comment by nyokodo | Hacker News Reader

> We buy and use their oil

Although that is true, the US imports less and less oil from Saudi. In fact, it’s been dropping steeply since shale oil became cheaper in 2014 and we haven’t imported less from Saudi since the oil glut of the mid-1980s.[1] I don’t think the US stopping Saudi oil imports is going to worry them as China is their major market now and China is another repressive regime. We should stop protecting their shipping though as we do for the entire globe still.

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

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They know their days of selling oil are numbered, that's why they're investing in tech, so stop taking their money.

The oil supply used to be strategic. Now its a mix of:

* selling them US debt, aka they fund the deficits (national and private).

* selling them weapons and financial services

* habit, traditions etc Where else will we keep our aircraft carriers?

* they're a defacto ally of Israel and they generally help on our special projects in the middle east.

I don't like that we support them. I think Iran is a much better choice in the region. But that's why we keep doing it...

Definitely Iran used to be our second favorite ally in the region. However, if they were overthrown their footsies with Russia probably would kind of muddy things ... kind of like Turkey where you’re not sure they’ll always be on your side or that you can be in their side.

One of the huge advantages to the US/Saudi collaboration is the pricing of oil in dollars. The supply helped for a time, and we've weaned off it a bit through fracking, but that's a game of diminishing returns.

The worry for the US is if oil becomes priced in yuan and sold in yuan. It undermines the purchasing power of the US dollar while at the same time diminishing the effectiveness of US sanctions.

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3128103/c...

How much oil does the US buy from Iran? I think actual embargoes make a difference.

> How much oil does the US buy from Iran? I think actual embargoes make a difference.

Iran is still a brutal repressive regime. Sanctions make it more difficult for Iran to gain and project power but don’t stop them from committing horrific crimes against minorities and generally innocent Iranians.

> Iran is still a brutal repressive regime

Whatever it is now, it has been brought in to existence by US (CIA) intervention

I think that’s simplistic. The CIA (not saying they did stand up things) tried the opposite and supported a failing regime that was more open but did little for the lower classes so the revolutionaries came in took over and showed the previous regime how to really be tyrannical.

Most Iranians would depose the current leadership if they had free elections, so it’s not as if the population wants them, but like China, and North Korea only one party can have legitimate candidates and they have the guns.

> Most Iranians would depose the current leadership if they had free elections

I wonder which agency played a role in stopping an elected government from assuming power. Its reeks double standards if its ok for USA/CIA to obstruct democracy but if somebody else does it -- oh the horror and injustice.

As long as fountainheads of brutal regimes, be it Shah of Iran or the crown prince of SA, are 'our' guy -- totally kosher.

The Shah was not more open. He was replacing the hope for democracy. Read about what the SAVAK did, he was just as brutal as the current regime.

The US and the UK are the primary reasons why there aren't any meaningful elections in Iran anymore.

The Cia is really helped out by what they do being so immoral people don't want to believe they did it. Everyone always wants to try to look at alternate takes of things where theyre not drug and gun smuggling kingpins that topples governments for more black ops money.

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