Originally Posted by
EaglesPDX
Not puzzling at all and Saudis have done this before (and full on oil embargoes vs. US) with solid track record of success. Saudi's goal is keep US energy inefficient and oil use high for profit and protection (see last 24 years of Middle East oil wars mostly to shield the Saudi oil pump). Saudis had a deal with Reagan in 1980, Reagan would kill US energy conservation plans of Nixon/Ford/Carter in return for cheap oil to boost US economy. Worked for Saudis national interest and Reagan political interest but not so good for US when Reagan BFF's Saddam and Bin Laden didn't go by the script and US had to go to war to save the Saudi's from them both, that tab is $17T and going up since we never did have a "Patriot Tax" to pay for the costs.