For the first time since I can remember, OPEC is sticking to its production cutbacks, raising oil prices to the highest in 9 years. Why all of a sudden are the OPEC producers doing so well at fulfilling an agreement, when they've not been able to do so for decades? Is it because they themselves know that remediation is so incomplete that they will not be able to sell much crude next year, and are trying for all the profit they can make prior to rollover? Just a speculation, but anyone have any better theory?

-- Les Holladay (holladayl@aol.com), November 19, 1999

Answers

I have observed the same thing. They know they are doomed and are trying to squeeze the last dollar out of us! 42 more days and it is all over for OPEC!

-- freddie (freddie@thefreeloader.com), November 19, 1999.

---sounds reasonable. Looking at what governments, corporations and cartels DO as opposed to what they SAY is most interesting. Much better data than the keep-the-stock-prices-up-at-all-costs-and-the-panic-down spin reports. I hold most "official" reports, especially SELF reporting by these entities to be highly suspect.

paraphrased quotes, for entertainment and academic purposes only......

the king on tv-"we forsee no major disruptions"

wire services-"the whitehouse today unveiled the new 50 million dollar y2k command bunker"

everyone's favorite DGI-"see, it's a big nothing, nothing will happen, it's maybe a three day storm, they said so on tv"

banking contacts I have-"hey, we already pulled out a lot of cash"

alternate energy suppliers I've talked to-"XYZ, Inc. megautilitymonopoly executive just got my 30,000$ package"

several various industry insiders I've talked to over the years, various concerns, working on "it"-"you kidding? It's the biggest screwup ever. I've got a farm I've been prepping for years now. management didn't want to hear it, they never want to hear anything that just costs money, and can be put off"

head of a certain states contracted remediation efforts-"...I have bought a big country place, got a handpump well, a generator, a huge pile of wood, and several propane tanks-what does THAT tell you? And all the guys working under me have done about the same..."

yada, yada, yada--look at what folks do, where the money and interest head, not what they are almost forced to say-almost, anyway. It looks mostly like CYA to me, with some super behind the scenes manipulation for global purposes by a tiny but incredibly powerful few.

we'll see.....

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

one simply little symbol----$28.00 per barrel

Huge implications! no wars,no refinery fires,no hurricanes,no supply disruptions, and to top it off only a year ago the price was $10.00 a barrel. Opec has never been able to hold prices due to venezuela and nigeria pulling the plug.

Something is up--big time--- and its not even that cold yet!!

$27.50 per barrel----wow!! but---uh no inflation--rotflmao!!

-- db (dciinc@aol.com), November 19, 1999.