Downing Reports: Brian M Downing and the world at war

Israel increasingly interested in Kurdistan

Kurdistan is a landlocked autonomous region that wants to become an independent country. Landlocked countries usually face serious trouble, but Kurdistan has oil and is positioned in the middle of a great geopolitical contest. Iran and Israel are vying for influence here. Kurdistan will likely play the two powers off against each other. I said that last year.

Pressure grows to export US oil

There is currently about a five dollar difference between the price of US oil and that of other countries. This is because of an oil production boom in the US and laws preventing the export of US oil. US oil producers want to export oil to raise their revenue. A sounder reason is to sell American oil to Eastern European countries – at the expense of Russian exports and revenue. The US will also be exporting natural gas soon. Look for Eastern Europe to step up to the counter.