Hypocrisy or CYA? Russia, China Criticize Libya Intervention

[Guest]

Been seeing news reports that Pootin' is calling the Libya action a "new crusade", and that the China People's Daily is parroting Kadaffi Duck's own rants about the oil.

Crusade, Schmusade.

Please note that both of these countries abstained during the UN Security Council vote.

So - hypocrites, or just CYA (as in, hedging their bets in case things for Kadaffi Duck [whom they have both long supported] don't turn out so well)?

mh
.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[quade 4]

Paraphrasing, "follow the oil."

In this case, follow where the oil from Libya goes.

Yes, they're covering themselves today and "betting" on status quo.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ryoder 1,590]

But Russia is the #2 exporter: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922041.html

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[quade 4]

Would it blow your mind to find out that a chunk of US oil is exported?

That in fact the US is #12 in oil exports, UP from #15 just a few years ago?

I think the Russians might be playing a longer term game though because right now it does look as if Libyan oil does compete with Russia's in Europe (through Italy who gets about 1/3 of Libya's oil) and a disruption there would cause Russian exports to look better.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ryoder 1,590]

Latest info I've found is from 2009 sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/22/ap/business/main20034782.shtml
Second list here is top 20 exporters and US isn't in there.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[quade 4]

http://www.indexmundi.com/united_states/oil_exports.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2176.html

Then again, I don't know if you want to trust the CIA.

BTW, I didn't say produce, I said export.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Andy9o8 3]

Of course it's hypocrisy, but it was the price of getting them to play ball and not veto the UN resolution, which, in turn, was the green light to getting the air campaign going. I imagine the discussion was something like "OK, fine, we'll abstain; but once your operation is under way, we'll have to publicly criticize it. Nothing personal."

Whatever works.