Last Flight Out of Russya

        The passengers were loaded up, getting comfortable for their flight back to the USA.  Sure, it was a flight on AEROFLOT,  the state-owned airline with a reputation well earned for poor service, but  the passengers were obviously willing to overlook those shortcomings for the opportunity to return to the USA where things could be a bit more comfortable regarding local efforts to control the pandemic.   And then: everything changed.
       Orders from higher up(the Kremlin) caused the cancellation of the last flight out of the country to the USA.  Can you imagine the sinking feeling? " Now listen up:  all passengers will immediately disembark the aircraft and return to the terminal while we await new operational instructions from the administration.  Please remove all stowed baggage and personal items and take them with you to the terminal.   Thank you for your cooperation."   Now what?  Is this just a technical glitch or a mechanical problem?  What is going to happen now?  Needless to say, these American passengers will now be stuck abroad for an undetermined amount of time, the duration of which will, of course, be subject to the whim of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.  This is a situation most people would not look forward to under any circumstances.
       While this is playing out locally, internationally there's another situation playing out:  the politics of oil production has moved to the fore of international negotiations among oil producing nations.  The recent depression of oil prices has driven producers to the table to discuss production amounts to shore up prices by limiting extraction.   The concomitant problem:  not enough storage capacity has not helped.  Where can this oil be stored?  Right now, there are almost 100 supertankers laying somewhere around the globe at anchor-floating storage tanks.   It costs more aboard a ship than on land in a tank farm.   The US president said he would help domestic oil companies- offer financial assistance as a number of shale drillers/producers have filed for bankruptcy protections as costs exceed current market prices.  The Saudi government has made an attempt to negotiate with Russya, but they differ dramatically on solutions to each others financial position.   Who benefits form lower production limits?  Who can hold out longer at current pricing?  Hmmmm.
      Is it time to wrestle with our "Saudi" friends, led by the volatile MBS, the 33 year old son of the reigning king?   The same man who engineered the grisly murder of a journalist who went to the embassy in Lebanon and was never seen or heard from again?(Mr. Kashhoggi).  Do we want to help the man who sent his Little Green men into Ukraine and then Crimea?   I don't think so.  Lots of issues here, in addition to all of the coronavirus pandemic problems sweeping the globe.

Vlad Cover Boy

Vladimir with Church

Vlad