Why “Georgia” matters…

While the recent events in Russian invading Georgia are not exactly the same as the invasion in Poland in 1939, unfortunately, there are too many similarities. Russia is bullying Georgia and attempting to reconstitute its empire of satellite states. Georgia matters to the United States because, put simply, as the only world’s Super Power, how [...]

Why is crude oil (and gasoline) so expensive?

I have been getting emails from readers essentially asking me to do a post on oil - why is it so expensive, and what, if anything should be the GOP’s party platform on energy. While energy economics is not my specialty - I do understand commodities markets, and I believe I probably understand better than [...]

Saudi Arabia rejects Bush’s request for increased oil output

Riyad, Saudi Arabia (Washingtonpost.com): Saudi Arabia Friday rejected the idea of increasing oil production to help ease soaring gasoline prices, telling President Bush that the kingdom already is meeting its customers’ demand for crude.
The apparent rebuff came as Bush appealed to Saudi King Abdullah to use his country’s vast oil reserves — the world’s [...]

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop?

Eroding confidence stings bank shares
By Carter Dougherty

Monday, March 17, 2008
FRANKFURT:
Volatile markets and worried policy makers on Monday offered clear evidence that the months-long financial crisis linked to the U.S. mortgage market has turned into an acute crisis of confidence in the global banking system.
Stunned over the weekend by the emergency [...]