Editors Note: This report was written by a top-executive of the international petroleum industry with many years of experience. His base of operations is Latin-America, one of the world's more prolific crude oil producing areas. Due to his sensitive professional affiliations, he elected to remain anonymous.

INTERVENTION WILL FOSTER HIGHER OIL PRICES

Unbelievably, the US government has intervened the Energy Markets by releasing oil from the SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve), the same way a Socialist or Communist regime would do.

While it is not our place to discuss the politics of this issue, but rather to clarify the danger that the US is facing now, it is imperative that the reader understands this action is a direct intervention to normal market forces, which is in direct conflict with normal supply/demand dynamics.

While the intended effort of this measure is to provide relief to American citizens of high oil cost this winter, nevertheless, it will delay the recovery of the oil market to its normal level. This will only put off the real correction and solution to the problem. This will affect the consumer anyway, unless the government decides subsequently to subsidize oil like a typical totalitarian state would do. And in event that were done, the consumer will pay anyway - since subsidies ultimately come from the tax receipts of the citizens.

Indubitably, this will inject uncertainty into all oil company decisions, and will delay necessary drilling, which is in dire need right now in order to increase production.

Indeed, the US government's unprecedented action is a slap in their face to all crude oil producers. After many petroleum companies suffered financially in recent years - due to low crude prices - this action hits the financial stability out from under them. Moreover, the government's reckless use of the SPR paves the way for still higher prices next year. You can bank on it. Effectively, this decision will lower actual and immediate future production.

This Will Leave the US VULNERABLE IN THE EVENT OF ANY DISRUPTION IN FUTURE PRODUCTION. Indubitably, the US has many enemies who will see a window of opportunity here.

Certainly, those unfriendly to US interests will not hesitate going forward to use the OIL WEAPON in the face of the US government intervention, forcing the price of oil down.

A couple burning questions of logic for crude oil producers to answer are the following. Why would they want to pump more oil, if it is going to fall in price? Do they want to help the US to lower the high oil price so that there are no damaging consequences from the stagflation that it will cause? Well, the US recently has enjoyed staggering growth, fueled by nearly free oil. And notwithstanding the US prosperity, ALL oil export producing countries suffered. The international oil industry is trying to recover from the recent state of ruin it was in. Unfortunately, and ironically, the US will have to pay the higher tab now.

The US government's unilateral decision is telling the world there are no more bullets left. The last shot is being wasted, even before the winter arrives. However, this is a shot in the dark, because it is a political shot. It will miss the mark.

The intervention in the markets nowadays is relentless.

The Gold market is intervened and manipulated - and likewise the silver market.

The Stock market is intervened and manipulated as well. Proof of it is the miraculous market recovery on Friday (September 22, 2000), just after the Intel debacle was announced.

The Currency market is intervened to rescue the heretofore plunging Euro.

The Inflation data, the trade deficit and many other variables, even the FIG appear to be relentlessly manipulated.

Something is very wrong. Everything now is being controlled for political expediency, or maybe with more sinister objectives.

While the Personal Savings rate is negative in the US, its Federal, State and Municipal government together with business appear to have a few trillion dollars in savings. Will the government use those savings to subsidize oil ?

The author believes that the GOLD WEAPON might be used now by some oil producers. There is no incentive to stick with the dollar. First they control the gold price, then they attempt to control oil the price. Where doe it all end?

Watch the news.....You will not be surprised if you see next week that some producer is asking for payment in hard currency: GOLD !!!! Or maybe the oil producers will just close the valves a little -- no need to damage oil reservoirs by overproducing them, if the oil price is falling.

The dice have been rolled...... Much higher Inflation is around the corner. It just has been delayed a few months. Only those that know how to hedge against it will survive. We all know what is the only hedge that works.... REAL Money !!!! Gold !!!!

"Azteca de Oro"

25 September 2000

Disclaimer:

The information presented by the author is not intended to be used for investment purposes, and it may contain errors. It is intended only to give the reader an eagle's view of the state of the economy, as perceived by the author. It reflects the author's opinion and no representation as to the accuracy of this data is made, as it may reflect on the bias or interpretation of the author. However, to the best knowledge of the author, the data presented is accurate.

http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_00/azteca092500.html

-- (here_we@go.again), September 25, 2000

Answers

JOIN THE LOSERS. BUY GOLD. Notice the BS above comes from a Gold FREAK with a track matching TB I for "accuracy" reporting on Y2k "impacts".

http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003r8k

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), September 25, 2000.

" Due to his sensitive professional affiliations, he elected to remain anonymous."

Deja vue all over again. Just like some favorite Y2K sources "top executives" (remember Mr. CEO?) who wished to remain annonymous.

hmm...CPR, do you think maybe Andy "gold bug" has fled to Mexico?

-- (smarty@wannabe.one), September 25, 2000.

so, DO we have a shortage coming or NOT?

It isnt looking too good from where I sit, anyone else care to comment with some facts?

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), September 25, 2000.

consumer,

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson was on Tim Russert's news program, he stated that the world is using 75 million Barrels of oil a day (BOD) and we are producing 73 million BOD. EIA gives out different numbers, but I will assume The Energy Secretary is privy to the best information available. The bottom line is that the world is using oil faster than it can be produced. This prognosis is very serious because there is little if any spare capacity, energy demand continues to grow, and the world population is increasing inexorably.

My advice is enjoy youself now.

-- Cave Man (caves@are.us), September 25, 2000.

How typical of cpr. Ignore the meat of the post, and attack it because it mentions gold.

Great way to make your point, genius.

<:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 25, 2000.

"The Energy Secretary is privy to the best information available. The bottom line is that the world is using oil faster than it can be produced. This prognosis is very serious because there is little if any spare capacity, energy demand continues to grow, and the world population is increasing inexorably."

Cave Man, more oil CAN be produced, witness the oil glut of last year that pushed down the price to less than $11 a barrel. OPEC slowed down production as a result, and now big consumer countries complain OPEC is under producing, because it pushes the price to over $30 a barrel. There is no oil short term (in our lifetime) oil shortage, only producers of oil that control its output and price.

Is high prices such a bad thing? It forces people to consume less, and in the long run, over decades, it saves/stretches the earth's supply and the environment. But people who have become very dependent on oil and its products think radically different. Politicians for example will tell you that high oil prices are very bad for global economy and expansion.

-- (smarty@wannabe.one), September 26, 2000.

"There is no oil short term (in our lifetime) oil shortage, only producers of oil that control its output and price."

Currently 80% of all oil produced comes from fields discovered prior to 1973, for your assumption to be correct oil companies had better find some huge fields and bring them on line fast.

-- Cave Man (caves@are.us), September 26, 2000.

Okay, so I do agree to some level with smartywannabe. Yes, forcing us to use less, via price increase does work, for most of 'us'. OTOH, caveman brings a good point, as well, as stated in his post re:getting new fields online.

Bottom line: I dont want a replay of the 70's. Been there, lived that.

BTW, nobody has mentioned sodamn insane either. How is he coming into play here? Seems to me, he is crafty bout getting OPEC to NOT increase output, or am I wrong? I'm not saying it is all saddam, but he is off in the game and he is an instigator to the finest degree.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), September 26, 2000.