Russia

The main catalyst that pushed the price of oil from a 13 year low in early February, when crude briefly traded in the mid-$20 to well over 50% higher less than one month later in one of the world's most furious short squeezes, was the recurring infatuation with the fabricated narrative that OPEC would if not cut production then, then at least freeze it.

We mocked this, as recently as one month ago, when we wrote "About That "Oil Freeze": Russian Crude Production Sets New Post-Soviet Record In February" an article which was self-explanatory:

In the last eighteen months the Obama administration have initiated the greatest build-up of military forces since World War two along Russia’s western frontier.  Such a military build up hasn’t been since since Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. Australian journalist John Pilger says that World War 3 has already begun. The media just don’t know about it yet because, at present, it is a war of propaganda, lies and distraction. But that can change in an instant. RT.com reports: Ukraine – once part of the Soviet Union – has become a CIA theme park.

Submitted by Shelley Kasli via OrientalReview.org,

Russia’s decision to greatly reduce its military presence in Syria, coming as it did with little warning, has left the world struggling for explanations. Russia is to maintain a military presence at its naval base in Tartous and at the Khmeymim airbase. In fact Russia is “withdrawing without withdrawing”.

The partial withdrawal is seen by many as a message to the Assad government to not take Russia’s military aid for granted, and to be more flexible in the upcoming peace negotiations.

Authored by Paul Craig Roberts,

With much help from the failures of neoliberal economic policy and neoconservative foreign policy, we are changing the world.

Submitted by Pepe Escobar via SputnikNews.com,

It’s spy thriller stuff; no one is talking. But there are indications Russia would not announce a partial withdrawal from Syria right before the Geneva negotiations ramp up unless a grand bargain with Washington had been struck.