Saudis ask for aid if world cuts dependence on oil

[Javaman]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gyy9tlD4hRjJD2wQ__gxvo_IzYEgD9B6QSRG0

BANGKOK — There are plenty of needy countries at the U.N. climate talks in Bangkok that make the case they need financial assistance to adapt to the impacts of global warming. Then there are the Saudis.

Saudi Arabia has led a quiet campaign during these and other negotiations — demanding behind closed doors that oil-producing nations get special financial assistance if a new climate pact calls for substantial reductions in the use of fossil fuels.

That campaign comes despite an International Energy Agency report released this week showing that OPEC revenues would still increase $23 trillion between 2008 and 2030 — a fourfold increase compared to the period from 1985 to 2007 — if countries agree to significantly slash emissions and thereby cut their use of oil. That is the limit most countries agree is needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The head of the Saudi delegation Mohammad S. Al Sabban dismissed the IEA figures as "biased" and said OPEC's own calculations showed that Saudi Arabia would lose $19 billion a year starting in 2012 under a new climate pact. The region would lose much more, he said.

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(pigs)

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I thought this was The Onion upon first reading.

A Saudi bail out?

TARP for a country that flogs and kills gays, where women are human property?

[jemelanson]

3. Not just no, but HELL NO!!!!!!!!!

[IDemo]

6. Beat me to it

The Onion has become almost irrelevant lately, it seems.

[hobbit709]

2. So what exactly did they do with their money?

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Their money was invested in our debt and our dollar, both big money losers.

They want their investments back.

[phantom power]

4. For the love of god, who will care for the enclosed desert ski slopes???

:rofl:

[Nihil]

7. World replies ...

"Shove it up your arse with a spiked pole."

Talk about the epitome of ignorance & greed ... :grr:

[HamdenRice]

8. Makes sense

There are several thousand Saudi princes. Each needs a home or flat in London, 1 mistress in Paris and 1 in Lebanon, a horse stable, a fleet of cars in Riyadh, 5 Filipina maids/slaves for the condo in Jedda, 3 legal wives and enough cash to support 25 or so children, and enough payroll money to pay a dozen or so Palestinian engineers to actually do the work for him.

It gets really expensive, and despite having the oil revenue, it's hard to put away money for a rainy day.